microbes

Question 1

what are the types of microbes (6)

Answer 1

bacteria
fungi
archaea
algae
viruses
protozoa

Question 2

differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes

Answer 2

Pro-DNA organised in a single chromosome
-no nucleus and no mitosis
Euk- DNA organised in multiple chromosome inside a nucleus
-mitotic division

Question 3

Algae (7)

Answer 3

Microscopic, aquatic plants
•including damp or wet terrestrial habitats
•Primary producers in marine environments
•Eukaryotes
•Cellulose cell walls
•Use photosynthesis for energy
•Produce molecular oxygen and organic compounds

Question 4

bacteria

Answer 4

Small – average size: 0.2 -1.0 μm 2 - 8 μm
•Single celled organisms
•“germs”
•E. coli, MRSA, Salmonella.
•Range of sizes and shapes
•Versatile and diverse.
•Some are Motile
-Prokaryotes
•Peptidoglycan cell walls
•Binary fission
•For energy, use organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, or photosynthesis

Question 5

bacteria 2

Answer 5

Unusual shapes
•Star-shaped Stella
•Square Haloarcula
•Filaments Actinomycetes
•Most bacteria are monomorphic
•A few are pleomorphic
Arrangements-
•Pairs: Diplococci, diplobacilli
•Clusters: Staphylococci
•Chains: Streptococci, streptobacilli

Question 6

Archaea

Answer 6

• Related to bacteria
• Lack petidoglycan
• Can only be distinguished from bacteria genetically
• No pathogenicity
• Biotechnology applications
• Ancient organisms
• Many are “extremophiles”
• Extreme environments

Question 7

Fungi

Answer 7

• Moulds, mushrooms and yeast.
• Filamentous, chitin walls
• Non-photosynthetic
• Not all microbes, but often have microscopic structures
• Spores
• Unicellular fungi •yeasts

Question 8

protozoa

Answer 8

-Unicellular, non-photosynthetic
•Motile at least for some part of life cycle
•Found in freshwater, marine & damp terrestrial environments
•Free-living or parasitic
•Many pathogenic

Question 9

viruses

Answer 9

Viruses are intracellular parasites
•Can only replicate with the aid of another cell
•It is an open question whether or not viruses are really alive
•Viruses are extremely small, approximately 15 - 25 nanometers in diameter.
•Responsible for a number of diseases

Question 10

what are prions

Answer 10

Infectious proteins
•Inherited and transmissible by ingestion, transplant, and surgical instruments
•Spongiform encephalopathies: Sheep scrapie, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome, fatal familial insomnia, mad cow disease

Question 11

Extent of microbial life

Answer 11

They are EVERYWHERE
•Your body
•Soil•Permafrost
•Hot springs
•Key in nutrient cycling
•Estimates that the total number of microbial cells on earth is 5 x 1030
•Or 50,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (5 nonillion)

Question 12

what are the 5 things microbes do for us

Answer 12

• cause disease
• agriculture
• food
• energy and the enviro
• biotechnology