Scope Of Microbiology Flashcards
The major groups of organisms studied in microbiology
bacteria,
algae,
fungi,
viruses,
protozo
the study of microbes
Microbiology
- Single-celled organisms with various shapes (spherical, rod, spiral).
- Lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Bacteria
- Similar to bacteria, single-celled, no nucleus.
- Genetically and metabolically distinct; often extremophiles.
Archaea
- Single or multicellular, with a nucleus and intracellular structures.
- Photosynthetic, important food sources, mostly non-pathogenic.
Algae
- Single or multicellular with a nucleus.
- Absorb nutrients, decomposers, some cause diseases or produce antibiotics.
Fungi
Acellular, extremely small, need host cells to replicate.
Can cause diseases; include viroids and prions.
Viruses
Single-celled with a nucleus, can move, some are pathogenic.
Protozoa
Macroscopic, can cause or transmit diseases through microscopic stages.
Helminths and Arthropods
Historical Roots
Mosaic Laws
Biblical sanitation laws, such as waste burial and leper isolation,
influenced preventive medicine.
Mosaic Laws
Greek Contributions
Hippocrates
Thucydides
Linked diseases with symptoms, recognized disease
transmission
Hippocrates
Noted immunity in plague survivor
Thucydides
Roman Insights
Varro
Lucretius
Black Death
Proposed microscopic organisms cause disease.
Varro
Mentioned “seeds” of disease.
Lucretius
Plague killed millions in Europe during the 14th century.
Black Death
Microscope Development:
Robert Hooke (1665
Anton van Leeuwenhoek
Coined “cell” observing cork.
Robert Hooke (1665)
Observed microorganisms, advanced microbiology
Anton van Leeuwenhoek
Developed a classification system.
Carolus Linnaeus
Formulated by Schleiden and Schwann, identifying cells as life’s
fundamental units.
Cell Theory
Divisions and Significance
of Microbiology
Immunology
Virology
Chemotherapy
Microbial Genetics
- was first used against smallpox; Jenner used fluid from cowpox
blisters to immunize against it.
• Pasteur developed techniques to weaken organisms so they would produce
immunity without producing disease.
Immunology
Study of viruses
Virology
Griffith discovered that previously harmless bacteria could change their
nature and become capable of causing disease. This genetic change was shown
by Avery, McCarty, and MacLeod to be due to DNA. Tatum and Beadle studied
biochemical mutants of Neurospora to show how genetic information controls
metabolism.
Genetics and Molecular Biology
Project has identified the location and sequence of all
bases in the human genome. Microbes and microbiological techniques have
contributed to this work.
• Over 100 bacterial genomes have been sequenced completely. A few have
two instead of one chromosome.
Genomics
