Feralis Ch 2 Flashcards
(228 cards)
2 criteria in determining the living vs non-living
- Independent metabolism (Viruses lack this and are not considered alive)
- Ability to self-replicate
Species name
Italicized, consists of a genus name and a species name.
Taxonomic ranks, from most general to specific
Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.
Taxonomic levels for humans
Domain: Eukarya Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Mammalia Order: Primata Family: Hominidae Genus: Homo Species: Sapiens
Systematics
Study of evolutionary relationships among organisms
Eukaryote Vs. Prokaryote
The two major divisions in living organisms.
Eukaryotic chromosomes contain long, linear DNA with histones that is enclosed in a nucleus. They have specialized organelles to isolate metabolic activities. The flagella and cilia microtubules are arranged in a 9+2 array.
Prokaryotic cells have a single chromosome that is short. They have circular DNA that usually does not have histones. The exception are archaea that have histones. Prokaryotes may contain plasmids. The flagella consist of chains of the protein flagellin instead of the 9 + 2 microtubule arrangement seen in eukaryotic cells. Uses proton motive force to spin and give locomotion in bacteria (electrical gradient), not ATP!
Autotrophs
Manufacture their own organic materials. They use light (photo) or chemicals (chemo) such as H2S, NH3, NO, and NO3
Heterotrophs
Obtain energy by consuming organic substances produced by autotrophs.
Parasites and saprobes (saprophytes)
Parasites
A heterotroph. Obtain energy from living tissues of hosts
Saprobes (saprophytes)
A heterotroph. Obtain
energy and feed from dead, decaying matter which contribute to organic decay. Decomposers are slightly different in that they break down dead and decaying matter
Obligate aerobes
must have O2 to live
Obligate anaerobes
Require absence of O2 to live; they cannot live with the presence of oxygen. They are unable to detoxify some products of oxygen metabolism, e.g. H2O2 would be toxic to them
Facultative anaerobe
Grows in the presence of O2, but can switch to anaerobic metabolism when O2 is absent. Prefer to grow in the presence of oxygen if possible because respiration is more efficient and produces more ATP.
Domain Archaea
Prokaryotes, non-pathogenic. Cell walls contain various polysaccharides, but they do not contain peptidoglycan as seen in bacteria. Cell walls also contain cellulose or chitin. Phospholipid membrane contains glycerol, but the glycerol is an isomer of the one used in bacteria and eukaryotes. Hydrocarbon chain in is branched with ether-linkages
Archaea and eukaryote similarities
- DNA of both archaea and eukaryotes are associated with histones, unlike bacterial DNA
- Ribosome activity is not inhibited by antibiotics streptomycin and chloramphenicol, unlike bacteria
Methanogens
A group of archaea. These are obligate anaerobes that
produce CH4 as a by-product of obtaining energy from H2 to fix CO2
Extremophiles
A group of archaea. They live in extreme environments. Consists of Halophiles (salt lover), Thermophiles (heat lover), and Other extremophiles
Halophiles
An extremophile, which is a group of archaea. They live in high salt concentration environments. Most are aerobic and heterotrophic; others are anaerobic and photosynthetic with the pigment bacteriorhodopsin
Thermophiles
An extremophile, which is a group of archaea. Are sulfur-based chemoautotrophs that live in very hot places. Can produce bright colours.
Other extremophiles
An extremophile, which is a group of archaea. Live in high acid/base/pressure environments
Domain Bacteria (Five Kingdoms)
Cell walls that have peptidoglycan, which is a polymer of monosaccharides with amino acids. DNA is not associated with histones, and ribosome activity is inhibited by antibiotics like streptomycin and chloramphenicol
Classification of bacteria
- Mode of nutrition/how they metabolize resources
- Ability to produce endospores (resistant bodies that contain DNA and small amounts of cytoplasm surrounded by a durable wall)
- Means of motility - flagella, corkscrew motion, or gliding through slime material
- Shapes - cocci (spherical), bacilli (rod- shaped), spirilla/spirochetes (spirals)
- Peptidoglycan cell wall - gram-positive bacteria have thick peptidoglycan cell walls. Gram-negative bacteria have thin peptidoglycan covered with lipopolysaccharides. Peptidoglycan contains amino sugars
i. Teichoic acids - these acids on the cell walls of bacterium are used as recognition and binding sites by bacterial viruses that cause infections. Teichoic acids also provide cell wall rigidity and are only found on gram-positive bacteria! Teichoic acids are covalently attached to the peptidoglycan layer
Common groups of bacteria
Cyanobacteria, Chemosynthetic, Nitrogen-fixing, Spirochetes
Cyanobacteria
A common group of bacteria. They are
photosynthetic and contain an accessory pigment called phycobilins. Some have specialized cells called heterocysts that produce nitrogen-fixing enzymes; These enzymes convert fixed inorganic nitrogen gas into NH3 that can be used to make amino acids and nucleotides. Cyanobacteria are known as blue-green algae and are not related to the other eukaryotic algae groups. They are the oldest known fossils and can rapidly grow in aquatic environments, turning the water green or blue-green