Microbial Taxonomy Flashcards
the science of biological classification.
Taxonomy
the study of the diversity of organisms and their evolutionary relationships.
Systematics or Phylogeny
means of assigning an organism to a specific taxonomic category.
Dichotomous Key
an ordered group of taxonomic ranks used to classify organisms from general to specific.
Taxonomic categories or hierarchy
List down the Taxonomic Categories
Domain (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya)
Kingdom (contains similar divisions or phyla; most inclusive taxa
Phylum (contains similar classes; equivalent to the division taxa in botany)
Class (contains similar orders)
Order (contains similar families)
Family (contains similar genera)
Genus (contains similar species)
Species (specific epithet; most exclusive taxa
What are the major taxonomic characteristics
Morphological characters
Physiological characters
Geographic and behavioural characters
Molecular characters
What are the components of Taxonomy
Classification
Nomenclature
Identification
Taxa are classified based on the similarities in phenotypic (phenetic) characteristics which are expressed in an organism and can be examined visually or can be tested by other means.
Classification
The process of determining a particular (organism) that belongs to a recognized taxon; the process by which a microorganism’s key features are delineated.
Identification
What is Identification?
the process of determining a particular (organism) that belongs to a recognized taxon; the process by which a microorganism’s key features are delineated.
What is Classification?
Taxa are classified based on the similarities in phenotypic (phenetic) characteristics which are expressed in an organism and can be examined visually or can be tested by other means.
(how do you classify, in terms of similarities, types)
A branch of taxonomy concerned with assigning names to taxonomic groups in agreement with published rules.
Nomenclature
Nomenclature
A branch of taxonomy concerned with assigning names to taxonomic groups in agreement with published rules.
What are the systems of classification? give their definition as well.
Artificial Systems – share the same characteristics but they are not closely related to one another genetically.
Natural System – with many of the same characteristics and highly predictive.
Phylogenic (Phyletic) System – Classifying organisms based on descent from a common ancestor.
What are the methods of Classification? give their definition as well.
Phenotypic (Phenetic) Classification System – Groups do not necessarily reflect genetic similarity or evolutionary relatedness. Instead, groups are based on convenient, observable characteristics.
Genotypic classification System – Considers the characteristics of the genome
Groups of the population that can potentially interbreed freely within and among themselves.
Collection of bacterial strains that share common physiology and genetic features and differ notably from other microbial species.
Species
A taxonomic subgroup within a species.
Subspecies
A population of cells derived from a single parent cell and identical.
Clone
Take note of this and memorize!
A strain that came from pure cultures of the same species is not identical in all ways.
What are the types of Strain?
Serovar
Biovar (biotype)
Morphovar (morphotype)
Isolate
A strain differentiated by serological means. Strains vary in their antigenic properties
Serovar
Strains that are differentiated by biochemical or other non-serological means.
Biovar (biotype)
A strain which is differentiated based on morphological distinctions.
Morphovar (morphotype)
A pure culture derived from a heterogeneous, wild population of microorganisms.
Isolate
What are the strain differentiation methods
Protein Profile
Immunological Reaction
Flow Cytometry
Phage typing
He introduced a formal system of classification dividing living organisms into two kingdoms. Plantae and Animalia.
Carolus Linnaeus
Take note of this and memorize!
Every organism is assigned a genus and a species of Latin or Greek derivation by the addition of the appropriate suffix.
Take note of this and memorize!
The naming of microorganisms according to established rules and guidelines outlined in the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (ICNB) or the Bacteriological Code (BC).
Rules governing microbial nomenclature are limited to two taxa. What are those two taxa?
Genera and species known as Binomial Nomenclature.
Try to differentiate Genotype and Phenotype
Genotype
Definition: The set of genes in our DNA which are responsible for a particular trait
Characterized by: Genotyping techniques such as WGS
Depends on: the gene sequences an organism possesses
Inherited? Yes
Example: Genes encoding eye color
Phenotype
Definition: An organism’s observable characteristics and traits
Characterized by: Observing an organism’s outward characteristics
Depends on: Genotype, PLUS epigenetics and environmental factors
Inherited? No
Example: An individual with brown eyes
Relate to an organism’s genetic makeup, including the nature of the organism’s genes and constituent nucleic acids.
Genotypic characteristics
Are based on features beyond the genetic level, including both readily observable characteristics and features that may require extensive analytic procedures to be detected.
Phenotypic characteristics
