Taxonomy

Question 1

List the steps of the scientific method.

Answer 1

1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or a group of phenomena
2. Formulate a hypothesis.
3. Performance of properly designed experiments
4. Draw conclusions.

Question 2

List and describe the rules of science.

Answer 2

1. Science is guided by natural law-physical and chemical laws govern the state of existence
2. Science has to be explained by reference to natural law-no supernatural forces or causes or explanations allowed
3. Science is testable against the empirical world-observations must be made in the real world for them to have scientific value
4. Science’s conclusions are tentative-all scientific conclusions are subject to further verification
5. Science is falsifiable-can be proven to be false

Question 3

Define Theory

Answer 3

well substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, and tested hypotheseses

Question 4

Define Law

Answer 4

descriptive generalization of how some aspect of the natural world behaves under stated circumstances

Question 5

Define Fact

Answer 5

observation that has has been repeatedly confirmed and for all practical purposes is accepted as “true”

Question 6

Define Hypothesis

Answer 6

tentative statement about the natural world leading to deductions that can be tested

Question 7

How does general society vs. scientists use these terms?

Answer 7

Society ranks them Hypothesis, theory, law, then fact; while scientists rank them fact, hypothesis, law, then theory

Question 8

Define microbiology

Answer 8

the study of living things too small to be seen with the naked eye (microorganisms)

Question 9

Define taxonomy

Answer 9

The science of classification

Question 10

Define Phylogeny

Answer 10

the study of evolutionary history of a group of organisms

Question 11

Define prokaryotic species

Answer 11

a population of cells with similar characteristics

Question 12

What are the main differences between a eukaryote and prokaryote?

Answer 12

Prokaryotes have no nucleus and no membrane-bound organelles.
Eukaryotes have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Question 13

Why is the study of microbiology important?

Answer 13

To understand how the world around us works and the role of life on Earth; microbes are everywhere

Question 14

How are all living things alike (structures and characteristics)?

Answer 14

Life is organized, requires energy, maintains equilibrium, reproduces, evolves, and has DNA

Question 15

How did Aristotle and Linnaeus classify organisms?

Answer 15

Aristotle classified them in 2 groups, plants and animals, and Linnaeus classified them in two kingdoms that branched out

Question 16

Explain Whittaker’s 5 Kingdom System of Classification. How does Woese’s Three Domain System of Classification relate to Whittaker’s system?

Answer 16

Whittaker divided into the 5 kingdoms of prokaryota/Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia
These relate because it shows how all living things can be grouped into smaller divisions more like one another

Question 17

How were bacteria classified according to the 5 Kingdom System?

Answer 17

They were classified in the prokaryotae/monera kingdom

Question 18

What was the basis for Woese to classify organisms in the Three Domain System?

Answer 18

Sequenced the 16S portion of the ribosomal RNA to show evolutionary relatedness

Question 19

What is a ribosome?

Answer 19

Site of protein synthesis that is composed of RNA and proteins

Question 20

Explain the endosymbiotic therory some lines of evidence which supports the Endosymbiotic Theory.

Answer 20

cells evolved a nuclear membrane; eukaryotic cell organelles evolved from prokaryotic cells living inside of the cell
Chloroplast and Mitochondrial Evidence-they have double membranes,only be produced by division of pre-existing mitochondria and chloroplasts, have their own naked and circular DNA, and the have ribosomes that are 70S in size

Question 21

Why are ribosomes important in studying phylogeny?

Answer 21

They are in all cells and the sequence is fairly similar so that when it is different the change stands out

Question 22

Explain/List the rules of scientific (binomial) nomenclature and its importance.

Answer 22

1.Genus is capitalized
2. Second name of species, the specific epithet is not capitalized
3.Always underlined or italicized
4.usually tells you something about the organism
The importance is that one organism has the exact same name regardless of where in the world the person is that is talking about it

Question 23

Manual used to identify bacterial species.

Answer 23

Bergey’s Manuals (there is 2)