Viruses
What are the basic components of a virus?
nucleic acid, capsid, membrane proteins, envelope
What are the three main shapes of bacterial cells?
spirillum: spiral shaped
bacillus: rod shaped
coccus: sphere shaped
What is microbiota? List a few examples.
Examples include viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, archeabacteria
Heterotrophs because they do not perform photosynthesis. They consume their food by metabolizing it through the use of enzymes. Kind of like humans...
True or False
False. They are much smaller and do not exhibit the same characteristics.
How do bacteria divide? What is this called?
Bacteria divide by first replicating their DNA and then going through a process called fission.
What is the human microbiome?
Fungal cell walls are made of...
chitin
Are viruses alive? Why or why not.
2. They do not grow
3. They do not produce waste
4. They do not contain cells
5. They do not respond to stimuli
List some ways bacteria can spread to people.
1. Person to person contact
2. The air
3. Feces/urine
4. Food
5. Animals
6. Etc.
What is beneficial about having such a diverse community of microbiota within us?
The more diverse our microbial communities are, the more they can help us carry out unique tasks and protect us from foreign invaders.
What is a unicellular type of fungi?
Yeast
How would you cure a viral infection? Can you use antibiotics?
1. Rest and manage symptoms
2. Anti viral drugs
3. Antibiotics are ONLY useful against bacteria
Give an example of a bacterial infection.
MRSA, Plague, Pneumonia, tetanus, anthrax, typhus, whooping cough, etc.
Answers may vary
Explain why certain types of microbiota inhabit specific parts of the body and not others.
It depends on the environment. Different regions of the body have unique conditions such as pH, moisture, temperature, etc.
What are the byproducts of yeast fermentation?
ethanol and CO2
What are the two ways a virus reproduces? Explain each.
1. Lysogenic Cycle: virus nucleic acid is incorporated into the host cell genome which is passed on to subsequent generations of cells
2. Lytic Cycle: the reproduction of viruses using a host cell to manufacture more viruses; the viruses then burst out of the cell
Why are bacteria a good model organism for research? (Hint: think about population growth)
Bacteria reproduce at a fast rate. This rate of reproduction can help researchers gather information quickly.
Explain the mutualistic relationship between humans and their microbiota?
The microbiota give us vitamins, help digest food, and protect us from an overpopulation of harmful microorganisms. We offer our microbiota a place to live and thrive and energy.
If you were making bread, what would be the necessary for the perfect textured bread?
Enough sugar as an energy source for the yeast, and a warm environment.