The Good and Bad of Microorganisms Question Packet

1 - What is a Microorganism? *A microorganism is a living thing that can only be seen with the aid of magnification.

2- All microorganisms are ________ ___________ or ______________ living things or organisms

3- Explain what unicellular or single-celled means. Single-celled means any living thing that has only one cell, the smallest unit of life.

4- Some microorganisms are ____, living things that make their own _____ from simple substances usually using ___, as plants do. Some microorganisms are PRODUCERS, living things that make their own FOOD from simple substances usually using SUNLIGHT, as plants do.

5- Most microorganisms do not cause _________ and many are ___________. DISEASE HELPFUL

6- How are Microorganisms classified? Microorganisms are classified by the microorganisms' shape, structure, how they get food, where they live and how they move.

7- What are the microorganisms we are studying in this unit? Bacteria, Fungi, and Protists

8- Give the definition of bacteria. Bacteria are microscopic, single-celled organisms that exist all around you and inside you.

9- How do we depend on bacteria? We depend on bacteria to help in the digestion of food, for plant growth, and to help us make foods and medicines.

10- _____, bacteria and fungi feeding on breaking down plant matter. DECOMPOSERS

11- When bacteria break down the ____ _____, they release substances that can be used by other _____ in the ______. When bacteria break down the DEAD ORGANISMS, they release substances that can be used by other ORGANISMS in the ECOSYSTEM.

12- Where in our bodies do bacteria always live? Bacteria are found in digestive systems and help digest food.

13 – What foods have bacteria? YOGURT AND CHEESE

Bacteria are the smallest ________. MICROORGANISMS

15 – What is required to see bacteria? To see bacteria as a single organism, requires a microscope with very high magnification.

16 – Bacteria live in ___ ___ ___ ____ _____. Bacteria live in almost every place on Earth.

17- Scientists can ____, grow microorganisms in a specially prepared ______ ________. Scientists can CULTURE, grow microorganisms in a specially prepared NUTRIENT MEDIUM.

18- WHAT ARE FUNGI? Fungi are organisms that are neither plant nor animal, yet have characteristics of both, and absorb food from whatever source they are growing on.

19- A COMMON FUNGUS IS A_______. MUSHROOM

Mushrooms cannot make THEIR OWN FOOD and must live on a FOOD SOURCE. 20- Mushrooms cannot make _____ _____ _____ and must live on a _____ _____. Mushrooms cannot make THEIR OWN FOOD and must live on a FOOD SOURCE.

21- What is another type of fungus? Another fungus, yeast, is used to make bread rise and give it flavor.

22-Fungi like ____ ____ places to grow. WARM MOIST

23- Protozoans are____________. Protozoans are microscopic organisms that usually live in water.

24- Protozoans move through the water with tiny _____ _____ ____ ____. Protozoans move through the water with tiny HAIR-LIKE ARMS CALLED CILIA.

25- Protozoans eat ___ and _________. Protozoans eat BACTERIA and MOLD.

26-Why is it not a good idea to drink water from a stream? Streams sometimes contain a protozoan called Giardia that can make you sick.

Algae are _________. Algae are a type of protist that usually live in water and can produce their own food.

28- List the colors that algae can be. Algae can be red, brown, yellow or green.

29- Algae can grow up to ________. 60 meters

30- Algae is an important part ____ ____ _____ _____. Algae are an important part OF THE OCEAN’S ECOSYSTEM

31- ALGAE PROVIDE FOOD FOR ______________. fish, whales and many other sea animals.

32- WHAT PROVIDE HALF OF THE OXYGEN ON EARTH? Phytoplankton

Thank you, thank you very much! Love those microbes!