Introduction to Microbiology

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on microbiology, including definitions, classifications, and historical developments in the field.

What is microbiology?

A specialized branch of biology that deals with single cells and other microscopic life.

Which microbes are characterized by a single circular chromosome and a cell wall made of peptidoglycan?

Bacteria.

What type of microorganisms are Archaea?

Microbes with varied internal and cell wall structures, unique membrane lipids, and unique metabolism.

What are hyperthermophiles?

Archaea that live in high temperature environments.

What kind of organisms are protozoa?

Single-celled eukaryotic organisms that are often motile by means of flagella, cilia, or pseudopods.

What type of nutrition do fungi use?

Absorptive nutrition.

What distinguishes helminths?

They are parasitic worms belonging to three major phyla of worms.

What are viruses?

Obligate, intracellular parasites that cannot reproduce independently and have no metabolism.

What important role do microorganisms play in biogeochemical cycles?

They control how elements move around the planet.

What did Francesco Redi demonstrate regarding spontaneous generation?

That living organisms do not arise from non-living materials, shown through his work with flies and maggots.

Who was the first person to observe bacteria?

Anthony von Leeuwenhoek.

What are Koch's postulates?

A series of criteria to establish a causative relationship between a microbe and a disease.

What did Ignaz Semmelweis contribute to microbiology?

He demonstrated that handwashing could reduce the incidence of puerperal fever.

What did Louis Pasteur prove with his S-necked flasks?

That microorganisms do not appear unless they are allowed in from the air.

What are the main building blocks of carbohydrates?

Monosaccharides.

What are triglycerides made of?

Glycerol and fatty acids.

What is the primary structure of a protein?

A series of amino acids bound in a chain.

What is the significance of DNA?

It stores hereditary information in a double helix structure.

What is the binomial nomenclature?

A two-part naming system for species, consisting of genus and species names.

What is the last universal common ancestor (LUCA)?

The theoretical ancestor from which all living organisms evolved, believed to be a microbe.