Lecture Set 4 : Part 1

Question 1

what are the 2 ways to describe microbial diversity?

Answer 1

-functional diversity
-phylogenetic diversity

Question 2

what is phylogenetic diversity?

Answer 2

-genetic similarity
-microbes are grouped into phyla based on evolutionary relationships
-evolutionary relationships are based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence for prokaryotes (eukaryotes = 18S)

Question 3

what is functional diversity?

Answer 3

-groups microbes based on the activities they carry out
-example of a group would be anoxygenic phototrophs
-discoveries are still being made every day

Question 4

what is an example of a recent discovery within functional diversity?

Answer 4

-hydrogen oxidation and methylotrophy in the verrucomicrobia

Question 5

what is an example of a group of bacteria that are the only current group to do a certain function?

Answer 5

-cyanobacteria are the only bacteria able to do oxygenic photosynthesis

Question 6

where do we get most of our information on microbial diversity?

Answer 6

-either from the lab or metagenomic studies
-most prokaryotes cannot be cultured yet in the lab
-many are only know from their 16S sequences through metagenomic studies

Question 7

what are metagenomic studies?

Answer 7

-sequencing diverse environmental samples without culturing (saves time)