Flashcards for:
Microbiology: Tiny Organisms, Big Impact

Eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while prokaryotic cells do not have a true nucleus and lack membrane-bound organelles.

Microbes are used in the production of pharmaceuticals like insulin and in the fermentation process to make products such as bread and alcohol.

Microbes break down pollutants and toxic waste in the environment, playing a critical role in cleaning oil spills, heavy metals, and other contaminants.

Archaea have unique membrane lipids and different ribosomal RNA sequences, and often live in extreme environments; they are distinct from bacteria but both are prokaryotes.

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem and releasing gases such as CO2 and CH4.

Viruses are acellular, meaning they lack cellular structure, and can only replicate inside the living cells of a host, unlike bacteria or fungi which can grow independently.

Anoxygenic photosynthesis is an older process that does not produce oxygen and often results in sulfur production, whereas oxygenic photosynthesis produces oxygen.

Abiogenesis is the idea that life can arise spontaneously from non-living matter, a concept challenged by biogenesis which states that life originates from existing life.

Cell theory posits that all living organisms are composed of cells, and that cells are the basic unit of life. All cells arise from pre-existing cells.

Koch's postulates are criteria used to establish a causative relationship between a microbe and a disease, fundamentally establishing germ theory.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek improved the microscope and was the first to observe and document individual microorganism structures, which he called 'animalcules'.

The last universal common ancestor is the theoretical origin of all life, marking the divergence into the three domains: Eukarya, Archaea, and Bacteria approximately 3.8 billion years ago.

Ignaz Semmelweis advocated for handwashing with chlorinated lime solutions in hospitals, significantly reducing puerperal fever incidents among patients.

Joseph Lister pioneered the use of aseptic techniques in surgery, drastically reducing infections by using antiseptics to sterilize surgical instruments and clean wounds.

Microbes, specifically fungi, led to the production of antibiotics like penicillin which have revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections.

Pathogenicity is the ability of microbes to cause disease in a host, and understanding it is crucial for developing methods to prevent and treat infections.

Louis Pasteur demonstrated that microbes in the air cause contamination and spoilage, thereby disproving spontaneous generation with his swan neck flask experiment.