Microorganisms

Question 1

What is a microorganism?

Answer 1

A very tiny organism that can only be seen in detail using a microscope.

Question 2

What is a bacterium?

Answer 2

A prokaryotic microorganism.

Question 3

How big is a bacterium?

Answer 3

They’re very small, measuring at 0.5 - 5μm.

Question 4

How does bacterium reproduce?

Answer 4

Through binary fusion. In this method of asexual reproduction, there is a separation of the parent cell into two new daughter cells.

Question 5

What are the features of a bacterium?

Answer 5

They have pili, which are small hairs that allow the bacteria to stick to surfaces and to each other.

Question 6

What is a protist?

Answer 6

They’ single celled, eukaryotic microorganisms.

Examples include algae and ragweed.

Question 7

How big is a protist?

Answer 7

It is 1μm - 2mm long.

Question 8

How do protists reproduce?

Answer 8

They reproduce asexually by binary fusion.

Question 9

What are the features of a protist?

Answer 9

They have flagellums for mobility, but not all.

Question 10

What is a fungi?

Answer 10

They’re eukaryotes.

Question 11

How big is a fungi?

Answer 11

They’re much larger than bacteria as they range from 5 - 50μm.

Question 12

How do fungi reproduce?

Answer 12

Through budding and spores. Certain fungi moulds reproduce by releasing spores from giant fruiting bodies like mushrooms.

Question 13

What is a virus?

Answer 13

They’re non-living acellular organisms and can’t reproduce without host cells.

Question 14

How big is a virus?

Answer 14

20 - 350nm wide.

Question 15

How do viruses reproduce?

Answer 15

They come into contact with body cells, merge with the cell membrane and deposit their genetic material into the cell. The genetic material causes the cell to build millions of copies of the virus, which assemble into the cytoplasm. The cells new lyses and virions are released into the fluid or tissue surrounding the cell.

Question 16

What is a parasite?

Answer 16

Multicellular animals that invade the body, live and reproduce there.

Question 17

What is a demodex?

Answer 17

A relatively harmless parasite.

Question 18

What is an ascasis?

Answer 18

An unpleasant parasite.

Question 19

What is a prion?

Answer 19

Non-living groups of pathogenic protein molecules that self replicate and cause brain damage.

Question 20

What 3 diseases can bacteria cause? include their symptoms and treatments.

Answer 20

• Chlamydia (This is a pelvic inflammatory disease causing abnormal discharge and pain when urinating. It can be treated with antibiotics).
• Gonorrhoea (This is a pelvic inflammatory disease causing abnormal discharge and pain when urinating. This can be treated with antibiotics).
• Tuberculosis (This causes a cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, fatigue, weight loss and night seats. It can be treated with antibiotics).

Question 21

What are 3 viral diseases? include their symptoms and treatments.

Answer 21

• Measles (This is an acute viral respiratory illness that causes a runny nose, cough, fever, red and sensitive eyes and a face rash. It can be treated with rest, fluids and fever medications).
• Mumps (This causes swollen and painful salivary glands, fever, headache, fatigue and loss of appetite, It can be treated by fluids, pain medications and rest).
• Common cold (This causes a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, sore throat, head and body aches and fatigue. It can be treated with rest, fluids, medications and warm salt water).

Question 22

What is an example of a fungal disease? include the symptoms and treatments.

Answer 22

-Thrush (This causes a white creamy patch on the tongue and cheeks, soreness, discomfort, difficult swallowing and tasting. It can be treated with anti fungal medications and oral hygiene).

Question 23

What is an example of a parasitic disease? include the symptoms and treatments.

Answer 23

Toxoplasmosis (This is an intracellular parasite transmitted to humans via cat waste. It causes fever, muscle pain, sore throat, tiredness and possible blindness. It can be treated with medications and good hygiene).

Question 24

What is an example of a protozoa disease? include the symptoms and treatments.

Answer 24

Malaria (This is transmitted to humans via infected mosquitoes, it causes fever, chills, sweats, fatigue and muscle pain, It is treated with medications).

Question 25

What is an example of a prion disease? include the symptoms and treatments.

Answer 25

Creutzfelt-jakob disease (This causes dementia, muscle stiffness, twitching, co-ordination problems, memory loss and a change in behaviour. There is no cure for this but medications can help to slow down the process).