Module 1

Question 1

definition: phylogenetic approach to studying evolution

Answer 1

using rRNA sequences

Question 2

definition: biogeochemistry

Answer 2

transition of chemicals b/w organic and inorganic forms, and oxidized and reduced forms, as part of energy transfer within the ecosystem

Question 3

microorganisms vs microbes

Answer 3

microbes include viruses

Question 4

list the macromolecules dry weights in a cell in decreasing orders

Answer 4

polypeptides (50-55), rRNA (15-20), lipids (10), polysaccharides (6-7), DNA (2-5)

Question 5

who was responsible for the production of oxygen gas at the beginning?

Answer 5

cyanobacteria (~3 billion years ago)

Question 6

who discovered microorganisms

Answer 6

Robert Hooke (looked at fruiting structure of mold)

Question 7

who first saw and discovered bacteria

Answer 7

Antonie von Leeuwenhoek

Question 8

why do we study microorganisms

Answer 8

• fast, inexpensive, and easy to grow
• produce enzymes and other molecules for industrial/medical uses
• fewer genes and single-celled, makes genetic manipulation easier

Question 9

what are the basic requirements for microbial life

Answer 9

• metabolism
• growth
• reproduction
• genetic variation/evolution
• response/adaption
• homeostasis

Question 10

who discovered archaea

Answer 10

Carl Woese

Question 11

which domains contain histones

Answer 11

archaea and eukarya

Question 12

what RNA polymerase do archaea have

Answer 12

single polymerase, eukaryal-like RNA pol II

Question 13

what does a reducing atmosphere mean

Answer 13

atmosphere contained many gaseous and dissolved compounds with electrons to donate to redox reactions

Question 14

what gases would have been present in early Earth conditions

Answer 14

• methane
• carbon monoxide
• carbon dioxide
• cyanide
• hydrogen gas

Question 15

what is the RNA world hypothesis

Answer 15

RNA could have served to create early life-like “cells”

Question 16

why is DNA needed when there is RNA

Answer 16

DNA is more stable

Question 17

what are some features of the earliest microbes

Answer 17

• able to metabolize iron and/or sulfur
• thermophiles
• anaerobic
• able to use light energy
• consume inorganic carbon

Question 18

what are autotrophs

Answer 18

• primary produces
• fix CO2 into organic molecules
• ingests inorganic carbon, without C-C bonds

Question 19

what are heterotrophs

Answer 19

• organisms that ingest organic molecules from primary produces
• ingests molecules with C-C bonds

Question 20

who disproved the theory of spontaneous generation

Answer 20

Louis Pasteur

Question 21

what are Koch’s postulates

Answer 21

1. streak a sample of a diseased animal onto a plate of bacterial growth medium, one organism should be found in diseased animals and not in healthy ones
2. obtain pure cultures of the suspected pathogen
3. inoculate the healthy animal with the suspected pathogen
4. you should be able to identify the suspected pathogen in the newly diseased animal and culture it again

Question 22

what do Helicobacter pylori cause

Answer 22

stomach ulcers

Question 23

what does Yersinia pestis cause

Answer 23

bubonic plague

Question 24

what causes smallpox

Answer 24

the smallpox virus

Question 25

what are 2 ways to prevent infection

Answer 25

1. antimicrobial compounds (antibiotics, vaccinations, and antiseptics)
2. sanitation improvements