UNIT 4: MICROBIOLOGY!

WHAT ARE MICRO-ORGANISMS? Extremely tiny living thing! Cannot be seen with the naked eye! Short form: “Microbe” Live ANYWHERE you can think of! Extremely common Make up more than 1/3 the total mass of ALL LIVING ORGANISMS ON EARTH!!!

HUNDREDS of species of microbes … and I mean EVERYWHERE MICROBES CAN LIVE: In our mouths: HUNDREDS of species of microbes Over 6 BILLION microbes Inside us or on us (and other organisms) Most are beneficial to our health Some can be harmful to our health In rocks and ice High in the atmosphere Deep below the ocean surface, and below the bottom of the ocean In extremely hot conditions (e.g. Volcanoes, hydrothermal vents) In extremely salty or acidic conditions

MICROBIOLGY “Micro” + “biology”: The field of biology that studies microscopic organisms. Morphology Shape and other structural features of an organism. With microbes, this deals with identifying overall shape and cell structure. Steps for Studying Micro-organisms Specimen Collection Collecting samples that may contain microbes Sources could be soil, water, food products, or body fluids (blood, urine, feces, etc.) 2. Inoculation and Incubation Inoculation: collected microbes are placed in nutrient-rich liquids or jelly- like substances. Incubation: provides the right environment (temperature, humidity, etc.) for the microbes to grow. Inspection After some time being incubated, populations of microbes are inspected and analyzed. Microscope: you can see the microbes’ morphology up close. Agar plate: you can see how populations grow.

Class Discussion: What do we know about Microbiology so far? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Class Discussion: Can you remember some of the parts of a cell? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Recall: there are two main types of cells: Cell Structure Recall: there are two main types of cells: Eukaryotic Prokaryotic No nucleus No membrane-bound organelles Usually have cell walls Example: Bacteria Contain a nucleus Membrane-bound organelles Examples: Animal & Plant Cells

Classifying Life on Earth All life on Earth is Classified into Three Groups called Domains Each domain is further classified into Kingdoms

Scientific Names Every organism that has been discovered has been given a scientific name. Dog Example: The domestic dog has been selectively bred over thousands of years: behaviours, sensory capabilities, and physical attributes. Scientific Name: Canis lupus familiaris Genus: Canis Starts with a Capital Letter Written in italics Species: lupus familiaris Does not have a capital letter Also written in italics Sometimes, short forms are used: C. lupus familiaris

Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species