Microbiology Exam 1 (Chapters 1, 3-5) Questions with Correct Solutions, Graded to Pass

Microbiology - Specialized area of biology that deals with organisms ordinarily too small to be seen without magnification. Microorganisms - A living thing ordinarily too small to be seen without magnification. Classification - Orderly arrangement of organisms into groups. Nomenclature - System of assigning names. Binomial nomenclature - Two-name system of naming organisms (Latin, Greek). Two names: Genus, species. It's always underlined or italicized. Genus first letter always capitalized, species not capitalized. Once it's been mentioned, the genus name can be shortened. Acellular organisms - Viruses. Exist without a cellular structure. Cellular organisms - Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. Prokaryotes - Organisms whose genetic material is not enclosed in membrane and lack specific organelles including a nucleus (bacteria). Eukaryotes - Organisms whose genetic material is enclosed in nucleus (fungi, protozoa, algae). Prokaryotes versus Eukaryotes - Prokaryotic cells are smaller than eukaryotic cells, and in addition to lacking a nucleus, they lack other complex internal compartments called organelles. All prokaryotes are microorganisms while only some eukaryotes are microorganisms (including algae, protozoa, molds and yeasts- and even anthropods). Binary fission - The way bacteria reproduce. Splitting of a parent cell into two equal parts. Mycology - The study of fungi. Phycology - The study of simple photosynthetic eukaryotes (algae) ranging from single celled forms to large seaweeds. Pathogen - Disease causing agents. Genetic engineering - Manipulates the genetics of microbes, plants, and animals for the purpose of creating new products and genetically modified organisms. Recombinant DNA - Switch DNA from one organism to another to design new organisms. Lactic acid bacteria - Dairy products, yogurt and cheese. Curds - Solid chunks of day old milk, (fats and proteins etc. used in cheese) and whey (mostly water). A gallon of milk yields only about 1.25 pounds of cheese (weight lost is water). Whey - Liquid part of day old milk, mostly water. Rennin - Turn caseinogens to casein. Curdling - Products cause milk to separate into curds (the milk solids, fats, proteins, etc. Scientific method - Approach taken by scientists to explain a certain natural phenomenon. Hypothesis - A tentative explanation or statement to account for what is observed or measured. Theory - Hypothesis backed by growing data. Spontaneous generation - Life can rise from nonliving material. Cell theory - All things are made of cells. Biogenesis - the production of living organisms from other living organisms Fermentation - Organisms convert sugar into alcohol or acid (vinegar). Using bacterial/fungal enzymes, convert food substrate from one form to another. Aid in slow food spoilage. Foods use it for flavor and other properties. Fermentation products include Lactic acid, acetic acid, yeast, etc. Pasteurization - To kill organisms by heat, some spoiling agents still stay. Germ theory of disease - Theory that microbes can invade other organisms and cause diseases. Koch's postulates - Set of procedures to determine if a microbe causes a certain disease. Verified the germ theory of disease. Aseptic technique - Aimed at reducing microbes in a medical setting and preventing wound infections. Lister proposed the idea of aspetic techniques and the importance of hand washing and equipment sterilization. Chemotherapy - Treatment of disease by the use of chemical substances. Now problem with drug resistance. Synthetic drugs - Chemical substances made in a lab. Antibiotics - Chemical substance made by microbes. General sizes of macroscopic organisms? - 1 mm