Microbial Physiology Flashcards
What is the primary function of microbial physiology?
To study the metabolic processes and activities of microorganisms.
True or False: Microbial physiology focuses on the structure of microorganisms.
False
Fill in the blank: Microbial physiology is concerned with the ____________ processes of microorganisms.
metabolic
What are some key areas of study in microbial physiology?
Nutrient uptake, growth, and reproduction.
Which type of microorganisms are studied in microbial physiology?
Bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protists.
What is the significance of studying microbial physiology?
To understand how microorganisms interact with their environment and impact human health.
True or False: Microbial physiology is only concerned with single-celled microorganisms.
False
What is the primary focus of microbial physiology research?
To understand the mechanisms of microbial growth and metabolism.
What are some factors that influence microbial physiology?
Temperature and pH, substrate concentration, and enzyme inhibitors
Fill in the blank: Microbial physiology helps in the understanding of how microorganisms ___________ and ___________.
grow, adapt
What are some applications of microbial physiology in medicine?
Developing antibiotics and understanding disease-causing microorganisms.
Fill in the blank: Microbial physiology is essential for understanding the ____________ of microorganisms.
functioning
True or False: Microbial physiology is a rapidly evolving field of study.
True
What is microbial genetics?
The study of the genetic material of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
True or False: Bacterial genetics focuses on the genetic makeup and processes within bacteria.
True
What are plasmids in bacterial genetics?
Small, circular DNA molecules that replicate independently of the bacterial chromosome.
What is a transposon in microbial genetics?
A DNA sequence that can change its position within the genome of a single cell.
What is horizontal gene transfer in microbial genetics?
The movement of genetic material between bacteria by mechanisms other than reproduction.
What is a mutation in bacterial genetics?
A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to variations in traits.
What is conjugation in bacterial genetics?
The process where genetic material is transferred between bacterial cells through direct cell-to-cell contact.
What is transformation in microbial genetics?
The process where bacteria take up DNA from their environment and incorporate it into their own genome.
What is transduction in microbial genetics?
The process where genetic material is transferred from one bacterium to another by a bacteriophage.
What is a gene knockout in bacterial genetics?
A genetic technique used to study the function of a gene by disabling or ‘knocking out’ its expression.
What is a genetic screen in microbial genetics?
A method used to identify genes involved in a particular biological process by examining mutant phenotypes.
What is a plasmid vector in bacterial genetics?
A small DNA molecule used to carry foreign genetic material into a bacterial cell for research or biotechnology purposes.
What is a selectable marker in microbial genetics?
A gene introduced into a cell that confers a trait that allows for selection or screening of cells that have taken up foreign DNA.
What is a transposon mutagenesis in bacterial genetics?
A technique used to introduce random mutations into a bacterial genome by the insertion of transposons.
What is a genetic map in microbial genetics?
A diagram that shows the relative positions of genes on a chromosome or plasmid based on recombination frequencies.
What is a knockout mutation in bacterial genetics?
A mutation that completely disables the function of a gene.
What is a complementation test in microbial genetics?
A test used to determine whether two different mutations are in the same gene or in different genes.
What is a DNA sequencing in microbial genetics?
The process of determining the precise order of nucleotides within a DNA molecule.
What is a genetic engineering in bacterial genetics?
The manipulation of an organism’s genetic material to introduce desired traits or characteristics.
What is a genetic code in microbial genetics?
The set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material is translated into proteins.
What is a genetic recombination in bacterial genetics?
The process by which genetic material is exchanged between different organisms, leading to genetic diversity.
What is a genetic marker in microbial genetics?
A gene or DNA sequence used to identify a specific location on a chromosome or plasmid.
What is a genetic variation in bacterial genetics?
Differences in DNA sequences among individuals or populations.
What is a restriction enzyme in microbial genetics?
An enzyme that cuts DNA at specific recognition sites, often used in genetic engineering.
What is the central dogma of biology?
The central dogma of biology is the process by which DNA is transcribed into RNA, and then translated into proteins.
What is the role of DNA in the central dogma of biology?
DNA contains the genetic information that is transcribed into RNA, which is then translated into proteins.
What is transcription in the central dogma of biology?
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template.
What is translation in the central dogma of biology?
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from an RNA template.
What are the three main steps of the central dogma?
The three main steps of the central dogma are replication (DNA to DNA), transcription (DNA to RNA), and translation (RNA to protein).
What is lysogenic conversion?
The process by which a bacteriophage inserts its DNA into the host bacterium’s genome, leading to the expression of new properties in the host.
True or False: Lysogenic conversion results in the immediate lysis of the host bacterium.
False
Fill in the blank: Lysogenic conversion involves the ________ of a bacteriophage’s DNA into the host bacterium’s genome.
insertion
What are the new properties expressed in the host bacterium as a result of lysogenic conversion?
Properties encoded by the inserted phage DNA, such as toxin production or antibiotic resistance.
What is the term for a lysogenic bacterium that exhibits the new properties conferred by the inserted phage DNA?
Lysogen
What is the term for the phage DNA that has been inserted into the host bacterium’s genome during lysogenic conversion?
Prophage
True or False: Lysogenic conversion can be reversed, returning the host bacterium to its original state.
True
What is the name for the process by which a prophage can excise itself from the host bacterium’s genome and enter the lytic cycle?
Induction
What are some factors that can trigger the induction of a prophage?
Environmental stressors, such as UV radiation or exposure to certain chemicals.
What role does lysogenic conversion play in the evolution of bacteria?
It can introduce new genetic material and properties into bacterial populations, contributing to their diversity and adaptation.
