Module 1

Question 1

Algae

Answer 1

a common term for several unrelated groups of photosynthetic eukaryotic microorganisms. Most are now considered protists

Question 2

Archaea

Answer 2

members of the domain Archaea

Question 3

Atomic force microscope

Answer 3

a scanning probe microscope that has a tiny probe that scans along the sample detecting small variations in surface topology. The scanned surface data is used to generate a visual representation of the object surface for viewing.

Question 4

Bacteria

Answer 4

members of the domain Bacteria

Question 5

Bright-field Microscope

Answer 5

A light microscope in which visible light passes through the specimen to reach the eye

Question 6

Confocal microscope

Answer 6

a microscope using precisely focused laser light applied in a scanning pattern through multiple parallel planes with image data captured only at the focal point of the capturing lens to generate a compound three dimensional image.

Question 7

Contrast

Answer 7

detectable visual contrast between two points i.e. black versus white

Question 8

Dark-field microscope

Answer 8

A light microscope in which visible light must be deflected off of the specimen to reach the eye.

Question 9

Differential Interference Contrast Microscope

Answer 9

use differences in refractive indices and thickness of different parts of the specimen to create a visible image

Question 10

Differential staining

Answer 10

Combination of two or more stains to differentiate different sample constituents from each other

Question 11

Electron microscope

Answer 11

a microscope utilizing beams of electrons in place of light to visualize samples.

Question 12

Eukarya

Answer 12

domain of life containing all eukaryotic cells

Question 13

Eukaryotic cells

Answer 13

Cells that have a membrane-delimited nucleus; all plants, fungi, protists and animals are eukaryotic

Question 14

Fixation

Answer 14

treatment of a sample to have it remain attached to the slide and/or retain its three dimensional structure(s) during staining and viewing

Question 15

Fluorescent microscope

Answer 15

a microscope that captures the image of fluorescent molecules (natural, dyes or tags) that are stimulated to release visible light in response to being bombarded with light in that molecules excitation spectra (range of wavelengths).

Question 16

Fungi

Answer 16

achlorophyllous, heterotrophic, spore-bearing eukaryotes with absorptive nutrition and a walled thallus

Question 17

Gram stain

Answer 17

a very common bacterial differential stain that reveals information about the bacteria’s outer wall make up

Question 18

Lens

Answer 18

bends rays of light rays of light (or electrons) to focus on the specimen

Question 19

Light microscopes:

Answer 19

utilize lenses to bend light beams to focus and magnify images of the sample.

Question 20

Magnification

Answer 20

the process of increasing the apparent size of an object, usually using lenses. Each lens will have a defined magnification value.

Question 21

Microbiology

Answer 21

the study of microorganisms

Question 22

Microbiome

Answer 22

the totality of microorganisms and microbial genomes that constitute a host’s normal microbiota

Question 23

Microorganism

Answer 23

an organism that is usually too small to be seen with the naked eye and is often unicellular, or if multicellular, does not exhibit a high degree of differentiation

Question 24

Phase-contrast microscope

Answer 24

A light microscope that manipulates the light path of light transmitted through or reflected from the sample to accentuate slight differences in the phase of light to increase contrast and facilitate viewing without staining.

Question 25

Prokaryotic cells

Answer 25

cells that lack internal membrane enclosed compartments; Bacteria and Archaea are prokaryotes

Question 26

Protist

Answer 26

unicellular and sometimes colonial eukaryotic organisms that lack cellular differentiation into tissues. Many chemoorganotrophic protists are referred to as protozoa, many phototrophic protists are referred to as algae.

Question 27

Refractive index

Answer 27

the value that describes how fast light moves through a given substance relative to a vacuum. The greater the number, the slower light moves and the greater the angle of deflection on transitioning from a vacuum (or air) into the substance.

Question 28

Resolution

Answer 28

the ability to distinguish two spots as separate. The higher the resolution the clearer an image appears.

Question 29

Scanning electron microscope

Answer 29

an electron microscope that generates an image as electrons are deflected from an object’s surface

Question 30

Slime molds

Answer 30

a common term for members of the protest taxa Myxogastria and Dictyostelia.

Question 31

Staining

Answer 31

Addition of colored dye to a specimen to aid viewing of detail

Question 32

Transmission electron microscope

Answer 32

an electron microscope that generates an image as electrons are blocked passing through thin sections of the sample

Question 33

Viruses

Answer 33

an infectious agent having a simple acellular organization with a protein coat and a nucleic acid genome, lacking independent metabolism, and multiplying only within living host cells.

Question 34

Water molds

Answer 34

Öomycetes; a collective name for protists also known as water molds. Formerly thought to be fungi.