Microbiology Chapter 10 Study Guide: Taxonomy, Classification, and Microbial Identification

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Q1. Define taxonomy, taxon, and phylogeny.

Background

Topic: Microbial Classification and Evolutionary Relationships

This question tests your understanding of the basic terminology used in classifying and studying the evolutionary relationships among microorganisms.

Key Terms

Taxonomy: The science of classifying organisms.
Taxon: A group or category in a classification system.
Phylogeny: The evolutionary history and relationships among organisms.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Start by defining taxonomy as it relates to organizing and naming organisms.
Explain what a taxon is, and give an example (such as genus or species).
Describe phylogeny and how it differs from taxonomy, focusing on evolutionary relationships.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Final Answer:

Taxonomy is the science of classifying organisms to arrange them into groups based on similarities and differences.
A taxon (plural: taxa) is a category or group in a classification system, such as species, genus, family, etc.
Phylogeny refers to the evolutionary history and relationships among organisms, often depicted as a phylogenetic tree.

Q2. Discuss the limitations of a two-kingdom classification system.

Background

Topic: Evolution of Biological Classification Systems

This question examines your understanding of why the traditional two-kingdom system (Plants and Animals) is inadequate for classifying all forms of life, especially microorganisms.

Key Concepts

Two-kingdom system: Only includes Plantae and Animalia.
Microorganisms: Many do not fit into these two kingdoms.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Recall what organisms were included in the two-kingdom system.
Think about examples of organisms (like bacteria, fungi, protists) that do not fit well into either kingdom.
Consider the differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and how these differences challenge the two-kingdom system.
Reflect on how the discovery of new types of organisms led to the development of more kingdoms.

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Final Answer:

The two-kingdom system is limited because it cannot accommodate organisms that are neither plants nor animals, such as bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protists. It does not distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, nor does it account for the diversity of microbial life. This led to the development of additional kingdoms and domains to better reflect evolutionary relationships.

Q3. Identify the contributions of Linnaeus, Whittaker, and Woese.

Background

Topic: History of Biological Classification

This question asks you to recall the major contributions of three scientists who shaped the classification of living organisms.

Key Figures

Linnaeus: Developed the binomial nomenclature and early classification system.
Whittaker: Proposed the five-kingdom system.
Woese: Introduced the three-domain system based on molecular data.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Summarize Linnaeus's main contribution to taxonomy and naming organisms.
Describe Whittaker's innovation and what kingdoms he proposed.
Explain Woese's use of molecular techniques and what domains he established.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Final Answer:

Linnaeus established the binomial nomenclature system and classified organisms into two kingdoms: Plantae and Animalia.
Whittaker proposed the five-kingdom system: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
Woese introduced the three-domain system (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya) based on differences in ribosomal RNA sequences.

Q4. Differentiate culture, clone, and strain.

Background

Topic: Microbial Populations and Genetics

This question tests your understanding of terms used to describe groups of microorganisms in laboratory and genetic contexts.

Key Terms

Culture: Microorganisms grown in a controlled environment.
Clone: A population of cells derived from a single parent cell.
Strain: A genetic variant or subtype of a microorganism.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Define what a culture is in microbiology.
Explain how a clone is produced and what it represents.
Describe what is meant by a strain and how it differs from a clone.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Final Answer:

A culture is a population of microorganisms grown in a laboratory medium.
A clone consists of cells that are genetically identical, derived from a single parent cell.
A strain is a genetic variant or subtype of a microorganism, which may differ from other strains in minor genetic or phenotypic ways.

Q5. Define protist.

Background

Topic: Microbial Diversity

This question asks you to define a major group of eukaryotic microorganisms.

Key Term

Protist: A diverse group of mostly unicellular eukaryotic organisms.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Recall the characteristics that define protists, including cell type and typical habitats.
Think about examples of protists and how they differ from plants, animals, and fungi.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Final Answer:

A protist is a member of a diverse group of mostly unicellular eukaryotic organisms that are not classified as plants, animals, or fungi. Examples include amoebae, algae, and paramecia.

Q6. Differentiate eukaryotic, prokaryotic, and viral species.

Background

Topic: Microbial Classification

This question tests your understanding of the differences between the main types of microbial species.

Key Terms

Eukaryotic species: Organisms with cells containing a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Prokaryotic species: Organisms with cells lacking a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Viral species: Groups of viruses sharing the same genetic information and ecological niche.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Define what constitutes a eukaryotic species, focusing on cellular structure and reproduction.
Describe the characteristics of prokaryotic species, including genetic and structural features.
Explain how viral species are classified, noting differences from cellular organisms.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Final Answer:

Eukaryotic species are groups of organisms whose cells have a nucleus and organelles; they reproduce sexually or asexually.
Prokaryotic species are populations of cells with similar characteristics, lacking a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Viral species are groups of viruses with the same genetic information and host range; they are not classified as living organisms.

Q7. Explain the purpose of Bergey’s Manual.

Background

Topic: Microbial Identification and Classification

This question asks about a key reference used in microbiology for identifying and classifying bacteria.

Key Term

Bergey’s Manual: A comprehensive reference for bacterial classification and identification.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Recall what information Bergey’s Manual provides to microbiologists.
Think about how the manual is used in laboratory and research settings.
Consider the types of characteristics (morphological, biochemical, genetic) included in the manual.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Final Answer:

Bergey’s Manual is a reference book that provides descriptions and identification keys for bacteria, helping microbiologists classify and identify bacterial species based on their characteristics.

Q8. Explain how serological tests and phage typing can be used to identify an unknown bacterium.

Background

Topic: Microbial Identification Techniques

This question tests your understanding of laboratory methods for identifying bacteria based on their interactions with antibodies and bacteriophages.

Key Terms

Serological tests: Use antibodies to detect specific bacterial antigens.
Phage typing: Uses bacteriophages to determine bacterial susceptibility patterns.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Describe how serological tests work, focusing on antigen-antibody interactions.
Explain how phage typing is performed and what information it provides.
Discuss how these methods help distinguish between different bacterial species or strains.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Final Answer:

Serological tests identify bacteria by detecting specific antigens using antibodies, while phage typing determines which bacteriophages can infect a bacterium, revealing its identity based on susceptibility patterns. Both methods help differentiate and identify unknown bacterial isolates.

Q9. Describe how microorganisms can be identified by nucleic acid hybridization, Southern blotting, DNA chips, ribotyping, and FISH.

Background

Topic: Molecular Methods for Microbial Identification

This question asks you to explain several molecular techniques used to identify microorganisms based on their genetic material.

Key Terms and Techniques

Nucleic acid hybridization: Detects complementary DNA or RNA sequences.
Southern blotting: Identifies specific DNA fragments using labeled probes.
DNA chips (microarrays): Analyze expression or presence of many genes simultaneously.
Ribotyping: Uses rRNA gene patterns for identification.
FISH (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization): Uses fluorescent probes to detect specific DNA/RNA sequences in cells.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Briefly describe the principle of nucleic acid hybridization and how it is used for identification.
Explain the steps of Southern blotting and its application in detecting specific DNA sequences.
Summarize how DNA chips (microarrays) can be used to identify microorganisms.
Describe ribotyping and its reliance on rRNA gene sequences.
Explain how FISH uses fluorescent probes to visualize specific microorganisms.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Final Answer:

Nucleic acid hybridization identifies microorganisms by detecting complementary DNA or RNA sequences using labeled probes.
Southern blotting separates DNA fragments by electrophoresis, transfers them to a membrane, and uses labeled probes to detect specific sequences.
DNA chips (microarrays) contain many DNA probes and can simultaneously detect the presence of multiple genes or organisms.
Ribotyping analyzes patterns of rRNA genes to identify and classify bacteria.
FISH uses fluorescently labeled probes that bind to specific DNA or RNA sequences in cells, allowing visualization and identification under a microscope.