Microbial Diversity

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to microbial diversity, including concepts from systematics, phylogenetics, major groups of bacteria, and metabolic pathways.

Cyanobacteria

-Autotrophic
-gram-negative bacteria

-known for oxygenic photosynthesis.

Firmicutes

Low G+C Gram positive group

• Tough skin (thick cell wall) – many with endospores

Actinobacteria

A high G+C gram-positive group of bacteria that includes spore-forming and non-spore-forming species.

Bacteroidetes

Gram-negative, non-spore forming rods primarily found in the gut microbiome.

Proteobacteria

The largest and most metabolically diverse group of gram-negative bacteria.

Alphaproteobacteria

A group of gram-negative bacteria that includes plant and insect symbionts.

Betaproteobacteria

A class of proteobacteria known for its role in wastewater nitrification.

Gammaproteobacteria

A diverse class of proteobacteria including notable pathogens.

Eukaryotes

Organisms with complex cells that contain a nucleus and organelles.

Protist

Any microbial eukaryote that is not a plant, animal, or fungus.

Archaeplastida

A monophyletic group that includes red and green algae.

Excavata

A clade of protists that includes Giardia and Trichomonas.

Alveolata

A group of protists characterized by the presence of alveoli beneath their membranes.

Amoebozoa

A major group of protists including slime molds and amoebae.

Chlorophytes

Green algae that are closely related to plants, found in diverse habitats.

Nutrient source

The sources from which organisms obtain carbon and energy.

Photoautotroph

Organisms that use light as an energy source and CO2 as a carbon source.

Chemoautotroph

Organisms that obtain energy from inorganic electron donors and CO2.

Mixotroph

Organisms that can use both autotrophic and heterotrophic means to obtain nutrients.

Methanogenesis

The biological production of methane facilitated by methanogens.

Methanogens

Strictly anaerobic Archaea that produce methane.

Catabolism

The breakdown of complex molecules to release energy.

Hydrocarbon metabolizers

Microbes capable of degrading hydrocarbons for energy and carbon.

Endospore

A dormant, tough, and non-reproductive structure formed by some bacteria.

Oxygenic photosynthesis

A process by which cyanobacteria produce oxygen during photosynthesis.

Morphology

The study of the form and structure of organisms.

Behavior

The way an organism acts or reacts to its environment.

Molecular sequence

The order of nucleotides in a strand of DNA or RNA.

Fossil Evidence

Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms used in phylogenetic analysis.

Zebrafish

A model organism commonly used in biological research.

Chimpanzees

Primates closely related to humans, used in evolutionary studies.

Modelsystems

Organisms used to investigate biological processes in scientific research.

Gram-negative bacteria

Bacteria characterized by a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane.

Gram-positive bacteria

Bacteria characterized by a thick peptidoglycan layer that retains the crystal violet stain.

Antibiotics

Substances that inhibit the growth of or kill bacteria.

Plasmodium

A genus of parasitic protists that cause malaria in humans.

Euglena

A genus of protists known for their ability to photosynthesize and move using flagella.

Cyanidiales

A group of unicellular cyanobacteria that thrive in extreme environments.

Plasmodial slime molds

A type of slime mold that forms a large, multi-nucleate cell.

Cellular slime molds

A type of slime mold that forms a pseudoslum and fruiting body aggregates.

Lactobacillus

A genus of bacteria important in fermentation and dairy production.

Streptococcus

A genus of bacteria known for causing various infections.

Sewage sludge digesters

Bioreactors that utilize microorganisms to break down waste.

E.coli

A common bacterium found in the intestines of humans and animals, some strains of which can cause food poisoning.