Microbial Growth Flashcards
What is a colony of microbes?
Aggregation of cells arising from a single parent cell
What does “growth” mean in regards to microbes?
Increase in the size of a population of microbes
What is a biofilm of microbes?
Collection of microbes in a complex community
What is the most famous biofilm?
Plaque found in teeth
What is the carbon source for autotrophs?
Carbon dioxide
What is the carbon source for heterotrophs?
Organic compounds
What is the energy source of plants, some protozoa, algae, bacteria, and archaea?
Light (photoautotrophs)
What is the energy source for animals and fungi?
Chemical compounds (chemoheterotrophs)
What is the most important factor in determining the growth of microorganisms?
Temperature
What is the word used for a microbe that prefers cold temperatures?
Psychrophilic
What is the term for microbes that prefer moderate temperatures?
Mesophilic
What is the term for microbes that prefer severely high temperatures?
Hyperthermophilic
Most microbes prefer what type of temperature environment?
Moderate temperatures (mesophilic)
Most microorganisms thrive in what pH range?
6-9
Most animal pathogens work best at what pH level?
7
Why is water/moisture important for the growth of microorganisms?
Used as building material for cell synthesis, food and water transport
What group of bacteria do not have typical peptidoglycan cell walls and are at risk for hypotonic environment bursting?
Mycobacteria
What effect does light have on most pathogens?
Most are killed by direct sunlight and UV rays
What is the term for a sample of specimens for the purpose of cultural microorganisms?
Inoculum
What is the collection of nutrients used to grow culture on called?
Medium
What is the name of the type of media used when the exact chemical composition is known to attract a specific bacteria?
Defined (synthetic)
What type of media is used when the exact chemical composition is unknown that can attract a certain bacteria?
Complex (like blood, milk, yeast, etc.)
What is the most famous selective media?
Sabouraud dextrose agar
What effect does sabouraud dextrose agar have on bacteria and fungi?
Inhibits bacteria, selects for fungi
