Lecture 1: Intro to MICRO

Microbiology

The study of the structure, classification, and function of microbes.

Microbes

Small organisms that cannot be seen without a microscope.

What are the characteristics of bacteria?

Living cells, free living, and their genetic information is DNA

What are the characteristics of viruses?

Not a cell, dependent on a host, genetic information is DNA or RNA, not technically alive

What are characteristics of prokaryotes?

No nucleus, single celled, no membrane bound organelles

What are characteristics of eukaryotes?

Has a nucleus, DNA, membrane bound organelles, multicellular

Why are viruses not considered living?

They cannot reproduce by themselves or metabolize

What category are bacteria and archea?

Prokaryotes

What are the extreme environments microbes can be in?

Extreme temperatures, high pressure, low oxygen, and radioactive waste.

What microorganism allowed for oxygen on earth?

Cyanobacteria

How are microbes beneficial in Plants

Plants obtain nitrogen from microbes.

How are microbes beneficial in animals?

Microbes digest carbohydrates from plant diets.

How are microbes beneficial in humans?

Aid in food digestion, make vitamins like vitamin K, and protect from pathogenic organisms.

Bacterial Cells in Humans

The human body contains at least as many bacterial cells as human cells.

How are microbes beneficial in ecosystems?

Microbes decompose waste and enrich soil to release nitrogen and carbon back into the environment

Bioremediation

The use of living organisms to detoxify and restore polluted and degraded ecosystems

How are microbes beneficial in food production?

They make wine, cheese, bread through fermentation

How are microbes beneficial in vaccines/medicine?

Microbes are the basis of prevention and treatment for diseases

What is the cause of infectious diseases?

Microbes