Microbiology Final (Reading Questions) Flashcards
Define autotroph and heterotroph organisms and give one example of each
Autotroph: organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals; sometimes called producers.
Heterotroph: organism that cannot manufacture its own food; derives its intake form other sources. Secondary or tertiary consumer
Define motile and sessile organisms
Motile: self-propelled, walking, slithering, swimming and flying. Many single-celled organisms use flagellar mobility, amoeboid movement, gliding motility, etc.
Sessile: can move via external forces but are usually permanently attached to something.
Compare and contrast the theory of spontaneous generation and the theory of biogenesis. Name the scientist who completely disproved the theory of spontaneous generation?
Spontaneous generation is that in certain conditions non-living items can produce life (e.g. rotten meat gives life to maggots and flies).
Biogenesis: life begets life
Pasteur disproved the theory of biogenesis.
List three differences of cell wall and cell membrane and list three living organisms that have cell wall and one living organism that does not have cell wall
Cell membrane is present in all cells; cell wall is not present in animal cells
Cell wall is made up of different materials for different cells (e.g. plant cell versus fungal cell)
Cell wall in plant cell, fungal cell and bacterial cell
List five differences of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
Genetic information Organelles Size (eukaryotes usually bigger) Organisms Cell structure
List three differences of sexual and asexual reproduction
Asexual: -Genetically uniform -One organism -Efficient and fast -Simple organisms (bacteria) Sexual reproduction -Uniting of two gametes -Diversity -More time consuming (two gametes finding each -other) -Harder
Which of the following human pathogens does not have a cell wall? A) bacteria B) Fungi C) Protists D) Helminths
D) Helminths
List three differences of a virus and a bacterial cell
- Viruses are not considered living while bacteria are
- Viruses need a host in order to reproduce unlike bacteria that can reproduce independently
- Bacteria have a cell wall while viruses do not; some viruses have an envelope
Explain the structure of a nucleotide
Nucleotides are composed of three subunit molecules: a nitrogenous base (also known as nucleobase), a five-carbon sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), and a phosphate group consisting of one to three phosphates. The four nitrogenous bases in DNA are guanine, adenine, cytosine and thymine; in RNA, uracil is used in place of thymine.
Define DNA transcription and RNA translation
Transcription is the first of several steps of DNA based gene expression in which a particular segment of DNA is copied into RNA (especially mRNA) by the enzyme RNA polymerase.
Both DNA and RNA are nucleic acids, which use base pairs of nucleotides as a complementary language. During transcription, a DNA sequence is read by an RNA polymerase, which produces a complementary, antiparallel RNA strand called a primary transcript.
RNA translation:
Translation involves “decoding” a messenger RNA (mRNA) and using its information to build a polypeptide, or chain of amino acids. For most purposes, a polypeptide is basically just a protein (with the technical difference being that some large proteins are made up of several polypeptide chains).
Define reverse-transcription and compare it with transcription.
The main difference between transcription and reverse transcription is that transcription is the encoding of the DNA genome into RNA molecules whereas reverse transcription is the encoding of the RNA genome into DNA molecules. mRNA, tRNA or rRNA can be produced during transcription. cDNA is produced during reverse transcription.
Transcription occurs in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes while reverse transcription mainly occurs in RNA viruses.
Is HIV a retrovirus?
HIV is called a retrovirus because it works in a back-to-front way. Unlike other viruses, retroviruses store their genetic information using RNA instead of DNA, meaning they need to ‘make’ DNA when they enter a human cell in order to make new copies of themselves.
What type of genome does HPV have? A.DNA B.RNA C.Both D.None
A. DNA
Which type of pathogen causes mad cow disease, zombie deer disease, Gerstmann–Sträussler–Scheinker syndrome (GSS), Kuru disease, and fatal familial insomnia (FFI) A- Bacteria B- Fungi C- Virus D- Prion
D. Prion
What is a potential way of zombie deer prion (CWD) to be transmitted to humans?
If a human eats infected meat (muscle tissue) or brain tissue from CWD-infected deer and elk.
How Kuru disease is transmitted to others?
The disease was the result of the practice of ritualistic cannibalism among the Fore, in which relatives prepared and consumed the tissues (including brain) of deceased family members. Brain tissue from individuals with kuru was highly infectious, and the disease was transmitted either through eating or by contact with open sores or wounds.
Name a bacterial disease outbreak and a viral disease outbreak that cannot be
controlled by alcohol based hand sanitizers
Bacterial - C.difficile
Viral - norovirus (Causes most forms of gastroenteritis)
Watch this video and explain what is the main advantage of using the robot and how C.diff rates were changed after treating the area with UV robot
Lowers hospital acquired infections
UV can reach hard to reach places
Fabrics and textiles
True or false: Each time we use a given antibiotic it becomes less effective in us and in others
True
According to the video, how many people per year are killed by antibiotic resistance worldwide?
700,000 currently - projected to be 10 million
The presenter suggests two sources to find information about proper use of antibiotics, list them.
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
World Health Organization
Is MRSA considered a sexually transmitted disease?
No
Can MRSA be transmitted to others through sex?
Yes - it is passed by skin-to-skin contact, which is not limited to sexual activity but that can be transmitted by sexual contact
