Microbiology Exam 1 Ch 1-6

Bacteria

Single-celled, prokaryotic organisms found in diverse environments.

Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms including yeasts, molds, and mushrooms.

Algae

Eukaryotic, photosynthetic organisms in aquatic environments.

Protozoa

Single-celled eukaryotes living in water or as parasites.

Viruses

Acellular entities needing a host cell to replicate.

Microbial Characteristics

Microscopic, diverse, rapid reproduction, unicellular or multicellular, metabolically diverse.

Roles of Microbiologists

Research, pathogen study, antibiotic and vaccine development, environmental and industrial microbiology.

Microbiology Branches

Medical, Environmental, Industrial, Agricultural, Food, Virology, Mycology, Parasitology, Bacteriology.

Importance of Microbes

Nutrient cycling, decomposition, symbiotic relationships, biotechnological applications, bioremediation.

Eukaryotes vs

Eukaryotes have a nucleus and organelles, while Bacteria & Archaea are prokaryotic without a nucleus.

Importance of Decomposition

Fungi & Bacteria recycle nutrients and break down organic matter.

Uses of Microorganisms

Antibiotics, enzymes, fermentation, waste treatment, bioremediation.

Bioremediation

Microorganisms clean up contaminated environments like oil spills and heavy metals.

Genetic Engineering

Manipulating genes for beneficial purposes like GMOs and producing compounds.

Recombinant DNA

DNA formed from multiple sources in the lab for genetic engineering.

Examples of Diseases

Bacteria (Tuberculosis, Cholera), Viruses (Influenza, HIV), Fungi (Candidiasis, Athlete's foot), Protozoa (Malaria, Amoebiasis).

Communicable vs

Infectious vs. non-transmitted diseases like diabetes.

Differentiation of Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotic

Bacteria (Prokaryotic, peptidoglycan), Archaea (Prokaryotic, extremophiles), Eukaryotic (Nucleus, organelles).

Endoenzyme

Functions within the cell.

Exoenzyme

Secreted to function outside the cell.

Constitutive Enzymes

Always present and active.

Regulated Enzymes

Produced or activated in response to specific substrates.

Linear Metabolic Pathway

Series of reactions where the product of one reaction is the substrate for the next.

Cyclic Metabolic Pathway

Series of reactions that regenerate the initial substrate.

Branched Metabolic Pathway

Pathways that split into multiple branches.

Network Metabolic Pathway

Complex interactions among multiple pathways.

Feedback Inhibition

Control of enzymes through feedback mechanisms.

Allosteric Regulation

Control of enzymes through allosteric sites.

Covalent Modification

Control of enzymes through chemical modifications.

Catabolism

Process to obtain energy in a cell.

Anabolism

Process to build macromolecules in a cell.

Holoenzyme

Composed of an apoenzyme and a cofactor.

Enzyme Denaturation

Inactivation of enzymes by temperature, pH, or chemicals.

Noncompetitive Inhibition

Regulator molecule binds to the allosteric site of the enzyme.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, energy storage in cells.

Redox Reaction

Involves electron transfer from one molecule to another.

NAD

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, carries electrons and hydrogen.

FAD

Flavin adenine dinucleotide, another electron carrier.

Oxidation

Loss of electrons.

Reduction

Gain of electrons.

Electron Carriers

NAD, FAD, and cytochromes are common in cells.

Substrate-level Phosphorylation

ATP formation from ADP at the substrate level.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

ATP formation through the electron transport chain.

Glycolysis

Breaks down glucose into pyruvic acid, yielding ATP and NADH.

Krebs Cycle

Generates ATP, NADH, and FADH2 by oxidizing acetyl-CoA.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

Produces ATP via oxidative phosphorylation.

Anaerobic Respiration

Uses non-oxygen final electron acceptors.

Aerobic Respiration

Uses oxygen as the final electron acceptor.

Fermentation

Converts pyruvic acid into various products without ETC.

Beta-oxidation

Breaks down lipids for energy.

Deamination

Breaks down proteins for energy.

Total ATP Production

Theoretical maximum of 38 ATP per glucose molecule.

Bacterial Enzymes

Streptokinase, streptolysin, and collagenase in pathogenic bacteria.

Enzyme Repression

Inhibits enzyme synthesis.

Enzyme Induction

Increases enzyme production in response to substrates.

PCR Technique

A technique to amplify DNA, producing millions to billions of copies from a small DNA sample.

Recombinant DNA Technology

Combining genetic material from different sources to create new genetic combinations.

Knock Out

Removing or disabling a specific gene.

Cloning

Creating identical copies of a gene or organism.

Gene Therapy

Introducing normal genes into patients to correct genetic disorders.

High Throughput Genome Sequencing

Uses advanced computing to sequence entire genomes quickly.

Bioinformatics

The field of organizing and analyzing biological data.

DNA Profiling

Also known as DNA fingerprinting.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)

A variation at a single nucleotide position in the genome.

DNA Microarray Assays

Analyze the expression levels of many genes simultaneously.