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BM211 microbiology > Block A > Flashcards

Block A Flashcards

(61 cards)

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1
Q

what is the carbon cycle

A

decomposition of organic matter realising CO2 through respiration

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2
Q

what is the nitrogen cycle

A

converts nitrogen gas into forms that plants and animals can use such as ammonia, nitrite and nitrate

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3
Q

what is the sulphur cycle

A

some microorganisms can oxidize sulfur compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and convert them into sulfuric acid (H2SO4)

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4
Q

what is the phosphorus cycle

A

involved in the release of phosphate (PO43-) from minerals, which is an essential nutrient for plants and animals

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5
Q

iron cycle

A

some microorganisms can oxidize iron compounds, such as ferrous iron (Fe2+), and convert them into ferric iron (Fe3+)

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6
Q

what kind of microorganisms survive at high temperatures

A

thermophiles and hyperthermophiles can survive and grow at temperatures as high as 176°F (80°C) and even higher such as volcanic hot springs, geysers, and deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

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7
Q

what kind of microorganisms survive at low temperatures

A

psychrophiles can survive and grow at temperatures as low as -112°F (-80°C) such as polar ice, permafrost, and deep-sea sediments.

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8
Q

what kind of microorganisms survive at high pressures

A

piezophiles can survive and grow at pressures as high as 1,800 times atmospheric pressure such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents and subsurface oil reservoirs.

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9
Q

what kind of microorganisms survive at high salinities

A

halophiles can survive and grow in environments with very high salt concentrations, such as salt flats and salt mines.

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10
Q

what kind of microorganisms survive at high radiation

A

Deinococcus radiodurans can survive and grow in environments with high levels of radiation, such as nuclear waste sites and space.

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11
Q

what kind of microorganisms survive at high acidity

A

acidophiles can survive and grow in environments with very high acidity, such as acid mine drainage, acid hot springs, and acid soils.

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12
Q

structure of prokaryote

A

No membrane-enclosed organelles, no nucleus,
generally smaller than eukaryotic cells

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13
Q

structure of eukaryote

A

DNA enclosed in a membrane-bound nucleus
Cells are generally larger and more complex
Contain organelles

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14
Q

what kind of DNA is found within eukaryotic

A

linear found within the nucleus

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15
Q

what kind of DNA is found within prokaryotic cells

A

singular, circular DNA molecules called a chromosome

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16
Q

what is metabolism

A

chemical transformation of nutrients

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17
Q

what is reproduction

A

generation of two cells from one

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18
Q

what is differentiation

A

synthesis of new substances or structures that modify the cell

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19
Q

what is communication

A

generation of and response to chemical signals

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20
Q

what is evolution

A

the process of change over time that results in new varieties and species of organisms

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21
Q

what is phylogeny

A

evolutionary relationships between organisms, rRNA is excellent for determining phylogeny

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22
Q

Comparative rRNA sequencing has defined three distinct lineages of cells called domains:

A

bacteria (prokaryotic)
archaea (prokaryotic)
eukarya (eukaryote)

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23
Q

positive impacts of microbial activities on agriculture

A

nitrogen-fixing bacteria, cellulose-degrading microbes in the rumen, regeneration of nutrients in soil

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24
Q

negative impacts of microbial activities on agriculture

A

diseases in plants and animals

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25
negative impacts of microorganisms on food
can cause food spoilage, many foods require methods of preservation
26
positive impacts of microorganisms on food
microbial transformations yield dairy products and other food products including sauerkraut, pickles, leavened breads and beer
27
who was first to describe microbes
Robert hooke (1635-1703)
28
what are homodimeric proteins
proteins composed of two identical polypeptides
29
what is the oldest known microorganism
fossilised stromatolites- 3.5 billion years ago
30
what is the mass of bacteria on earth
5x10^30 grams
31
what enzyme catalyses DNA supercoiling
DNA Gyrase
32
what is a chromosome
Large, encodes all essential genes and more
33
what are plasmids
small, many copies, non essential but advantageous genes (e.g. antibiotic resistance)
34
what are homedimeric proteins
proteins composed of two identical polypeptides
35
what are outcomes after DNA binding
DNA-binding protein may catalyze a specific reaction on the DNA molecule (i.e., transcription by RNA polymerase) The binding event can block transcription 
(negative regulation) The binding event can activate transcription 
(positive regulation)
36
what is an inducer
substance that induces enzyme synthesis
37
what is a corepressor
substance that represses enzyme synthesis
38
what are effectors
collective term for inducers and repressors Effectors affect transcription indirectly by binding to specific DNA-binding proteins Repressor molecules bind to an allosteric repressor protein Allosteric repressor becomes active and binds to region of DNA near promoter called the operator
39
what are operons
cluster of genes arranged in a linear fashion whose expression is under control of a single operator Operator is located downstream of the promoter Transcription is physically blocked when repressor binds to operator
40
what is a repressor
can control enzyme induction, addition of inducer inactivates repressor, and transcription can proceed. repressor's role is inhibitory so its called negative control
41
what is negative control
a regulatory mechanism that stops transcription
42
what is positive control
regulator protein activates the binding of RNA polymerase to DNA
43
negative control repression
prevents the synthesis of an enzyme in response to signal, enzymes affected by repression make up small fraction of total proteins, typically effects anabolic enzymes and
44
negative control induction
production of an enzyme in response to a signal, typically affects catabolic enzymes, enzymes are synthesised only when they are needed
45
positive control activation
genes for maltose are spread out over the chromosome in several operons. each operon has an activator-binding site
46
global control systems
regulate expression of many different genes simultaneously
47
what is quorum sensing
mechanism by which bacteria assess their population density
48
what shape is coccus
spherical or ovoid
49
what shape is rod
cylindrical shape
50
phototrophs energy source
photosynthetic, energy from sunlight
51
chemotrophs energy source
energy from oxidation of chemicals
52
what is autotrophic
an organism that can make organic molecules from inorganic nutrients
53
what is heterotrophic
an organism that cannot make organic molecules from inorganic nutrients, depends on OM for energy generation and precursors for cell material
54
what are cyanobacteria
type of photoautotrophs that use hydrogen atoms from water to reduce carbon dioxide to form carbohydrates, produce oxygen gas
55
what are lichens
an association between two partners: an ascomycete (fungus) and a cyanobacterium. Cyanobacteria provide organic compounds via photosynthesis, and can fix nitrogen Fungus provides protection, water retention, extracts minerals and nutrients from substrate
56
what do chemoautotrophs do
fix carbon dioxide to make organic compounds, obtain energy from mainly inorganic chemicals
57
what are halobacteria
a type of photoheterotrophs, that possess the protein bacteriorhodopsin, light energy is used to transfer protons across the membrane out of the cell, resulting protein gradient is used to generate ATP, cannot fix CO2
58
what are chemoheterotrophs
the most common nutritional mode, uses organic compounds for both carbon requirement and energy generation. most bacterial pathogens are chemoheterotrophs
59
what is a regulon
multiple operons controlled by the same regulatory protein
60
who was first to describe bacteria
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)
61
who founded the field of bacterial classification and discovered bacterial endospores
Ferdinand cohn (1828-1898)

BM211 microbiology (5 decks)

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