Unit 1 A Flashcards
Define the term “microbiology.”
Specialized area of biology that deals with living things, that is almost all too small to be seen by the naked eye.
What five major groups of microbes are included under the umbrella of microbiology?
Bacteriology, Helminthology, Virology, Mycology, Protozoology
What are the names of the specific disciplines that research each of these major groups?
Bacteriologist, Helminthologist, Virologist, Mycologist, Protozoologist
Six branches of microbiology & the corresponding professions were discussed. For each, describe in a sentence or two what each branch focuses on. Information can be pulled from lecture & your textbook.
Medical/ clinical microbiology (Microbiologist) deal with the microbes that cause disease in humans & animals.
Public Health Microbiology (Microbiologist) & Epidemiology (Epidemiologist) they are responsible for the monitoring and controlling the spread of disease activity.
Immunology (Immunologist) they work ad research the cells that are produced in response to infection. They are also involved with vaccination, blood testing, allergy, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
Industrial Microbiology (Microbiologist) they protect our food and water and creates biotechnology. They also work with microbes to create amino acids, beer, drugs, enzymes, & vitamins.
Agricultural Microbiology (Microbiologist) they focus on the relationship between microbes and domesticated plants and animals (farms). They are plant and animal specialists.
Environmental Microbiology (Microbiologist) They work with and study the environment and the effects of microbes on earths diverse habitats.
Define what LUCA means.
Last Universal Common Ancestor
Compare & contrast eukaryotes from prokaryotes. Of the microbe classes discussed in section 1, which are prokaryotes?
Eukaryotes have a true nucleus: virus, protozoa, helminths, fungi.
Prokaryotes are pre nucleus (do not have a true nucleus): archaea and bacteria.
Are you a prokaryote or a eukaryote?
I am Eukaryote.
Define the word ubiquitous.
Ubiquitous- found virtually everywhere.
Describe why The Great Oxygenation Event led to a mass extinction.
Before the great oxygenation event most species (all we know) did not use oxygen so there was a lot of excess oxygen in the atmosphere causing warming of the planet and reactions like mass fires, in addition breathing in the oxygen may have harmed organisms that could not evolve to use oxygen.
What organisms account for ≈70% of all O2 production on Earth today?
About 70% of earths O2 production on earth for photosynthesis comes from microorganisms specifically bacteria & algae.
What would happen if microbes did not decompose organic matter?
We would be buried in our own waste products if microbes did not decompose organic matter.
Provide two examples of ancient uses of microbes to make products.
Yeast to produce bread
Fungi to produce cheese
Biotechnology
“manipulation of microorganisms to make products in an industrial setting.”
Genetic Engineering
“area of biotechnology that manipulates the genetics of microbes, plants, and animals for the purpose of creating new products & genetically modified organisms (GMOs).”
Research online & describe three products that are used using genetic engineering. I recommend searching for medicine, food, & energy sources utilizing this technology.
Genetic engineer is being used to create human insulin, which is used to treat diabetes.
Genetic engineered Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) corn produces a protein that is toxic to some insects and pests but not humans, pets, and livestock (other animals).
Genetic engineered bio-diesel, offers recycling of atmospheric carbon and reduced toxic gas emissions.
Research online & describe one event in which bioremediation was used to clean up toxic pollutants.
Bioremediation was used to combat the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 and the British Petroleum Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Microorganisms consumed petroleum hydrocarbons reducing the environmental impact.
Most microbes cause disease.
False
Infectious disease plays a large role in human health globally, but not always equally between populations of people.
In all countries more deaths occur due to aging or diseases of the aging, although the lower the income in the country the more deaths that occur at younger ages or due to infectious disease.