All of sci Wiki Microbe missions

Microbe Mission

Life science event focused on microbes.

Division B

Middle school level participants in Microbe Mission.

Division C

High school level participants in Microbe Mission.

Event Duration

Approximately 50 minutes for completion.

Allowed Resources

One notes sheet and two Class II calculators.

First Appearance

Microbe Mission first trialed in 2008-2009.

Latest Appearance

Microbe Mission returns in 2024-2025.

Participants

Teams consist of 2 members each.

Forum Threads

Discussion threads from various years.

Official Resources

Website for Microbe Mission information.

Microscopy

Study of microscopic organisms and structures.

Types of Microscopes

Different instruments used to view small objects.

Compound Light Microscope

Uses multiple lenses to magnify specimens.

Magnification

Increasing the apparent size of an object.

Gram Staining

Technique to differentiate bacterial cell types.

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Transfer of genetic material between organisms.

Bacterial Cell Shapes

Common forms include cocci, bacilli, and spirilla.

Acellular Microbes

Microbes lacking cellular structure, e.g., viruses.

Extremophiles

Organisms thriving in extreme environmental conditions.

Nutritional Classifications

Categorization based on nutrient acquisition methods.

Bacterial Culture

Growth of bacteria in controlled conditions.

Viral Capsid Shapes

Structural forms of virus protein coats.

Selective media

Growth media that favor specific microorganisms.

Growth curves

Graphical representation of microbial population growth.

Bacterial growth

Increase in bacterial cell numbers over time.

Symbiogenesis

Evolutionary theory explaining symbiotic relationships.

Endosymbiotic theory

Eukaryotic cells originated from symbiotic prokaryotes.

Eukaryogenesis

Process of forming eukaryotic cells from prokaryotes.

Viruses

Infectious agents requiring host cells to replicate.

SARS-CoV-2

Virus causing COVID-19 pandemic.

HIV-1

Virus responsible for AIDS.

Influenza A virus

Virus causing seasonal flu outbreaks.

Hepatitis B virus

Virus affecting liver, causing hepatitis.

T4 phage

Bacteriophage that infects E. coli.

Poliovirus

Virus causing poliomyelitis, a paralyzing disease.

Banana bunchy top virus

Virus affecting banana plants, causing stunted growth.

Vibrio cholerae

Bacterium causing cholera, a severe diarrheal disease.

Rickettsia rickettsii

Bacterium causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Bacterium causing pneumonia and meningitis.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Bacterium causing diphtheria, a respiratory illness.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Bacteria resistant to methicillin, causing infections.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Bacterium causing tuberculosis, a lung disease.

Haemophilus influenzae

Bacterium causing respiratory infections, especially in children.

Wolbachia species

Bacteria affecting insect reproduction and development.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Bacterium causing crown gall disease in plants.

Candida auris

Fungus causing severe infections, often resistant to treatment.

Alternaria solani

Fungus causing early blight in potatoes.

Plasmodium falciparum

Protist causing malaria, transmitted by mosquitoes.

Giardia duodenalis

Protist causing giardiasis, a diarrheal illness.

Toxoplasma gondii

Protist causing toxoplasmosis, often from cat feces.

Alexandrium catenella

Dinoflagellate causing harmful algal blooms.

Prions

Infectious proteins causing neurodegenerative diseases.

Major prion protein (PrP)

Protein associated with prion diseases.

Amyloid beta (amyloid-β)

Protein linked to Alzheimer's disease pathology.

Tau proteins

Proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases.

α-Synuclein

Protein associated with Parkinson's disease.

Taenia solium

Parasitic worm causing pork tapeworm infection.

Ancylostoma duodenale

Hookworm causing intestinal infections in humans.

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd)

Viroid causing disease in potato plants.

Metatranscriptomics

Study of RNA transcripts in microbial communities.

Proteomics

Study of proteins and their functions in organisms.

Metabolomics

Study of metabolites in biological samples.

Phage lambda cro repressor

Protein regulating lambda phage gene expression.

Lac operon

Gene system controlling lactose metabolism in bacteria.

Trp operon

Gene system regulating tryptophan synthesis in bacteria.

Microbiomes

Communities of microorganisms in specific environments.

Biofilms

Structured communities of microorganisms adhering to surfaces.

Bacteriostatic

Substances inhibiting bacterial growth without killing.

Bacteriocidal

Antibiotics that kill bacteria directly.

Antibiotic Susceptibility

Assessment of bacteria's response to antibiotics.

Antibiotic Resistance

Bacteria's ability to withstand antibiotic effects.

Resistance Transfer

Mechanism by which bacteria share resistance genes.

Microbial Population Explosions

Rapid increase of microbial populations in environments.

Microbial Roles in Agriculture

Microbes enhance soil fertility and crop production.

Bioremediation

Use of microbes to clean up environmental pollutants.

Phage Therapy

Using bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections.

Wastewater Treatment

Microbial processes to purify wastewater.

Culturing Microbes

Methods to grow microorganisms in controlled conditions.

Measuring Microbial Growth

Quantifying microbial population increase over time.

Studying Microbial Communities

Analyzing interactions within groups of microbes.

Microbial Activity Measurement

Assessing metabolic processes of microbes.

Dichotomous Keys

Tools for identifying organisms through a series of choices.

Data Collection

Gathering information for analysis and interpretation.

Test Stations

Designated areas for conducting specific test activities.

Test Format

Structure and organization of the examination.

Answer Sheet

Document for recording responses during assessments.

Spelling in Grading

Correct spelling may affect scoring on tests.

Potential Question Formats

Types of questions that may appear on tests.

Materials for Testing

Required items participants must bring to tests.

Preparing for Microbe Mission

Study resources for microbiology competitions.

Z87 Goggles

Safety goggles required for chemical protection.

Non-Programmable Calculators

Calculators allowed without graphing or programming functions.

Binder

Organizational tool for notes and practice tests.

Practice Tests

Simulated exams to familiarize with question types.

Knowledge Gaps

Areas needing improvement identified through study.

Active Recall

Technique for enhancing memory through frequent testing.

Note Sheet Layout

Arrangement of notes for quick information access.

Effective Communication

Crucial for teamwork during events and tests.

Color Coding

Using colors to categorize topics for efficiency.

Font Size

Size of text affecting readability of notes.