p.5
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
Why are smaller free-living cells more efficient than larger ones?
Because any given mass of nutrients will support the synthesis of more small cells than large cells.
p.3
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What can a single microbial cell placed on a solid nutrient medium do?
It can grow and divide into millions or even billions of cells that form a visible colony.
p.8
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
How many major phylogenetic lineages (phyla) of Bacteria have at least one species that has been grown in culture?
30 major phylogenetic lineages.
p.6
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What is systematics?
The study of the diversity of life and the relationships among living things through time, using taxonomy to understand organisms.
p.7
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What is the purpose of characterization in microbiology?
For identification purposes, comparison with other organisms, and to exploit beneficial characteristics.
p.8
History of Microbiology and Key Figures
How do the phylogenetic ages of Eukarya compare to Bacteria and Archaea?
Eukarya are phylogenetically relatively young compared with Bacteria and Archaea.
p.10
Microbial Abundance and Activity in the Biosphere
What is the estimated number of microbial cells on Earth?
2 x 10^30 microbial cells.
p.5
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What is the relationship between cell radius and surface area?
There is an inverse relationship: lower radius results in higher surface area.
p.7
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What is a taxon?
A taxon is a group of organisms.
p.5
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What are the shapes formed by cocci during cell division?
Pairs (diplococci), long chains (streptococci), three-dimensional cubes (tetrads or sarcinae), and grapelike clusters (staphylococci).
p.13
Theories of Spontaneous Generation vs. Biogenesis
What was the common belief about the origin of life before Pasteur?
Life arose spontaneously from nonliving materials, known as spontaneous generation.
p.6
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What is a strain in microbiology?
A population of organisms that descends from a pure culture isolate or from a species, which may have different attributes despite being nearly identical genetically.
p.2
History of Microbiology and Key Figures
Who invented the first compound microscope?
Zaccharias Janssen in 1597.
p.4
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
Where is DNA located in eukaryotic cells?
Within the membrane-enclosed nucleus as several linear molecules.
p.13
Theories of Spontaneous Generation vs. Biogenesis
What did Pasteur's work on optical isomers reveal?
Living organisms could discriminate between optical isomers, suggesting many abiotic reactions were catalyzed by microbes.
p.9
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What is primary endosymbiosis?
One cell must engulf another to form mitochondria and chloroplasts.
p.9
Viruses and Their Characteristics
What type of genome does Class 2 viruses have?
Single-stranded (+) strand genome.
p.12
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What are pure cultures?
Cultures that contain cells from only a single type of microorganism.
p.6
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What is the purpose of identification in microbiology?
To characterize an isolate and determine its species, verifying authenticity and differentiating between organisms.
p.12
History of Microbiology and Key Figures
What did John Needham claim about organic matter?
He claimed it contained 'vile matter'.
p.5
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What is taxonomy?
The science of biological classification, including describing, identifying, classifying, and naming organisms.
p.1
Definition and Scope of Microbiology
What is microbiology?
The study of organisms and agents too small to be seen by the naked eye, including those that can exist as single cells or acellular forms and contain a nucleic acid genome.
p.6
History of Microbiology and Key Figures
Who was Carolus Linnaeus?
A Swedish botanist, zoologist, and physician known for proposing the Linnaean taxonomy and publishing 'Systema Naturae'.
p.11
Microorganisms in Agriculture and Human Nutrition
Why do humans rely on their gut microbiome?
To break down complex carbohydrates, as human enzymes lack this ability.
p.1
Basic and Applied Microbiology Fields
What does medical microbiology study?
Pathogenic microorganisms and their role in human illnesses, including microbial pathogenesis and infection.
p.1
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What is the role of industrial microbiology?
Exploitation of microorganisms for industrial processes, such as industrial fermentation and wastewater treatment.
p.1
Microbial Ecology and Environmental Impact
What is microbial ecology?
The study of the function and diversity of various groups of microorganisms.
p.9
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What are the major lineages of Eukarya traditionally called?
Kingdoms instead of phyla.
p.3
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What is a microbial culture?
A collection of cells that have been grown in or on a nutrient medium.
p.12
Theories of Spontaneous Generation vs. Biogenesis
What does the Spontaneous Generation Theory propose?
Life emerges from non-living matter and requires a 'vital force'.
p.3
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What distinguishes prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells?
Prokaryotic cells have a nucleoid instead of a nucleus and may have plasmids.
p.7
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What does the International Code for the Nomenclature of Bacteria provide?
Rules for naming bacteria.
p.1
Definition and Scope of Microbiology
What are the two interconnected themes of microbiology?
Understanding the living world of microscopic organisms and applying this understanding for the benefit of humankind and the planet.
p.6
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What is binomial nomenclature?
A two-word naming system for identifying organisms by genus and species.
p.2
Microbial Ecology and Environmental Impact
What properties does the Piptoporus betulinus fungus have?
Laxative and antibiotic properties.
p.3
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What is a medium in microbiology?
A solid nutrient mixture that contains all of the nutrients required for a microorganism to grow.
p.5
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What are the major morphologies of prokaryotic cells?
Coccus (circular), Rods/Bacillus (rod-shaped), Spirillum (curved), and Spirochete (spiral and flexible).
p.2
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What is the scientific name of the yeast responsible for making bread rise?
Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
p.3
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What do all cells possess?
A DNA genome, which is the full set of genes in a cell.
p.13
Theories of Spontaneous Generation vs. Biogenesis
What was the result of Theodore Schwann's experiment?
No growth of microorganisms was observed after passing air through red-hot tubes.
p.2
History of Microbiology and Key Figures
What did Robert Hooke observe with his microscope?
Cells in cork and elongated stalks of fungi.
p.11
Microorganisms in Agriculture and Human Nutrition
What role do microorganisms play in relation to food?
They assist in the digestion of complex carbohydrates and contribute to human nutrition.
p.4
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What is vertical gene transfer?
Gene transfer from parent to offspring.
p.9
Viruses and Their Characteristics
What is Class 1 and 7 in the Baltimore classification?
Genome is double-stranded DNA.
p.2
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What is the role of yeast in fermentation?
Yeast fermentation yields ethanol and CO2.
p.10
History of Microbiology and Key Figures
How old is Earth?
About 4.6 billion years old.
p.5
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What does classification involve?
Grouping organisms into taxa based on mutual similarity or evolutionary relatedness.
p.13
Theories of Spontaneous Generation vs. Biogenesis
What specific mold did Pasteur study in relation to fermentation?
The mold Aspergillus, which metabolized exclusively D-tartrate but not L-tartrate.
p.4
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What is horizontal gene transfer?
Gene transfer from different species, primarily seen in bacteria.
p.3
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What does 'growth' refer to in microbiology?
The increase in cell number as a result of cell division.
p.7
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What are the three major groups of cells?
Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
p.8
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What are the four main phyla of cultivated bacteria?
Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes.
p.12
History of Microbiology and Key Figures
What was Lazzaro Spallanzani's position on Needham's conclusions?
He did not accept Needham's conclusions.
p.8
Microbial Ecology and Environmental Impact
What environments have Archaea historically been associated with?
Extreme environments such as hot, salty, or acidic sites.
p.7
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What are the official publications for taxonomy and classification of microorganisms?
International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology (IJSB) and International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (IJSEM).
p.5
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What is the significance of cell division in morphology?
Cell division impacts morphology because attached cells can form distinctive shapes.
p.6
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What are the principles of nomenclature regarding generic and specific names?
The generic name can change with new information, while the specific name is stable and the oldest epithet takes precedence.
p.1
Basic and Applied Microbiology Fields
What is the focus of immunology in microbiology?
How the body reacts to infections caused by microorganisms and the antibodies produced.
p.4
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
How does cell size affect the surface-to-volume (S/V) ratio?
As cell size decreases, the S/V ratio increases, allowing small cells to exchange nutrients and wastes more rapidly.
p.9
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What is secondary endosymbiosis?
The primary product has been engulfed again.
p.12
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What is aseptic technique?
A collection of practices that allow for the preparation and maintenance of sterile nutrient media and solutions.
p.12
Theories of Spontaneous Generation vs. Biogenesis
What is the Biogenesis Theory?
The theory that 'life begets life'.
p.7
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What is the significance of Bergey's Manual?
It serves as a standard reference for identifying and classifying prokaryotes.
p.2
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What type of organism is yeast?
Yeast is a eukaryotic fungus.
p.4
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
How are the genomes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells organized?
Into structures called chromosomes.
p.10
Microbial Ecology and Environmental Impact
What types of microorganisms could survive in an anoxic atmosphere?
Only microorganisms capable of anaerobic metabolism.
p.13
Theories of Spontaneous Generation vs. Biogenesis
What did supporters of spontaneous generation believe about strong acids and heat?
They believed that strong acids and heat altered the air so it could not support microbial growth.
p.4
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What is the nucleoid in prokaryotic cells?
A mass of chromosome aggregates visible in the electron microscope, not enclosed by a membrane.
p.9
Viruses and Their Characteristics
Why are viruses not considered truly alive?
They are obligate parasites that can only replicate within a host cell.
p.5
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
How do spirochetes differ from spirilla?
Spirochetes are flexible, while spirilla are rigid.
p.6
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
How is a species defined in prokaryotes?
As a collection of strains that share stable properties in common and differ significantly from other groups of strains.
p.5
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What are filamentous bacteria?
Long, thin, rod-shaped bacteria that divide terminally and form long filaments composed of many cells attached end to end.
p.1
Microbial Ecology and Environmental Impact
Why are microorganisms important?
They were the first living organisms on the planet, live everywhere life is possible, are more numerous than any other kind of organism, and influence global ecosystems and human society.
p.13
Theories of Spontaneous Generation vs. Biogenesis
What method did George Friedrich Schroder and Theodor von Dusch use in their experiments?
They filtered air through sterile cotton wool.
p.3
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What is the difference between broth and agar?
Broth is a liquid medium used for high cell growth, while agar is a solid medium.
p.3
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What are eukaryotic cells characterized by?
They are membrane-bound organelles.
p.8
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What type of cell structure do Archaea have?
Prokaryotic cell structure.
p.4
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What is a gene?
A segment of DNA that encodes a protein or an RNA molecule.
p.8
Microbial Ecology and Environmental Impact
Do Archaea contain any known disease-causing species?
No, Archaea lack any known disease-causing species of plants or animals.
p.8
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What are the most well-known groups of Eukarya?
Plants, animals, and fungi.
p.6
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What does 'Candidatus' signify in taxonomy?
A provisional taxonomic name appended to candidate taxonomic ranks, used when there is no pure culture yet.
p.10
Microbial Abundance and Activity in the Biosphere
What role do microorganisms play in global biomass?
They constitute a major fraction and are key reservoirs of nutrients essential for life.
p.9
Viruses and Their Characteristics
What is unique about Class 6 viruses?
They are retroviruses that use reverse transcriptase to form a double-stranded intermediate.
p.12
Microbial Cultivation Techniques
What do enrichment culture techniques facilitate?
The isolation of microbes having particular metabolic characteristics from nature.
p.3
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What is a plasmid?
An extrachromosomal DNA found in some prokaryotic cells.
p.10
History of Microbiology and Key Figures
When did microbial cells first appear on Earth?
Between 3.8 and 4.3 billion years ago.
p.13
Theories of Spontaneous Generation vs. Biogenesis
What experiment did Franz Schultze conduct related to spontaneous generation?
He passed air through strong acids.
p.1
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What are the main fields of basic microbiology?
Virology (viruses), Mycology (fungi), Phycology (algae), Protozoology (protozoa), and Bacteriology (bacteria).
p.2
Microbial Ecology and Environmental Impact
How do microorganisms typically live?
In complex microbial communities.
p.1
Microorganisms in Agriculture and Human Nutrition
What does agricultural microbiology study?
Agriculturally relevant microorganisms, including plant microbiology and pathology.
p.6
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
What does nomenclature refer to in microbiology?
The assignment of names to taxonomic groups in agreement with published rules.
p.6
Classification and Taxonomy of Microorganisms
How is a species defined in eukaryotes?
As a group of closely related organisms that breed among themselves.
p.2
History of Microbiology and Key Figures
What sanitation infrastructure did the Romans create?
Aqueducts and the Cloaca Maxima.
p.4
Microbial Structure and Cell Types
What are plasmids?
Small circles of DNA distinct from the chromosome, often found in prokaryotic cells.
