MICROBIAL TAXONOMY

Question 1

An area of biological science comprising of
CLASSIFICATION, NOMENCLATURE and
IDENTIFICATION of organisms

Provides a consistent means to organize, name
and identify organisms

Provides a common label for every organism

Answer 1

Taxonomy

Question 2

Organization of
microorganisms that
share similar
morphologic,
physiologic, and
genetic traits into
specific groups or taxa

Answer 2

Classification

Question 3

(similar species)

Answer 3

Genus

Question 4

(similar genera)

Answer 4

Family

Question 5

(similar families)

Answer 5

Order

Question 6

(similar orders)

Answer 6

Class

Question 7

(similar classes)

Answer 7

Division

Question 8

(similar divisions)

Answer 8

Kingdom

Question 9

Most basic taxonomic group

Collection of bacterial strains
w/ common physiologic and
genetic features

Answer 9

Species

Question 10

taxonomic

subgroup w/in a species

Answer 10

Subspecies

Question 11

Biotype, serotype,

genotype

Answer 11

– groups below
the subspecies level that
share minor but specific
characteristics

Question 12

Naming of microorganisms is based on established rules and guidelines set
forth by

Answer 12

International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (ICNB) or
Bacteriological Code (BC)

Question 13

Established in 1735 by

Answer 13

Carolus Linnaeus

Question 14

genetic makeup

DNA base composition ratio

Nucleic acid base sequence base analysis

Answer 14

Genotypic characteristics

Question 15

Process by w/c a microorganism’s key features are delineated

Answer 15

Identification

Question 16

observable characteristics

• Macroscopic morphology
• Microscopic morphology
• Staining characteristics
• Environmental requirements
• Nutritional requirements
• Resistance profiles
• Antigenic properties
• Subcellular properties

Answer 16

Phenotypic characteristics

Question 17

Genotypic Criteria

Examples

Answer 17

DNA base composition ratio

Nucleic acid base sequence analysis

Question 18

4 bases (guanine, cytosine, adenine, thymine)

Example: an organism with a G/C content of 50% is related to
another organism w/ the same G/C content

Answer 18

DNA base composition ratio

Question 19

Base sequence is the order of bases along a DNA or RNA strand;
the extent to w/c sequences are homologous b/n 2 microorganisms
can be determined by molecular methods.

Answer 19

Nucleic acid base sequence analysis

Question 20

Characteristics of microbial growth pattern on culture media

E.g. size, shape, texture, pigmentation of colonies

Answer 20

Macroscopic morphology

Question 21

Size, shape, intracellular inclusions, cellular appendages, and
arrangement of cells under the microscope

Answer 21

Microscopic morphology

Question 22

Staining reaction/affinity to dyes as an aid to identification. E.g.
Gram stain, acid fast stain

Answer 22

Staining characteristics

Question 23

Ability of organism to grow at various temperatures, in the

presence of oxygen and other gases, at various pH levels etc

Answer 23

Environmental requirements

Question 24

Exhibition of a characteristic inherent resistance to specific
antibiotics, heavy metals, or toxins by certain microorganisms

Answer 24

Resistance profiles

Question 25

Profiling microorganisms by various serologic and immunologic
methods

Answer 25

Antigenic properties

Question 26

Establishment of molecular constituents like components of the: cell
wall, cell membrane and enzymatic contents

Answer 26

Subcellular properties