unit 1 chapter 1 micro

Why microorganisms are useful model organisms for scientific study

*Greater understanding of many general biologocal principles. *They are easy to grow and maintain in large quantities. *Their cell structure and function growth and physiology, genetics, and interactions with living and nonliving environs serve as models for human systems.

ways humans manipulate microorganisms for their own use

*Home uses -baker's and brewer's bread -cheeses -moldy bread on wounds *Biotechnology-when humans manipulate microorganisms to make products in an industrial setting. -Genetic engineering-create new products and genetically modified organisms (gmos) -Recombinant DNA technology- allow microbes to be engineered to synthesize desirable proteins (I.e. drugs, hormones, and enzymes). *Bioremediation-introducing microbes in to the environment to restore stability or clean up toxic pollutants. -oil spills -chemical spills -water and sewage treatment

microorganisms role and impact on earth

*They are the earliest organisms found in the fossil record. *They perform essential reactions in the environment (oxygen, decomposition) *Microbes can be harnessed to work for us as bioengineers. *They sometimes cause infectious diseases. *They are found nearly everywhere. Occurr in large #s. They play central roles in the earth's landscape and that are essential to life. Live in places many other organism cannot.

Difference between inductive and deductive reasoning.

*deductive-investigations or decisions made by using accepted generalized principles as a guide. *inductive-the process of discovering general principles by careful examination of specific cases.

Eukaryotic

A cell that differs from a prokaryotic cell chiefly by having a nuclear membrane. Membrane bounded subcellular organelles.

Biofilms

A complex associated that arises from a mixture of microoganisms growing together on the surface of a habitat.

Genetic engineering

A field involving deliberate alterations (recombinations) of the genomes of microbes, plants, and animals through special technological processes.

Microbes

A living thing ordinarily too small to be seen without magnification; an organism of microscopic size.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

A technique that amplifies segments of DNA for testing. Using denaturation, primers, and heat resistant DNA polymerase the number can be increased several-million-fold.

Recombinant DNA technology

A technology, also known as genetic engineering, that deliberately modifies the genetic structure of an organism to create novel products, microbes, animals, plants, and viruses.

Small RNAs

Ability to control the expression of certain genes. With complementary nucleotide sequence. After transcribing they fold themselves back. They do this to get rid of viruses.

Parasite

An organism that lives on or within another organism (the host), from which it obtains nutrients and enjoys protection. The parasite produces some degree of harm in the host.

Sterile

Completely free of all life forms, including spores and viruses.

Bioremediation

Decomposition of harmful chemicals by microbes or consortia of microbes.

Spontaneous generation

Early believe that living things arose from vital forces present in nonliving, or decomposing matter.

relative burden of human disease caused by microbes

Increasing number of emerging diseases(SARS, AIOS, hepatitis c, viral encephalitis) other diseases previously not linked to microorganisms now are (gastric ulcers, certain cancers, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, obsessive compulsive disorder, coronary artery disease). Increasing number of drug resistant strains are evolving. -Some microbes cause infectious diseases. -any disease causing agent is a pathogen. -only a few microbes are associated with disease.

Deductive reasoning

Investigations or decisions made by using accepted generalized principles as a guide.

Aseptic techniques

Methods of handling microbial cultures, patient specimens, and other sources of microbes in a way that prevents infection of the handler and others who may be exposed.

Host

Organism in which smaller organisms or viruses live, feed, and reproduce.

Ubiquity

Present everywhere at the same time.

Evolution

Scientific principle that states that living things change gradually through hundreds of millions of years and these changes are expressed in structural and functional adaptations in each organism. Evolution presumes that those traits that favor survival are preserved and passed on to following generations, and those traits that don't favor survival are lost.

Prokaryotic

Small cells, lacking special structures such as a nucleus and organelles. All prokaryotes are microorganisms.

Decomposition

The breakdown of dead matter and wastes into simple compounds that can be directed back into the natural cycle of living things.

Pathogenic

The capacity of microbes to cause disease.

Inductive reasoning

The process of discovering general principles by careful examination of specific cases (the scientific method).