BIOL 2051 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Rhizobium, Foodborne Illness, Multicellular Organism
Document Summary
The study of organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye: microorganisms are everywhere. Industry: some are pathogens but most are harmless or beneficial. Such as rhizobium which fixes n2 in symbiosis with leguminous plants. Microbiologists study: bacteria, viruses, protozoans, fungi, algae, diatoms, and more. What is a microbe: organism that requires a microscope to be seen, microbial cells size- 0. 2 um to mm; viruses are much smaller, contradictions: Super-size cells - thiomargarita namibiensis is size of a fruit fly head. Microbial communities in biofilms microbes have specialized functions & act as a multicellular organism (many different species living together, i. e. mushrooms, kelp, biofilms) Viruses are non-cellular- considered to be microbes but are not fully functional cells. Prokaryotes (free-living organisms with no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles: bacteria, archaea. Microbes shape human history: microbes affect food availability. Some destroy crops (corn rusts, late blight irish potato famine) Some make foods (beer, bread, cheese: microbial diseases change history.
