Module 1: Introduction to Microbes, History, and Nomenclature

A microorganism is a _____ thing that is too _____ to be seen without _____.

Living; small; magnification

Microorganisms include _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, and _____.

Bacteria; archaea; protozoa; fungi; helminths; algae; viruses

The first organisms were believed to be _____, meaning that they have no _____; these include _____ and _____.

Prokaryotic; nucleus; bacteria; archaea

Cyanobacteria allowed for _____, which then allowed for the development of more complex organisms.

Oxygen

Identify these characteristics in bacteria: prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic, presence vs. absence of a nucleus, cell wall, heterotroph vs. autotroph (photosynthesis), unicellular vs. multicellular, asexual (binary fission) vs. sexual reproduction, and any special notes (1).

Prokaryotic; absence of a nucleus; peptidoglycan cell wall; some heterotroph, some autotroph; unicellular; asexual reproduction (binary fission); circular DNA

Identify these characteristics in archaea: prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic, presence vs. absence of a nucleus, cell wall, heterotroph vs. autotroph (photosynthesis), unicellular vs. multicellular, asexual (binary fission) vs. sexual reproduction, and any special notes (2).

Prokaryotic; absence of a nucleus; pseudomirin (no peptidoglycan) cell wall; heterotroph (usually); unicellular; asexual reproduction (reproduction); circular DNA, extremophiles

Archaea are extremophiles, meaning that they _____. Thermophiles can _____, halophiles can _____, and methanogens can _____.

Grow in extreme conditions that most other organisms cannot tolerate; grow in heat; grow in salt; produce methane as a waste product of respiration

Identify these characteristics in fungi: prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic, presence vs. absence of a nucleus, cell wall, heterotroph vs. autotroph (photosynthesis), unicellular vs. multicellular, asexual (binary fission) vs. sexual reproduction, and any special notes (1).

Eukaryotic; presence of a nucleus; chitin cell wall (type of sugar/polysaccharide); heterotroph (saprobes); unicellular (e.g. yeast) or multicellular (e.g. molds or mushrooms); asexual or sexual reproduction; linear DNA

Many fungi are saprobes, meaning that they _____.

Feed on dead, decaying matter

Unicellular fungi include _____, while multicellular fungi include _____ and _____.

Yeast; molds; mushrooms

Identify these characteristics in protozoa: prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic, presence vs. absence of a nucleus, cell wall, heterotroph vs. autotroph (photosynthesis), unicellular vs. multicellular, asexual (binary fission) vs. sexual reproduction, and any special notes (2).

Eukaryotic; presence of a nucleus; no cell wall (usually); heterotroph (usually); unicellular; asexual or sexual reproduction; linear DNA, movement via pseudopods, flagella, cilia, or not at all (non-motile)

Identify these characteristics in algae: prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic, presence vs. absence of a nucleus, cell wall, heterotroph vs. autotroph (photosynthesis), unicellular vs. multicellular, asexual (binary fission) vs. sexual reproduction, and any special notes (1).

Eukaryotic; presence of a nucleus; cellulose cell wall; autotroph (photosynthesis); unicellular; asexual or sexual reproduction; often contain pigments, leading to a green, red, or brown color

Identify these characteristics in helminths: prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic, presence vs. absence of a nucleus, cell wall, heterotroph vs. autotroph (photosynthesis), unicellular vs. multicellular, asexual (binary fission) vs. sexual reproduction, and any special notes (2).

Eukaryotic; presence of a nucleus; no cell wall (type of animal cell); heterotroph; multicellular; asexual or sexual reproduction; consist of flat worms (e.g. tapeworms) and round worms (e.g. heart worms), have microscopic stages

Unlike other microorganisms, viruses are _____. They reproduce via _____, acting as intracellular _____. They may be _____ (in animal cells) or _____, but a _____ is required for all viruses. They can use _____ or _____ as their genetic material.

Acellular; cellular hosts; parasites; enveloped; naked; capsid (protein coat); DNA; RNA

Inside the body, a virus envelope can _____. Outside the body, a virus envelope can _____. This means that the virus envelope is most beneficial _____.

Prevent the immune system from recognizing the virus as foreign; dissolve and prevent virus from replicating; inside the body

Helminths are multicellular animal _____, typically found as flat worms or round worms.

Parasites

Saying that a microbe is ubiquitous means that it is found _____, including the earth’s crust, in polar ice caps and oceans, inside the bodies of plants and animals, in the earth’s landscape, and life itself.

Everywhere

Microbes can be easy to study in the sense that they _____ and can be _____ in the laboratory, but are also difficult to study in the sense they cannot _____ and must be analyzed through _____ means (i.e. _____).

Reproduce quickly; grown in large populations; be seen directly; indirect; microscopes

Photosynthesis refers to the _____ fueled conversion of _____ to _____, converting _____ energy to _____ energy. This process is accompanied by the formation of _____.

Light; carbon dioxide; organic material; solar; chemical; oxygen

Anoxygenic photosynthesis occurred in _____ before _____ evolved. It did not _____ and are more efficient in _____.

Bacteria; plants; produce oxygen; extracting energy from sunlight

Oxygenic photosynthesis evolved from _____.

Anoxygenic photosynthesis

T/F: Plants are responsible for most of the Earth’s photosynthesis.

False; photosynthetic microorganisms are responsible for about 70% of the Earth’s photosynthesis

Microorganisms are the main forces that drive the structure and content of the soil, water, and atmosphere. They produce CO2, NO, and CH3 that _____ the Earth’s atmosphere, are the most abundant cellular organisms in the _____ (with _____ specifically being the most abundant), and bacteria and fungi live in close association with _____, assisting them in obtaining nutrients and water and possibly protecting them against disease.

Insulate; oceans; viruses; plants

Historically, microbes have been used by humans to make _____, _____, and _____; treat _____/_____; mine _____; and clean up _____.

Bread; alcohol; cheese; wounds/lesions; precious metals; human-made contamination