T1 Main Themes of Microbiology

Flashcards on microbiology, covering topics such as the definition of microbiology, microbes, cell types, microorganisms, viruses, measurement of microorganisms, scientific notation, visualization methods, discovery of microorganisms, abiogenesis, biogenesis, pasteurization, and recent discoveries.

Microbiology

The study of organisms that cannot be seen without magnification.

Microbes

Living things invisible to the unaided eye.

Microbiology

Organisms collectively referred to as microorganisms or microbes; the dominant form of life on Earth.

Medical Microbiology

Studies the microbes that cause disease.

Microbes

Single cell or multicellular organisms separated by prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Prokaryotic Cell

Smaller in size, DNA in one long strand, no nucleus, no membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryotic Cell

Larger in size, DNA in chromosomes, has a nucleus, has membrane-bound organelles.

Kinds of Microorganisms

Bacteria, Fungi, Protozoa, and Virus.

Bacteria

Unicellular, prokaryotes.

Fungi

Eukaryotic, can be multicellular or unicellular.

Protozoa

Unicellular, eukaryotes.

Virus

Not composed of cells, intracellular parasites with a capsid and nucleic acid.

Capsid

Protein coat of a virus.

Virus

Can survive outside the body depending on the virus, but can only replicate inside a host cell.

Measurement of Microorganisms

Uses metric units.

Metric System

Units differ by factors of 10 to make conversions easier.

Scientific Notation

Useful way to express very large or very small numbers

Light Microscope

~1 mm to ~ 1 µm

Electron Microscope

Less than 1 µm

Robert Hooke

Saw first microbes and introduced the name “cell”.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

First to see and describe bacteria, considered the first Microbiologist.

Abiogenesis/Spontaneous Generation

Living organisms can be generated from non-living things.

Theory of Biogenesis

Living things come from other living things.

Germ Theory of Disease

Microorganisms cause disease.

Recent Discoveries in Microbiology

Allowed us to view viruses and cellular components in more detail; vaccinations, genomic sequencing, and bioengineering.