microbio test 1

microbiology is the study of what

the study of microbes(microorganisms and viruses) and their biological processes

what is the smalled biological unit of life

the cell

what is a macromolecule

a macromolecule is classified as a complex molecule that is composed from smaller subunits

what are the four main types of macromolecules

proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates

what various functions do proteins have in a cell

proteins may facilitate the movement of materials in or out of a cell. some can act as enzymes that catalyze, or speed up, biochemical processes, others play a structural role while other proteins, such as filaments, enable movement.

what are the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles

nucleic acids are chemical molecules that carry genetic information within the cell

DNA(deoxyribonucleic acid): contains a vast amount of hereditary information and is responsible for the inheritable characteristics of living organisms

RNA(ribonucleic acid): responsible for deciphering the hereditary information in DNA and using it to synthesize proteins

what is the plasma membrane and what is it made up of

it serves as the surrounding barrier that separates the inside of the cell from the outside surrounding environment. it also restricts the movement of materials(water, nutrients, etc) either in or out of the cell, thus allowing a cell to absorb and keep what is needed (influx) while also preventing the escape (out flux) of essential nutrients. the plasma membrane is composed of lipids(hydrophobic hydrocarbons)

what are the three main components of carbohydrates

carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms. examples would be C6H12O6 (glucose), C12H22O11 (sucrose), and C6H10O5 (cellulose)

what is the primary difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus, a membrane enclosed region within the cell that contains the genetic material. Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus and can be further classified as either bacteria or archaea.

what are the main morphologies of bacteria

coccus(round/spherical), bacillus (rod), or spirillum(spiral/corkscrew)

which group of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under harsh conditions

archea. they are able to survive in extremely harsh conditions such as high salt levels, acid conditions, high temps, and oxygen poor conditions

what are the four main classifications of eukarya

animalia, plantae, fungi, and protista

can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic

no. Viruses are not considered living and do not replicate on their own, meaning they must replicate within a host.

the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane is composed of what

primary composed of amphipathic phospholipids, meaning they contain a polar hydrophilic head group and a non polar hydrophobic tail region. the lipid bilayer is situated with the non polar tail groups face inward thus orienting the polar head groups to interact with water both outside and inside the cell

what are the primary cellular organelles described in this module and their roles-7

ribosomes: protein synthesis

ER: site of protein synthesis

Golgi: protein modification and distribution

lysosomes: waste disposal

mitochondria: ATP generation

chloroplasts: plants only; site of photosynthesis

nucleus: membrane-bound organelle that houses DNA only found in eukaryotic cells

Be able to identify the primary organelles within a cell.