Microorganisms - Intro and misc.

Question 1

What are the characteristics of microorganisms?

Answer 1

Simple: unicellular
Small (<200 um); bacteria 1-5 um, virus 20-200nm
Totipotent - each cell has the ability to make a genetic copy of itself
Diverse

Question 2

What are the hallmarks of cellular life?

Answer 2

Membrane and metabolism
Heredity
Evolution
Signaling
Some: motility; differentiation

Question 3

What causes ulcers? What is the shape of this bacteria?

Answer 3

Helicobactor pylori, spirigiulium

Question 4

What did Jeffery Gordan do to show that microbes are one of the factors involved in obesity?

Answer 4

Saw that obese mice had a different microbiota than lean mice. Cultivated those gut microbiota then inserted them into germ-free lean mice and saw that these mice gained a significant amount of weight.
These bacteria are thought to be more efficient in obtaining energy from food.

Question 5

What are the three requirements for good aseptic technique?

Answer 5

1. work area cleansed with antiseptic agent before and after
2. transfer instruments and container openings sterilized directly before and after transfer
3. work is done quickly and efficiently

Question 6

What is difference between streak plate and spread plate and pour plate?

Answer 6

Streak plate is not quantitative, only use it to grow the cells out. The other two are quantitative through serial dilution; difference between these two is whether you put the media in first or the bacteria.