DOH133 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Paramecium, Peptidoglycan, Prokaryote
Explain how microbiology integrates into your course of study
- Formation of plaque (biofilms)
- Prevention of dental caries
- Causes of periodontal disease
- Antibiotic spectrum and mode-of-action
- Good hygiene in clinical practice
List several ways in which microbes affect our lives
Microorganisms are organisms that are too small to be seen with the unaided
eye
1. A few are pathogenic (disease-causing - 2000 species)
2. Some (e.g. Fungi) decompose organic waste or fix nitrogen (bacteria) so in
the big picture they recycle carbon and nitrogen
3. Some; such as microscopic algae & cyanobacteria photosynthesise
making 50% of the worlds oxygen; they are the foundation of food webs
4. Some make industrial chemicals such as ethanol and acetone
5. Some produce fermented foods such as vinegar, cheese, bread, beer,
wine & sauerkraut (yum!)
6. Some help us make biotechnology products like: cellulase an human
insulin, recombinant vaccines and pharmaceuticals
Know the correct taxonomic hierarchy
Dumb - Domain
Kids - Kingdom
Playing - Phylum
Chicken - Class
On - Order
Freeways - Family
Get - Genus
Squashed - Species
- Scientific names avoid confusion with common names: Devised by Carolus
Linnaeus (1735)
- The scientific name is given in two parts, thus it is called “binomial”
- First part is: Genus name (e.g. Escherichia)
- The second part is: The specific epithet (e.g. coli)
- Together they make the species or scientific name:
e.g. Escherichia coli
Note how the scientific name is always italicised
