Microbiology
The Scope of Microbiology and the kinds of work Microbiologists do: Name
some things microbiology has an impact on. Name some different types of
microbiology. - correct answer ✔- Microbiology has an impact on medicine,
agriculture, food science, ecology, genetics, biochemistry, immunology, and
many other fields.
- Many microbiologists are primarily interested in the biology of
microorganisms, while others focus on specific groups.
- Virologists - viruses ; Bacteriologists - bacteria ; Phycologists - algae ;
Mycologist -fungi - Protozoologists - protozoa
- Medical Microbiology: deals with diseases of humans and animals; identify
and plan measures to eliminate agents causing infectious diseases.
- Immunology: study of the immune system that protects the body from
pathogens.
- Agricultural Microbiology: impact of microorganisms on agriculture; combat
plant diseases that attack important food crops.
- Food and Dairy Microbiology: prevent microbial spoilage of food &
transmission of food-borne diseases (e.g. salmonellosis); use microorganisms
to make food such as cheeses, yogurts, pickles, beer, etc.
- Industrial Microbiology: using microorganisms to make products such as
antibiotics, vaccines, steroids, alcohols & other solvents, vitamins, amino
acids, enzymes, etc.
- Genetic Engineering: Engineered microorganisms used to make hormones,
antibiotics, vaccines and other products.
What are the five different types of microbes? - correct answer ✔- bacteria,
viruses, archaea, fungi, protists
,What is microbiology? The science of microbiology revolves around what two
interconnected themes (these would be considered two reasons for studying
microbiology)? - correct answer ✔- the study of small life
- 1. Understanding the living world of microscopic organisms / understanding
basic life processes
-- Simple
-- Reproduce quickly
-- Grow densely
- 2. Applying our understanding of microbial life processes for the benefit of
humankind and planet earth.
Microbiologists: What have scientists learned from microorganisms and what
can that generalize to? - correct answer ✔- a sophisticated understanding of
the chemical and physical basis for life.
- These features make them excellent experimental systems for illuminating
life processes common to multicellular organisms.
- They can grow microbial cells to extremely high densities in small-scale
laboratory cultures, making them readily amenable to rapid biochemical and
genetic study.
Microbiology as a basic biological science: - correct answer ✔- Uses and
develops tools for probing the fundamental processes of life.
,Microbiology as an applied science: - correct answer ✔- Microbiology is at
the center of many important aspects of human and veterinary medicine,
agriculture, and industry.
- Many large-scale industrial processes, such as the production of antibiotics
and human proteins, rely heavily on microorganisms.
- Microorganisms affect the everyday lives of humans in both detrimental and
beneficial ways.
Why is microbial life important? - correct answer ✔- Collectively they
constitute the bulk of biomass on Earth and carry out many necessary
chemical reactions for higher organisms. In the absence of microorganisms,
higher life forms would have never evolved and could not now be sustained
What is the extent of microbial life: Where can they be found? About how
many microbial cells are there on Earth? How are they related to biomass on
earth? What are they comparable to? How many more bacterial cells are
there in our bodies compared to human cells? Where do most bacteria live? -
correct answer ✔- Examination of natural materials such as soil and water
invariably reveals microbial cells, but unusual habitats such as boiling hot
springs and glacial ice are also teeming with microorganisms.
- Estimates of total microbial cell numbers on Earth are on the order of 2.5 *
10^30 cells.
- Microorganisms comprise more biomass than all animals
- Comparable amount to plant life
- 10X more bacteria cells than human cells in our bodies
- Most bacteria live under Earth's surface in oceanic and
terrestrial habitats
, Microorganisms are All Cells (Except for Viruses): What is a cell? What is
present in all cells and determines influx and efflux of molecules? What is the
name of the structure that stores genetic information in the form of DNA (hint:
is has a different name depending on cell type)? - correct answer ✔- a
fundamental unit of life
- Has a cell membrane:
-- Present in all cells
-- Defines the cell's boundary
-- Determines influx and efflux of molecules
- Has a nucleus (eukaryote) or nucleoid (prokaryote):
-- Stores genetic information in the form of DNA
What are the 4 basic cell structures of microbial cells and what are their basic
functions? - correct answer ✔- Cytoplasmic (cell) membrane
-- Barrier that separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment
- Cytoplasm
-- Fluid that fills cells
- Ribosomes
-- Protein synthesis
- Cell wall
-- Present in most bacteria, confers
structural strength
The Scope of Microbiology and the kinds of work Microbiologists do: Name
some things microbiology has an impact on. Name some different types of
microbiology. - correct answer ✔- Microbiology has an impact on medicine,
agriculture, food science, ecology, genetics, biochemistry, immunology, and
many other fields.
- Many microbiologists are primarily interested in the biology of
microorganisms, while others focus on specific groups.
- Virologists - viruses ; Bacteriologists - bacteria ; Phycologists - algae ;
Mycologist -fungi - Protozoologists - protozoa
- Medical Microbiology: deals with diseases of humans and animals; identify
and plan measures to eliminate agents causing infectious diseases.
- Immunology: study of the immune system that protects the body from
pathogens.
- Agricultural Microbiology: impact of microorganisms on agriculture; combat
plant diseases that attack important food crops.
- Food and Dairy Microbiology: prevent microbial spoilage of food &
transmission of food-borne diseases (e.g. salmonellosis); use microorganisms
to make food such as cheeses, yogurts, pickles, beer, etc.
- Industrial Microbiology: using microorganisms to make products such as
antibiotics, vaccines, steroids, alcohols & other solvents, vitamins, amino
acids, enzymes, etc.
- Genetic Engineering: Engineered microorganisms used to make hormones,
antibiotics, vaccines and other products.
What are the five different types of microbes? - correct answer ✔- bacteria,
viruses, archaea, fungi, protists
,What is microbiology? The science of microbiology revolves around what two
interconnected themes (these would be considered two reasons for studying
microbiology)? - correct answer ✔- the study of small life
- 1. Understanding the living world of microscopic organisms / understanding
basic life processes
-- Simple
-- Reproduce quickly
-- Grow densely
- 2. Applying our understanding of microbial life processes for the benefit of
humankind and planet earth.
Microbiologists: What have scientists learned from microorganisms and what
can that generalize to? - correct answer ✔- a sophisticated understanding of
the chemical and physical basis for life.
- These features make them excellent experimental systems for illuminating
life processes common to multicellular organisms.
- They can grow microbial cells to extremely high densities in small-scale
laboratory cultures, making them readily amenable to rapid biochemical and
genetic study.
Microbiology as a basic biological science: - correct answer ✔- Uses and
develops tools for probing the fundamental processes of life.
,Microbiology as an applied science: - correct answer ✔- Microbiology is at
the center of many important aspects of human and veterinary medicine,
agriculture, and industry.
- Many large-scale industrial processes, such as the production of antibiotics
and human proteins, rely heavily on microorganisms.
- Microorganisms affect the everyday lives of humans in both detrimental and
beneficial ways.
Why is microbial life important? - correct answer ✔- Collectively they
constitute the bulk of biomass on Earth and carry out many necessary
chemical reactions for higher organisms. In the absence of microorganisms,
higher life forms would have never evolved and could not now be sustained
What is the extent of microbial life: Where can they be found? About how
many microbial cells are there on Earth? How are they related to biomass on
earth? What are they comparable to? How many more bacterial cells are
there in our bodies compared to human cells? Where do most bacteria live? -
correct answer ✔- Examination of natural materials such as soil and water
invariably reveals microbial cells, but unusual habitats such as boiling hot
springs and glacial ice are also teeming with microorganisms.
- Estimates of total microbial cell numbers on Earth are on the order of 2.5 *
10^30 cells.
- Microorganisms comprise more biomass than all animals
- Comparable amount to plant life
- 10X more bacteria cells than human cells in our bodies
- Most bacteria live under Earth's surface in oceanic and
terrestrial habitats
, Microorganisms are All Cells (Except for Viruses): What is a cell? What is
present in all cells and determines influx and efflux of molecules? What is the
name of the structure that stores genetic information in the form of DNA (hint:
is has a different name depending on cell type)? - correct answer ✔- a
fundamental unit of life
- Has a cell membrane:
-- Present in all cells
-- Defines the cell's boundary
-- Determines influx and efflux of molecules
- Has a nucleus (eukaryote) or nucleoid (prokaryote):
-- Stores genetic information in the form of DNA
What are the 4 basic cell structures of microbial cells and what are their basic
functions? - correct answer ✔- Cytoplasmic (cell) membrane
-- Barrier that separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment
- Cytoplasm
-- Fluid that fills cells
- Ribosomes
-- Protein synthesis
- Cell wall
-- Present in most bacteria, confers
structural strength
