LECTURE 1

Question 1

what are the definitions of microbiology?

Answer 1

the size of the organism studied cannot be seen by the unaided eye (less than 1mm)
the set of laboratory instruments and techniques that are used to study these organisms
(microscope, autoclave, sterile media, isolation etc)

Question 2

what is the study perspective of microbiology?

Answer 2

gross morphology, fine structure, nutrition, reproduction, physiology, genetics, classification, evolution and distribution

Question 3

some characteristics of microorganisms?

Answer 3

1. can be found anywhere (ubiquitous) (high temp,
2. low temp, high salt, high/low pH) through evolution
3. associated to humans in a 1:1 ratio of cells to microorganisms
4. the majority are innocuous to humans
5. some are harmful or deadly

Question 4

what are the three kingdoms of life?

Answer 4

bacteria
archaea
eucarya

Question 5

in which kingdoms of life can microorganisms be found?

Answer 5

all of them
at least 1 billion different species
most common life form on earth

Question 6

can microorganisms be multicellular?

Answer 6

yes, such as fungi
we just have to not be able to see them with the naked eye

Question 7

what are the groups of microorganisms?

Answer 7

1. procaryotes
   no internal divisions, no nucleus
   bacteria and archaea
2. eucaryotes
   compartmentalised
   algae, fungi, protozoa
3. non living microorganisms (acellular entities)
   prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses

Question 8

why are viruses considered non living?

Answer 8

cannot reproduce independently, need to infect a host first

Question 9

what are the attributes of life that microorganisms share?

Answer 9

1. can grow
2. metaboslim (consume nutrient and excrete waste)
3. motion
4. reproduction
5. response to stimuli
   the cell is the basic unit of life and most microorganisms are unicellular

Question 10

who suggested that invisible organisms cause disease?

Answer 10

lucretius and fracastoro

Question 11

who invented the first microscopes?

Answer 11

zacharias jenssen
magnification 3X to 9X

Question 12

who was the first to describe and depict microorganisms?

Answer 12

robert hooke, he used a microscope

Question 13

how was sporangia represented?

Answer 13

sporangium: cell that grows the stems when all nutrients are done
sporangiophores: cells burst open and a spore is picked up by the wind to start a colony somewhere else (asexual reproduction)

Question 14

who discovered bacteria and protozoa?

Answer 14

anthony van leeuwenhoek
revived the theory of spontaneous generation

Question 15

what was the magnification of the small hand held microscope he developed?

Answer 15

50X to 300X

Question 16

what is the theory of spontaneous generation?

Answer 16

formation of living organisms from inanimate matters
(dust=mites, decaying meat=flies garbage=mice)