Microbiology Lecture: Classifying Microorganisms

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to the classification and characteristics of microorganisms, as discussed in the lecture.

Taxonomy

The science of classification, specifically of organisms into groups based on shared characteristics.

Systematics

A branch of biology that deals with classification and nomenclature; it focuses on the evolutionary relationships among organisms.

Domain Eukarya

One of the three domains of life, comprising organisms with eukaryotic cells, including kingdoms Fungi, Plantae, Animalia, and protists.

Endosymbiosis

The theory that explains the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts in eukaryotic cells from ancestral prokaryotic cells.

Prokaryotic Cell

A type of cell lacking a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, typically unicellular.

Eukaryotic Cell

A type of cell that possesses a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, can be unicellular or multicellular.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

A molecular component of ribosomes, essential for protein synthesis in all living cells.

Gram-positive bacteria

Bacteria that retain a violet stain after Gram staining, indicating a thick peptidoglycan layer in their cell wall.

Gram-negative bacteria

Bacteria that do not retain the violet stain after Gram staining, characterized by a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane.

Hybridization

A molecular technique used to measure the degree of genetic similarity between DNA strands of different organisms.

Cyanobacteria

A phylum of bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis; they are also known as blue-green algae.

Methanogens

Archaea that produce methane as a metabolic byproduct in hypoxic conditions.

Fossilized prokaryotes

Remains of ancient prokaryotic cells, which can provide evidence of early life forms on Earth.

Cladogram

A diagram that shows the relationships among species, based on their evolutionary history and shared characteristics.