Microbial Diversity

Question 1

Metabolic diversity

Answer 1

Cells need carbon and energy sources! 
3 ways of obtaining energy: 
Organic chemicals
Inorganic chemicals
Light

Question 2

Chemotrophy

Answer 2

Organisms are chemotroph if they obtain energy by oxidation of electron donors in environment

Question 3

Chemoorganotrophs

Answer 3

Obtain energy from oxidation of organic compounds

Most organisms are chemoorganotrophs

Question 4

Aerobes / anaerobes

Answer 4

Obtain energy only in presence of oxygen / obtain energy only in absence of oxygen

Question 5

Chemolithotrophs

Answer 5

Obtain energy from oxidation of inorganic compounds
Found only in prokaryotes
Advantage: utilize waste products of chremoorganotrophs.

Question 6

Phototrophs

Answer 6

Obtain energy from light, photosynthesis:
Oxygenic photos.: o2 production, cyanobacteria and algae
Anoxygenic: no o2 production, purple / green bacteria

Question 7

Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

Answer 7

Cells require carbon as major nutrient. Microbial cells are either:

Autotroph: carbon dioxide as carbon source (=> primary producers)
Heterotrophs: organic carbon from organic compounds as source

Question 8

Extremophiles

Answer 8

Organisms inhabiting extreme environments (hot, ice, extreme pH).
They require extreme environment!

Question 9

Prokaryotic diversity

Answer 9

Protebacteria largest division (phylum)

Comtains large nr of gram - rods and cocci

Question 10

Gram positive bacteria

Answer 10

Common cell wall structure

Question 11

Cyanobacteria

Answer 11

Phylogenetic relatives of gram+ bacteria

Are oxygenic phototrophs (first on earth)

Question 12

Archaea

Answer 12

Two lineages: euryarchaeota / crenarchaeota

ALL ARE CHEMOTROPHIC (use of organic carbon)

Question 13

Microbial eukarya

Answer 13

Collective known as protista.

Diverse group: algae (hv cellwall), protozoa, fungi (hv cw), slime molds

Question 14

Lichens

Answer 14

Leaflike structures found on surfaces of rock/trees, developed by algae and fungi.