...physical environment: Microorganisms are influenced by biogeochemical cycling, and also by their immediate physical environment. This includes soil, water, deep marine environment, plant, or animal host. The Microenvironment and niche: A microenvironment is the specific physical location of a microorganism. It is a very small, specific area, distinguished from its immediate surroundings. These factors include the amount out light exposure, the degree of moisture, and the range of temperatures. An example: The side of a tree that is shaded from sunlight is a microenvironment that typically supports a somewhat different community of organisms than is found on the side that receives regular light. Niche: A niche is a way of life of a species. Each species has a separate, unique niche. In the microenvironment, the flux of required electron donors and acceptors, and nutrients to the actual location of the microorganism can be limited, but at the same time, waste products may not be able to diffuse away from the microorganism at rates sufficient to avoid growth inhibition by high waste product concentration. These fluxes and gradients create a unique niche. A unique niche includes the microorganism, its physical habitat, the time of resource use, and the resources available for microbial growth and function. Microorganisms can create their own microenvironments and niches. Example: Microorganisms in the interior of a colony have markedly diff microorganisms and niches than those...
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...into a new plant. In an elm tree this occurs by: Root Suckers/ Basal Sprouts are removed from a tree in autumn and are grown in a nursery bed. They appear within 2 months of destruction. The suckers grow from meristem tissue in the trunk which is close to the ground (area of least damage) 2.2.3 – Describe the production of artificial clones of plants from tissue culture Tissue Culture: Large scale cloning 1- A small piece of tissue from the plant is taken to be cloned. It is called an explant 2- In aseptic condition, the explant is placed on a nutrient growth medium which contains sucrose, nutrients and growth hormones 3- Undifferentiated cells in the explant divide via mitosis to produce a callus (Mass of undifferentiated cells) 4- The callus can subdivide many times to increase the number of individual plants at the end 5- Small pieces of callus are transferred onto another growth medium which contains growth hormones 6- This triggers differentiation...
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...A. Describe the difference between an obligate and facultative aerobe. Obligate aerobes are bacteria that require oxygen for growth. They will only grow at the top portion of the culture media where it meets the air and has a lot of oxygen. Facultative aerobes grow based on what is available to it. They prefer oxygen but oxygen is not necessary for growth. These aerobes mainly cluster at the top of the culture media where they have a high concentration of oxygen but will dispersed throughout because they do not require oxygen. B. Discuss the temperature requirements of the organisms in this lab. 1. Explain what type of organisms they are. Staphylococcus epidermis and Lactobacillus acidophilus are both a bacteria microbe. They grow best at normal body temperature, close to 370C. Microorganisms are classified according to their preferred temperature ranges. Because both grew at 370C, they would be classified as mesophiles. Mesophiles grow best in moderate temperatures ranging between 250C – 450C (Alonzo, n.d.). C. Discuss under what conditions you would want to control the growth of microbes. 1. Explain what type of control you would employ in each situation. To minimize the risk of contamination from unwanted organisms, aseptic technique is required. In this experiment I washed my hands with antibacterial soap. I then place on gloves to prevent contamination to the cultures from the bacteria on my skin and to protect myself from unintended exposure of unknown...
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...measure which inhibit the growth and spread of pathogenic microorganisms; does not destroy all microorganisms. d. Surgical asepsis-also called sterile technique; includes those measures which destroy all microorganisms and their spores. e. Bacteriostatic-inhibiting or retarding bacterial growth. f. Bacteriocidal-capable of killing bacteria.* g. Sterilization-the process of completely removing or destroying all microorganisms, including spores. 1. Chemical sterilization processes include using gas (ethylene oxide) or chemical solutions, which destroy microorganisms. 2. Physical sterilization methods include steam under pressure, boiling water, radiation, and dry heat. h. Virulent-of or pertaining to a highly pathogenic or rapidly progressive condition. i. Disinfectant-a substance that prevents infection by killing bacteria. j. Antiseptic-an agent capable of inhibiting the growth and reproduction of microorganisms; may be used on humans. k. Fomite-a vehicle of transmission by a microorganism which is nonliving, such as a stethoscope, thermometer, bandage scissors, etc….. l. Vector-a vehicle of transmission by a microorganism which is living, such as a person or nonhuman animal. m. Nosocomial infection-an infection which is acquired in a health care facility. n. Endogenous-pertaining to growth within the body; describes an infection in which a person’s own microorganisms become altered and overgrow...
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...organisms in which to grow. Two large categories of microorganisms are those requiring oxygen to live (obligate aerobes) and those which can grow with oxygen but have the ability to also grow without it (facultative aerobes). The obligate aerobes produce more energy from nutrients than anaerobes by using oxygen as the “final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, which produces most of the ATP in these organisms”(Betsy & Keogh, 2005, p.104). The facultative microorganisms are able to use oxygen but can also go without by using fermentation or anaerobic respiration when it is not available (Betsy & Keogh,2005). The microorganisms being cultured in our first task (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Staphylococcus epidermidis) are obligate aerobes. Microorganisms can grow in a variety of conditions with temperature being one of those variables, but the types we frequently encounter in our environment thrive in fairly warm temperatures. Both Lactobacillus acidophilus and Staphylococcus epidermidis are examples of these, which are referred to as mesophiles. Extreme temperatures (as in deep freezing or auotoclaves for example) are effective in destroying microorganisms due to their inability to thrive outside of more moderate temperatures). Growth of these two organisms would be optimized by remaining between 25 and 40 degrees celsius (Betsy & Keogh, 2005). The higher end of this range should increase the rate of growth as it causes a higher rate of metabolism, which...
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...T.J. Atoyebi, 2015 ◦ Lecture 7 We all labour against our own cure, for death is the cure of all diseases. —Sir Thomas Browne T.J. Atoyebi, 2015 Although most microorganisms are beneficial and necessary for human well-being, microbial activities may have undesirable consequences, such as food spoilage and disease. Therefore it is essential to be able to kill a wide variety of microorganisms or inhibit their growth to minimize their destructive effects. T.J. Atoyebi, 2015 The goal is twofold: (1) to destroy pathogens and prevent their transmission, (2) to reduce or eliminate microorganisms responsible for the contamination of water, food, and other substances. T.J. Atoyebi, 2015 Control of microorganisms can be achieved by a variety of; physical, chemical and mechanical removal methods. . T.J. Atoyebi, 2015 1. STERILISATION Sterilisation is the process by which all microorganisms present on or in an object are destroyed or removed. Sterilization involves the destruction or removal of all living microbes, spores, and viruses on an object or in an area. Vacuum pump suction T.J. Atoyebi, 2015 Disinfection is the elimination or inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms in or on an object so that they no longer pose a threat. It is the destruction or removal of vegetative pathogens but not bacterial endospores. Usually used only on inanimate objects. T.J. Atoyebi, 2015 The process of destroying pathogens is called disinfection. If the object...
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...ABSTRACT Microorganisms are too small to be seen with the unaided eye, therefore, they must be observed with a microscope. Due to the fast innovations and advances in microscopy, we are now capable of examining, determining and observing them. This experiment, which utilized the hay infusion as the residing area of microorganisms, investigated the living organism in a drop of water, their manifestation of the different attributes in life. During the run of the experiment, paramecium and specie 1 were observed and were tested to determine the impact of different stimulus to microorganisms in three setups. At the end of the experiment, the variety of setups has been shown to affect the number and kinds of species seen, such as placing hay infusion in dark and the other one, exposed to sunlight, adding brine and sugar solution on the setups. The third section of this paper will deal with relative number of species observed and seen. This paper tackles how microorganism thrive and exemplify mechanisms for survival in the different setups for comparison Moreover, this proves that even in a small drop of water, still, life can exist and microorganisms prosper. I. INTRODUCTION Life on Earth was said to have begun 3.5 billions of years ago. Until now it is still dominating, counting and adding years to life’s age. For an organism to be considered living or possesses life, they must portray different attributes of life. This include mainly by movement, irritability...
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...prevented the science of microbiolgy from developing before the era of van Leeuwenhoek? 2. How did Pasteur's swan neck flask experiment show that the concept of spontaneous generation was invalid? 3. If the Chickungunya virus epidemic had first started in Jamaica, how would you identify the cause of the disease? 4. What is a pure culture? How is this important in microbiology? 5. How would you convince a friend that microorganisms are not just agents of disease but make significant contributions to their lives? 6. Describe 5 ways humans exploit microorganisms for their benefit. 7. What factors might cause some older diseases to show an increase in number of cases. UNIT 2 Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell Biology 1. Describe the structure of the cell membrane and describe its components. 2. Explain the following terms with the use of diagrams: a) isotonic b) hypertonic c) hypotonic 3. Compare diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport and group translocation. UNIT 3 Main Groups of Microorganisms 1. Discuss reproduction of algae and fungi. 2. Describe how protozoa are classified. Give the name of member of each group and a disease caused by that organism. 3. Outline how viruses reproduce UNIT 4 Bacteria 1. Outline the process of endospore formation 2. Draw and label the structure of flagella found in gram negative organisms 3. State the various shapes and arrangements of bacilli and cocci also...
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...CONTAMINATION, PRESERVATION AND SPOILAGE OF SUGAR AND SUGAR PRODUCTS CONTAMINATION * The raw juice expressed from sugarcane may become high in microbial content unless processing is prompt. * The relevant microorganisms are those from the sugarcane and the soil contamination it and therefore comprise slime producers such as species of Leuconostoc and Bacillus representatives of the genera Micrococcus, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas; a variety of yeast, chiefly in genera Saccharomyces, Candida, and Pichia and a few molds. * Much contamination may come from debris or fine particles on the sides or joints of troughs at the plant. * If organisms grow to an extent then inversion of sucrose or even destruction of sugar may take place. * Activities of the organisms take place from cutting of the cane through extraction to clarification of the juice, a process which kills yeasts and vegetative cells of bacteria. * Bacterial spores are present from then on, through sedimentation, filtration, evaporation, crystallization, and centrifugation, but may be reduced in number by these processes, although spores of thermophiles may be added from equipment. * Bagging of raw sugar may also add some micro organisms. * During the refining of raw sugar contamination may come from equipment, and organisms are added during bagging. * In manufacture of beet sugar, clean beets are sliced into thin slices and the sugar is removed by diffusion process at 60 to 85 C. sources...
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...temperature; where the concept of refrigeration came up. A direct linear relationship was strongly established between temperature and bacterial growth, long decades ago, and low temperature has been confirmed to have a bacteriostatic effect (Ratkowsky et al., 1982). It has been shown that spoilage rate of poultry stored at 10 °C and 15 °C is twice and three times that of 5 °C, respectively (Jay, 2005). Anbalagan et al. (2014) have shown that the total vial count in chicken sample stored in freezers at -18 °C has decreased from 156×105 cells/gram to 35×102 cells/gram in five days. However, microorganisms in general and bacteria in particular...
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...ANDROMEDA STRAIN 1. Name and type of microorganism (actual disease mimic) indicate the name and the type of microorganism that caused the pandemic in each movie and what actual disease they mimic Code name: “andromeda”. Andromeda Strain is a deadly extraterrestrial virus. I mutates with each growth cycle, changing its biologic properties. The microbe contains chemical elements required for terrestrial life and appears to have a crystalline structure, but lacks DNA, RNA, proteins, and amino acids, yet it directly transforms matter to energy and vice versa. The scientists learn that Andromeda grows only within a narrow pH range; in a too-acid or too-basic growth medium, it will not multiply—Andromeda's pH range is 7.39–7.43, like that of human blood. Leptospirosis. 2. Origin and how it spread state where the organisms came from and explain how they were spread Project Scoop was one of several attempts to investigate a singularity, or a worm hole, that has mysteriously appeared in the Solar system. Sent specifically collect biological samples, the satellite malfunctioned upon approaching the worm hole and fell back to Earth. It was picked up and released the deadly agent. Piedmont, Utah. Further investigation determines that the bizarre deaths were caused by a crystal-structured, extraterrestrial microbe on a meteor that crashed into the satellite, knocking it from orbit. 3. Cause and Symptoms...
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...food preparation fermentation can be used to prevent the bad bacteria from growing and encourage the growth of the good microorganisms in it. A way fermentation can be used in food preparation is called “pickling” or “lacto-fermentation”, this process is mainly used for vegetables. The vegetable is usually saturated in a salt brine, permitting the growth of bacteria that eat the vegetable’s sugars and produce tart-tasting lactic acid. When making bread, fermentation can be used by adding yeasts to dough to digest sugars that are resultant from starches in dough and produce carbon dioxide, causing the dough to rise. When making different cheeses milk bacteria gets digested with the milk sugar lactose and produces lactic acid, which acts with the enzyme rennet to curdle the milk. The whey then gets drained off and the curds get compressed together, which a variety of microbes then develop into actual cheese. Microorganisms used in cultured dairy products Lactic acid Bacteria and fungi are the microorganisms mostly used in yogurt and cheese. Microorganisms used in these cultured dairy products are called starter cultures. As these microorganisms grow in milk, they change lactose into lactic acid. The Lactic acid bacteria are split into two groups which are lactococci and lactobacilli .Enzymes created by the starter culture microorganisms is accountable for the product's scent, taste and texture. ...
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...dispenser. The least contaminated areas according to the class data was the cafeteria microwaves and after further observation a question was made, could the constant use of high heat or the microwave radiation have killed the bacteria or is there a possibility that the microwave could have been cleaned beforehand which resulted in the fact that it is the cleanest area for now before it is used and contaminated, compared to the science glass beaker that had been each day but had remained in a storage container for a long period of time and had produced more bacterial growth than the microwave....
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...Leewenhoek first to observe live microorganisms through the magnifying lenses of more than 400 microscopes he constructed Is spontaneous generation (abiogenesis) of microbial life possible? Francesco Redi set out in 1668 to demonstrate that maggots did not arise spontaneously from decaying meat. Proved flies had to lay eggs for larvae to appear (2 experiments) John Needham found that even after he heated nutrient fluids (chicken broth and corn broth) before pouring them into covered flasks, the cooled solutions were soon teeming with microorganisms. Claimed that microbes developed spontaneously from fluids. Lazzaro Spallanzani suggested that microorganisms from the air probably had entered Needham’s solution after they were boiled. Showed that nutrient fluids heated after being sealed in a flask did not develop microbial growth Rudolf Virchow challenged the case of spontaneous generation with the concept of biogenesis, the claim that living cells can arise only from preexisting living cells. Louis Pasteur showed that microorganisms can be present in nonliving matter- on solid, in liquids, and in the air. (proved that spontaneous generation was false) He demonstrated conclusively that microbial life can be destroyed by heat and that methods can be devised to block the access of airborne microorganisms to nutrient environments (aseptic techniques – techniques that prevent contamination by unwanted microorganisms ) 1st vaccine – Edward Jenner...
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...loop through the warmest part of the flame (the tip of the inner blue flame), the heat kills any microbes and prevents contaminating microorganisms from interfering with the integrity and accuracy and contaminating your experiment. This process is known as flame sterilization. Flaming the loop after the experiment once again kills any contaminating microorganisms (bacteria) that may still be on the loop from the previous colony/culture/broth/medium it came into contact with. This prevents the spread (cross contamination) of unwanted/possibly contaminating bacteria which may contaminate the experiment and yield incorrect/unreliable results. 2....
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