Lecture 1- Microbial Diversity

List the taxonomic ordered

Kingdom, phylum, class, order, and suborder

What are the taxa of the 3 domain system? What are the 3 domains?

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, class, order, family, Genus, species

The three domains are: bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

Define microbiology

Literal: Study of small living things

Scientific: Study of microbes (microorganisms and viruses

Define bacteriology

It is the study of bacteria

Define mycology

Study of fungi

Define Protozoology

Study of protozoa

Define Phycology

study of algae

Define Parasitology

The study of disease-causing parasites (protozoa and helminths)

Define virology

Study of viruses

Are bacteria prokaryotes or Eukaryotes? Define what this means

Bacteria are prokaryotes, meaning that they are unicellular and lack a membrane-bound nucleus, this also means they reproduce asexually (through binary fission)

Describe the cell wall, metabolism and motility of bacteria

Their cell wall is made of Peptidoglycan (PG), they are chemotrophs and phototrophs to gain nutrients, and they are sometimes motile

Are Bacteria Pathogenic to humans/animals/plants?

Yes

Are archaea prokaryotes or eukaryotes?

Archaea are prokaryotes meaning that they reproduce asexually, have no membrane bound nucleus

Describe the cell wall, metabolism, and motility of Archaea

Their cell wall has no peptidoglycan, they gain nutrients as chemotrophs and often extremophiles

Are Archaea pathogenic to human/animals/plants?

No

Are Fungi Prokaryotes or Eukaryotes? What does this mean

They are eukaryotes, meaning they can be either unicellular or multicellular. They can also reproduce asexually and sexually

Describe the cell wall, metabolism and motility of fungi

The cell walls are made of chitin, they are chemotrophs, and they have no motility

Are Fungi pathogenic to human/animals/plants?

Yes

Are Algae Prokaryotes or Eukaryotes? What does this mean

They are Eukaryotes, which means they are unicellular or multicellular, they can reproduce asexually or sexually

Describe the cell wall, metabolism and motility of algae

Their cell walls are made of cellulose, they are phototrophs, and are sometimes motile

Are algae pathogenic to human/animal/plants?

No

Are protozoa Prokaryotes or Eukaryotes?

They are Eukaryotes but are only unicellular. They still can reproduce asexually or sexually

Describe the cell wall, metabolism and motility of Protozoa

They have no cell wall, they are chemotrophs and phototrophs and are sometimes motile

Are Protozoa pathogenic to humans/animals/plants?

Yes

Are Parasitic worms Prokaryotes or Eukaryotes?

They are Eukaryotes, and they are only multicellular animals that can reproduce asexually and sexually

Describe the cell walls, metabolism and motility of parasitic worms

They have no cell walls, they are chemotrophs, and are sometimes motile

Are parasitic worms pathogentic to Human/animals/plants?

Yes these are called helminths

Are viruses Prokaryotes or Eukaryotes?

They actually have no domain, they are acellular, and don’t reproduce on their own

Describe the cell wall, metabolism and motility of viruses

they have no cell wall, and obligate intacellular parasite as they can metabolize on their own, they have no motility

List some good and bad examples of microbes

Good: Food chain, biotechnology, medicine

Bad: Pathogenesis and food spoilage