The Main Themes of Microbiology

A set of fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key microbiology topics from the lecture notes.

Microbiology is the study of __.

organisms too small to be seen without magnification

Microorganisms include: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Protozoa, Helminths (worms), and __.

Algae

Origins of Microorganisms: Bacteria-like organisms have existed on earth for about __ billion years.

3.5

Prokaryotes (pre-nucleus) are __ cells.

Simple

Eukaryotes (true nucleus) are __ cells.

Complex

Two cell lines are __ and Eukaryote.

Prokaryote

Viruses are acellular, parasitic particles composed of a __ and protein.

nucleic acid

Microbial Diversity: kinds of microbes.

6

Photosynthesis is the light-fueled conversion of __ to organic material.

carbon dioxide

Biotechnology: Production of foods, drugs, and vaccines using living __.

organisms

Genetic engineering: Manipulating the genes of organisms to make new __.

products

Bioremediation: Using living organisms to remedy an environmental __.

problem

Majority of microorganisms live a free existence and are often .

beneficial

Parasites live on or in the body of another organism called the __.

host

Pathogens are microbes that do .

harm

Nearly 2,000 different microbes cause __.

diseases

There are about 10 new infections per year worldwide.

billion

There are about 13 deaths from infections per year worldwide.

million

Spontaneous Generation is the belief that life could arise from nonliving matter; Pasteur disproved this and proved the __ - the idea that living things can only arise from other living things.

Theory of Biogenesis

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch __ and the first to observe living microbes.

linen merchant

Leeuwenhoek’s magnification could reach up to __.

300X

The approach is described as 'If…, then…' in the Scientific Method.

deductive

Results must be published and repeated by other investigators; when evidence is compelling, a theory becomes a .

Law

If a hypothesis is supported by a growing body of evidence, it moves to the next level of confidence and becomes a .

theory

John Tyndall and Ferdinand Cohn demonstrated heat-resistant forms of some microbes; Cohn identified them as heat- bacterial endospores.

resistant

Sterility requires the elimination of all life forms including endospores and __.

viruses

Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis correlated infections with physicians coming directly from the autopsy room to the maternity ward; the room is called the room.

autopsy

Joseph Lister introduced aseptic techniques to reduce microbes in medical settings and prevent wound infections; involved disinfection of hands using __ prior to surgery.

chemicals

Many diseases are caused by the growth of in the body.

microbes

Louis Pasteur showed microbes caused and spoilage.

fermentation

Disproved spontaneous generation of .

microorganisms

Louis Pasteur developed .

pasteurization

Koch’s postulates verify the germ .

theory

The three domains of life are Bacteria, Archaea, and .

Eukarya

Binomial (scientific) nomenclature gives each microbe two names: Genus is capitalized and species is .

lowercase

Names are italicized or .

underlined

Domain is Archaea, Bacteria, & .

Eukarya

An example of binomial nomenclature is __.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)