Flashcards in Microbial Growth Deck (24):
0
What does "growth" mean in regards to microbes?
Increase in the size of a population of microbes
1
What is a colony of microbes?
Aggregation of cells arising from a single parent cell
2
What is a biofilm of microbes?
Collection of microbes in a complex community
3
What is the most famous biofilm?
Plaque found in teeth
4
What is the carbon source for autotrophs?
Carbon dioxide
5
What is the carbon source for heterotrophs?
Organic compounds
6
What is the energy source of plants, some protozoa, algae, bacteria, and archaea?
Light (photoautotrophs)
7
What is the energy source for animals and fungi?
Chemical compounds (chemoheterotrophs)
8
What is the most important factor in determining the growth of microorganisms?
Temperature
9
What is the word used for a microbe that prefers cold temperatures?
Psychrophilic
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What is the term for microbes that prefer moderate temperatures?
Mesophilic
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What is the term for microbes that prefer severely high temperatures?
Hyperthermophilic
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Most microbes prefer what type of temperature environment?
Moderate temperatures (mesophilic)
13
Most microorganisms thrive in what pH range?
6-9
14
Most animal pathogens work best at what pH level?
7
15
Why is water/moisture important for the growth of microorganisms?
Used as building material for cell synthesis, food and water transport
16
What group of bacteria do not have typical peptidoglycan cell walls and are at risk for hypotonic environment bursting?
Mycobacteria
17
What effect does light have on most pathogens?
Most are killed by direct sunlight and UV rays
18
What is the term for a sample of specimens for the purpose of cultural microorganisms?
Inoculum
19
What is the collection of nutrients used to grow culture on called?
Medium
20
What is the name of the type of media used when the exact chemical composition is known to attract a specific bacteria?
Defined (synthetic)
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What type of media is used when the exact chemical composition is unknown that can attract a certain bacteria?
Complex (like blood, milk, yeast, etc.)
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What is the most famous selective media?
Sabouraud dextrose agar
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