Taxonomy Flashcards
Who was LINNAEUS?
Established the system of scientific nomenclature: Genus and species.
Name all of the organisms in Kingdom Monera
BACTERIA
ARCHAEBACTERIA
VIRUSES
What are the characteristics of Bacteria? x5
Prokaryotes (no nucleus) Reproduce by binary fission Peptidoglycan cell walls Uses organic (heterotrophs) and inorganic chemicals (Chemoheterotrophs) or photosynthesis (autotrophs) for energy Shapes are rod, coccus, spiral
What are archaebacteria?
The oldest bacteria.
What are 4 characteristics of ARCHAEBACTERIA?
PROKARYOTIC (like bacteria)
Reproduce by binary fission (like bacteria)
LACK peptidoglycan (unlike bacteria)
They are extremophiles (Live in extreme environments; unlike bacteria)
What are the three types of extremophiles, and what conditions do they thrive in?
Methanogens (like methane gas) Extreme Halophiles (like salt) Extreme Thermophiles (like extreme heat or cold)
What is the definition of normal microbiota?
Bacteria that normally live on our bodies but do not cause disease.
Three main types of bacteria
Gram Positive
Gram Negative
Acid Fast
Four main shapes of bacteria
Cocci (ball shaped)
Vibrio (comma shaped)
Bacillus (rod shaped)
Spirochetes (spiral shaped)
Types of Cocci arrangements x6
staphylococcus (grape like clusters) – Staphylococcus aureus
diplococcus (pairs of two)
tetrads (groups of four)
streptococcus (bead necklace)-Streptococcus pyogenes (strep throat)
Types of Bacillus arrangements
Singles
Chains: streptobacillus
What are the 8 characteristics of a VIRUS?
Acellular Consist of DNA or RNA core Core is surrounded by a protein coat Coat may be enclosed in a lipid envelope Obligate intracellular parasites; live at the expense of host Smallest of all microbes Replicates in living host cell Antibiotics do not work; requires antiviral agents
Where do viruses replicate?
Viruses are replicated only when they are in a living host cell. Therefore, they are obligate intracellular parasites.
What do these have in common: HIV, the Common cold, and Hepatitis A?
They are all viruses
Do antibiotics work on viruses?
no
How do antibiotics work?
By interfering with cell wall synthesis or metabolism. Viruses do not have these features
What is an antiviral medicine used for Herpes Simplex 1? Does it cure the disease?
Acyclovir treats but does not cure the virus
What can vaccines do that antibiotics cannot?
Vaccines can prevent some viral infections
What are 3 examples of Protista?
ALGAE
PROTOZOA
FUNGI
What are 4 characteristics of ALGAE?
EUKARYOTES
Cellulose cell walls (like plants)
Use photosynthesis for Energy (autotrophs, like plants)
How do algae differ from plants?
They lack roots, stems, and leaves, and may be unicellular.
What do Algae use for Energy?
They use photosynthesis
What do Algae produce?
They produce molecular oxygen and organic compounds.
What type of cell walls are Algae composed of?
Cellulose cell walls
What are characteristics of Protozoa?
Eukaryotes
Ingest organic chemicals (heterotrophs)
Are usually motile (can move) either by pseudopods (false foot), cilia (hairs) or flagella (tail).
Name two diseases caused by protozoa
Malaria (carried by mosquitoes)
Amoebiasis (food and water poisoning).
What are the characteristics of fungi?
Eukaryotes
Cell walls made of chitin
Heterotrophic (cannot make own food; have to eat something)
Use only organic chemicals for energy
Are fungi plants? Why or why not?
No, because they are not autotrophs (don’t use photosynthesis)
What are the three types of fungi?
Molds, mushrooms, and yeasts
What is the difference between molds and yeasts?
Molds are multicellular; Yeasts are unicellular
What are two types of yeasts we will cover?
Saccharomyces (used to make beer) Candida albicans (vaginal yeast infections)
What are the characteristics of plants?
Photosynthetic (use sunlight to make food)
Autotrophs (make their own food)
Have roots, stems, and leaves
Do plants cause microbiological diseases?
no
What are the two types of animals we will cover?
Helminthes (flat worms and tapeworms)
Nematodes (roundworms)
What are characteristics of HELMINTHES AND NEMATODES ? (parasitic worms) AND ENDOPARASITES
Eukaryotes
Helminthes: parasitic flat worms and tapeworms
Nematodes: parasitic roundworms
Endoparasites: animals that live inside other animals through fecal contamination
What are the Taxonomic Ranks?
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SpeciesWhat is a mnemonic to remember the order of the Taxonomic Ranks?
Dashing King Phillip Came Over From Greece Singing
Define BIOTECHNOLOGY
The manipulation of biological organisms to make products that benefit human beings.
Give 4 examples of uses for biotechnology
Food production
Waste disposal
Mining
Medicine
What is Microbial ecology?
the study of the relationship between microorganisms and their environment
What is Microbial genetics?
The study of the mechanisms by which microorganisms inherit traits.
What is Microbial physiology?
the study of the metabolism of microbes
What is Molecular biology?
the science of dealing with DNA and protein synthesis of living organisms.
What is Genomics?
the study of an organism’s genes; used to classify a microorganisms.
What is Bioremediation?
Any process that uses microorganisms to return the environment altered by contaminants to its original condition. It is when bacteria are used to clean up pollutants such as oil spills and industrial toxic wastes, mercury, degrade organic matter in sewage.
What is pharmacology?
Production of pure chemicals as pharmaceuticals
What are some examples of pharmaceuticals derived from pure chemicals?
Insulin, growth factors, Antibodies
What are probiotics?
Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host
How are probiotics commonly used?
They are bacteria added to milk, yogurt, and other foods.
What is the most common group of microbes used for probiotics?
LAB
What provides the characteristic sour taste of fermented dairy foods?
LAB
What acts as a preservative, by lowering the pH and creating fewer opportunities for spoilage organisms to grow?
LAB
What is Genetic engineering?
Making bacteria and fungi produce a variety of proteins including vaccines and enzymes.
Describe how Bacterial Genetic Engineering works within BIOTECHNOLOGY
Restriction enzymes cut the DNA strands of any organism at precise points.
This is how the sequence of a person’s DNA can be determined.
A specific gene can be removed from one bacterium and inserted it into another using restriction enzymes.
What are transgenic bacteria?
bacteria to which a gene from a different species has been transferred
What is an example of use for transgenic Bacteria?
Inserting a gene into E coli bacteria, to make it produce insulin for us
What is Recombinant DNA?
DNA which is manipulated and inserted into an organism to give it traits we want.
What is the function of E.coli in our intestines?
helping to digest food that we cannot digest.
What do our colon bacteria do for us? How does this affect the body?
Microbes produce folic acid, biotin, and vitamin K, substances we need to survive but cannot make ourselves. Useful microbes compete for nutrients in our body, keeping out harmful bacteria.
What leads to evolution of bacteria
Mutation leads to evolution of bacteria
What happens to some bacteria that are exposed to insufficient doses of antibiotics, or for a duration that is not long enough?
Antibiotic use causes resistance and evolution of bacteria
How does travel affect the body in terms of microbes?
Travel exposes us to microbes we are not used to
How does deforestation (removal of trees, especially in the tropics, Africa, Central America) affect the ecosystem and microbes?
Deforestation destroys the ecosystem and disturbs natural balance of microbes
What is a Nosocomial disease and how is it acquired?
Acquired in hospitals; an infection that develops during the course of a hospital stay and was not present at the time the patient was admitted.
Define Neonate?
Newborn
What does it mean to be Immunocompromised?
Immune system is not working properly, so person is vulnerable to disease caused by normal microbiota
What do bacteria recycle?
Carbon, Nutrients, Sulfates & Phosphates
What is a natural alternative for pesticides?
Bacteria
What are the benefits of using bacteria in place of pesticides?
Environmentally friendly, Little or no effect on humans, wildlife, pollinators and most other beneficial insects
