Module 1: Introduction to Clinical Microbiology

Question 1

Define taxonomy

Answer 1

Science of classification

Question 2

Define classification

Answer 2

Arrangement of organisms into taxonomic groups based on similarities

Question 3

Define nomenclature

Answer 3

Assignment of names

Question 4

Define identification

Answer 4

Determining which group a new isolate belongs to

Question 5

Give characteristics of eukaryotic microorganisms

Answer 5

Organized nucleus with several chromosomes

Nucleus has nuclear membrane

Question 6

Give characteristics of prokaryotic microorganisms

Answer 6

Lack organized nucleus
No nuclear membrane
Single circular chromosome

Question 7

Are bacteria prokaryotic or eukaryotic?

Answer 7

Prokaryotic

Question 8

Are fungi prokaryotic or eukaryotic?

Answer 8

Eukaryotic

Question 9

What were the 2 original kingdom names? Where were bacteria placed?

Answer 9

Animalia and plantae

Bacteria were plantae

Question 10

What was the 3rd kingdom to be added? What was it for?

Answer 10

Protista

For all microorganisms

Question 11

Why was a 4th kingdom created? What is it called? What’s in it?

Answer 11

To separate prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms

Procaryotae - prokaryotic microorganisms (all bacteria)

Question 12

What are the 8 taxonomic groups from largest to smallest?

Answer 12

Kingdom
Division/Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Tribe
Genus
Species

Question 13

Define species

Answer 13

Cells with similar characteristics

Indistinguishable from each other, but not from other species

Question 14

What is a type strain?

Answer 14

One strain of the species

Reference specimen for that name

Question 15

What does a species consist of?

Answer 15

Type strain and all strains similar enough to be included

Question 16

What is a subspecies?

Answer 16

Taxonomic subgroup smaller than species

Minor but consistent differences from the type species

Question 17

What is a biotype/biovar?

Answer 17

Type of subspecies distinguished by biochemical or physiological properties that differ from the type strain

Question 18

What is a serotype/serovar?

Answer 18

Type of subspecies distinguished by distinctive antigenic or serological properties that differ from the type strain

Question 19

What is the key system of identification? What is heavily weighted?

Answer 19

Classification where all bacterial characteristics were identified and weighted
Shape and gram reactions are heavily weighted

Question 20

What is the problem with the key system?

Answer 20

Bacteria were placed into genera but were genetically unrelated species

Question 21

What are the 4 nitrogenous bases of DNA?

Answer 21

Cytosine, adenine, guanine, and thymine

Question 22

Which nitrogenous bases will bacteria of the same species have the same content of? ex: 30%

Answer 22

G+C bases

Question 23

Will two bacterias with the same G+C content be identical?

Answer 23

No, the sequence may be different

Question 24

What might nucleic acid hybridization be used for?

Answer 24

Single stranded DNA will hybridize with another single strand of DNA if the organisms are the same

Question 25

What in nucleic acid hybridization determines the similarity of two organisms?

Answer 25

The degree of hybridization

Question 26

What is included in numerical taxonomy? How are these things weighted?

Answer 26

Large number of characteristics Morphology, biochemical properties, G+C content, etc Each weighted equally

Question 27

What is the suffix used in the family taxonomic group?

Answer 27

-aceae

Question 28

Which of the following would represent a family in bacterial classification? a. Bacillus b. Bacilleae c. Bacillales d. Bacillaceae

Answer 28

d. Bacillaceae

Question 29

A prokaryotic cell differs from a eukaryotic cell in the the prokaryotic cell lacks: a. plasma membrane b. nuclear membrane c. cell wall d. ribosomes

Answer 29

b. nuclear membrane

Question 30

Groups of strains of bacteria within a species that differ by specific biochemical properties are designated by the term: a. pathovar b. biovar c. serovar d. type strain

Answer 30

b. biovar

Question 31

On the basis of usual endings, which of the following would not be a genus? a. Staphylococci b. Steptococcus c. Shigella d. Clostridium

Answer 31

a. Staphylococci

Question 32

Which example is in order from largest to smallest? a. family, class, tribe, genus b. division, class, order, family c. species, genus, family, order d. kingdom, family, class, species

Answer 32

b. division, class, order, family | King David Came Over For The Good Spaghetti

Question 33

The kindgom used for classification of bacteria in Bergey's Manual is: a. Plantae b. Protista c. Procaryotae d. Animalia

Answer 33

c. Procaryotae

Question 34

A system that attempts to classify on the basis of percentage of guanine and cytosine present is: a. key system b. uses numerical taxonomy c. determines nucleic acid composition d. uses nucleic acid hybridization techniques

Answer 34

c. determines nucleic acid composition