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What is Taxonomy ?
Taxonomy is a formal system for organizing, classifying and naming living things.
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Explain these three parts to taxonomy ?
Nomenclature :
Classification :
Identification :
Nomenclature: a system of naming organisms
Classification: an orderly arrangement of organisms into groups; based on an evolutionary relationship
Identification: the process by which an organism is discovered, catalogued and assigned a taxonomic position based on the traits it possesses
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What are the 8 classification levels ?
- Domain
- Kingdom
- Phylum or Division
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
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What is the three domain classification created by Carl Woese ?
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What is the 5 name Classification system by Robert H Whittaker ?
"FAMPP"
- Fungi
- Animalia
- Monera
- Protista
- Plantae
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What is the six-kingdom system names ?
"FAPPAE"
- Fungi
- Animaia
- Protista
- Plantae
- Archaeobacteria
- Eubacteri
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What are some of the traits and characteristics they use for identification ?
–Morphology: phenotype; physical characteristics
–Physiological/Metabolic: biochemical processes–Ecological: habitat, environment
–Genetic: ability to share genetic information
–Molecular: protein structure, nucleic acid composition
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What part of the bacteria does Serology utilize ?
The polysaccharides and proteins. Use anitbody markers
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What characteristics of Phenotype can be used to identify a microbe ?
What are some disadvantages and advantages to this ?
Phenotype: morphology, structure and arrangement
Advantages: easy to study, structures are genetically stable, little or no environmental variation
Disadvantages: sometimes has poor resolution; there may be a degree of heterogeneity to consider
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What about Metabolism can be used to identify microbes ?
What are some disadvantages and advantages to this ?
Metabolism - (Physiology)
Advantages: obtain data about fundamentally important systems in organism
Disadvantages: indirect ways to measure physiological response; response varies with nutrient supply and changes in the environment
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What can be used about the environment to study microbes ?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method ?
Ecology: study the environment of the microorganism ; phenotype and physiology usually differs in microorganism based on environment.
Advantages: obtain information on how organisms relate to their environment–Disadvantages: environment is not always constant
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What about the Genotype can be studied to identify microbes ?
Genotype: compare the nucleic acid structure and organization
- DNA: examine G+C content•
- RNA: compare ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA)
Allows for signature sequences to be identified–Helps provide an evolutionary time line
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How can a microscope be used to identify microbes ?
How can metabolic differences be used to identify microbes ?
Microscope: look at shape, size, cell arrangement and staining characteristics, e.g. Gram stain and acid-fast staining.
- Metabolic differences: culture the microbes on different media to determine biochemical needs; e.g. carbohydrate requirements, amino acid requirements, mineral requirements, etc.
- –Selective and differential media
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What are ways to Examine Genotypic Characteristics ?
DNA electrophoresis: look at the fragments generated by restriction digests•
DNA hybridization: look for complementary sequences based on physical binding•
DNA sequencing and genomic analysis: the search for conserved sequences•
PCR: amplify DNA sequences
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What is the difference between a Bacterial Species and a Strain ?
Bacterial Species–a collection of strains that share a set of stable properties and differ from other groups of strains– they exhibit reproductive isolation•
Strain–population that descends from a single organism or pure isolate– there is usually a “type strain” which is represents the most common characteristics of the microorganism
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What are Biovars , Morphovars , and Serovars ?
Biovars-bacterial strains differing by physiological or biochemical properties•
Morphovars–strains that differ morphologically•
Serovars–strains that differ by their serological (antigenic) properties–also termed a serotype
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What are the difficulties when classifying procaryotes ?
Poor fossil record of microorganisms•
Relatively few shapes and sizes of bacteria which make fossilized remains difficult to differentiate•
Sometimes phenotypic characteristics can be misleading–Example: cyanobacteria were once considered to be blue-green algae because they contain chlorophyll like most algae–However, comparison of rRNA shows them to be procaryotic and not eucaryotic
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Where do these Alpha bacteria like to live –Rickettsia–Coxiella–Ehrlichia– ?
they are obligate intracellular organisms
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Are Neisseria strictly human pathogens ?
yes
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Why is the Order Burkholderia so Important ?
Important in recycling organics–Can degrade >100 molecules
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Why is Psuedomondales so important ?
Good for BioremdiationImportant for burn victims
-complicates burn victim healing
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