Microbiology: The Main Themes of Microbiology Chapter 1 Flashcards
Eukaryotes
True nucleus: Complex cell. Unicellular (microscopic) and multicellular, nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Prokaryotes
Pre-nucleus: simple cell. Microscopic unicellular organisms, lack nuclei and membrane-bound organelles.
Viruses
Acellular, parasitic particles composed of a nucleic acid and protein.
Biotechnology
Production of foods, drugs, and vaccines using living organisms.
Genetic Engineering
Manipulating the genes of organisms to make new products.
Bioremediation
Using living organisms ton remedy an environmental problem.
Photosynthesis
Light fueled conversion of carbon dioxide to organic material.
Decomposition
Breakdown of dead matter and wastes into simple compounds.
Parasites
Live on or in the body of another organism called the host and it damages the host.
Pathogens
Microbes that do harm.
Antoine van Leeuwenhoek
(1632-1723) Dutch linen merchant. First to observe living microbes. Single lens magnified up to 300X.
Spontaneous Generation
Early belief at some forms of life could arise from vital forces present in nonliving or decomposing matter. (Flies from manure, etc)
Louis Pastur
Disproved Spontaneous Generation and proved Theory of Biogenesis- the idea that living things can only arise from other living things.
Hypothesis
A tentative explanation that can be supported or referred.
Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes
Observed that mothers of home births had fewer infections than those who gave birth in hospitals.
Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis
Correlated infections with physicians coming directly from the autopsy room to the maternity ward
Joseph Lister
Introduced aseptic techniques to reduce microbes in medical settings and prevent wound infections. Involved disinfection of hands using chemicals prior to surgery and use of heat for sterilization.
John Tyndall and Ferdinand Cohn
Demonstrated the presence of heat resistant forms of microbes. Cohn determined these forms to be heat resistant bacterial called endospores.
Endospores
Heat resistant microbes
Sterility
Requires the elimination of all life forms including endospores and viruses.
The Germ Theory of Disease
Many diseases are cause by the growth if microbes in the body and not by sins, bad character, or poverty, etc.
Major contributors: Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch
Louis Pasteur
(1822-1895)
Showed microbes caused fermentation and spoilage.
Disproved spontaneous generation of microorganisms.
Developed pasteurization.
Demonstrated what is now known as the Germ Theory of Disease.
Robert Koch
(1843-1910)
Established Koch’s postulates- a sequence of experimental steps that verified the grim theory.
Identified cause of anthrax, TB, and cholera.
Developed pure culture methods.
Taxonomy
Organizing, classifying, and naming living things.
Originated by Carl Von Linné