lecture 1-2 micro study guide

Q: What major groups of organisms are studied in microbiology?

Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya (including fungi, protozoa, algae, and microscopic animals), and acellular infectious agents such as viruses, viroids, and prions.

Q: What distinguishes bacteria from other major groups?

Bacteria are prokaryotic, unicellular organisms with no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles. Their cell walls typically contain peptidoglycan.

Q: What distinguishes Archaea from bacteria?

Archaea are prokaryotic but have distinct membrane lipids, cell wall chemistry, and molecular machinery. They do not have peptidoglycan and are often found in extreme environments, although many live in ordinary environments.

Q: What are fungi?

Eukaryotic organisms that include yeasts and molds. They obtain nutrients by absorption and typically have cell walls made of chitin.

Q: What are protozoa?

Unicellular eukaryotic organisms that are generally heterotrophic and often motile.

Q: What are algae?

Primarily photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms that produce oxygen and organic compounds through photosynthesis.

Q: What are viruses?

Acellular infectious particles consisting of genetic material surrounded by a protein coat and sometimes a lipid envelope. They require a host cell to reproduce.

Q: What might a clinical microbiologist do?

Study microorganisms that cause disease, identify pathogens in patient samples, and help determine appropriate treatments.

Q: What might an environmental microbiologist study?

Microorganisms in soil, water, air, and other ecosystems and their roles in nutrient cycling and environmental processes.

Q: What does an industrial microbiologist do?

Uses microorganisms to produce useful products such as antibiotics, enzymes, foods, beverages, and biofuels.

Q: What does a food microbiologist study?

Microbes involved in food production, food spoilage, and foodborne disease.

Q: What does a pharmaceutical microbiologist study?

Microorganisms and microbial products used to develop drugs, antibiotics, vaccines, and other medical products.

Q: What does an immunologist study?

The immune system and how it responds to pathogens and other foreign substances.

Q: What does a microbial geneticist study?

Microbial genes, heredity, mutations, gene expression, and mechanisms of genetic exchange.