Microbes and biotechnology

F.1 Diversity of microbes

The Five Kingdoms

Kingdom Bacteria Protista Fungi Plants Number of cell Single-celled Single-celled Multicellular Multicellular Nucleus Unorganized Organized Membrane No membrane Has membrane Cell walls of chitin Cell walls of cellulose Prokaryotes Eukaryotes Eukaryotes Eukaryotes

Animals

Multicellular

No cell wall

Eukaryotes

The Three Domains

Eubacteria: true bacteria. Prokaryotes with no organized nucleus and no membrane-bound organelles. Example: Escherichia coli which is commonly found in animal waste products. Archaea: ancient bacteria and are also prokaryotes. Most groups live in extreme environments. Example: sulfur bacteria which inhabits the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park in the US. Eukarya: single-celled and multicellular organisms which all have

their DNA contained in a nucleus. Plants, animals, protists, and

fungi belong here.

Reasons for Reclassification into Three Domains

The five-kingdom system was inaccurate. Use rRNA as a basis for reclassification of the three domains. Use rRNA because it is a molecule common to all organisms. Perform the same function (making up the subunits of ribosomes).

Characteristics of the Three Domains

Eukarya Histones: Protein cores around DNA. Keeps DNA from tangling when cell is dividing. Introns: Non-coding areas if DNA. Do not carry any messages. Ribosomes: Where proteins are made. Made of rRNA. 80S ribosomes Archaea Histones-like proteins. Only present in some DNA. Small subunits of ribosomes. 70S ribosomes. Eubacteria No histones.

No introns.

Small subunits of ribosomes. 70S ribosomes.

Cell membrane: Include unbranched hydrocarbons.

Only plants and fungi has cell walls. Has many membrane-bound organelles.

Some of the hydrocarbons are branched.

Has cell wall. No peptidoglycan. No membranebound organelles.

Cell membrane: Include unbranched hydrocarbons.

Has cell wall. Peptidoglycan is found in the cell wall. No membrane-bound organelles.

Diversity of habitat of Archaeabacteria

Methanogens: Use carbon dioxide to make methane. Killed by oxygen.

Live in the guts of termites and cattle, Siberian tundra, swamps, rice
fields, and in the large intestine of dogs, pigs, and humans. Thermophiles: Live in sulfur hot springs with pH between 1 and 5 and temperatures are up to 90 C. Some live where optimal temperatures

are up to 105 C.
Halophiles: live in the saltiest places in the world (Dead Sea, the Great Salt Lake, evaporated salt water ponds). The salt content where they live is ten times higher than salt content of the ocean.

Diversity of Eubacteria
Spheres (cocci): Singly, in pairs, in a chain, or in a cluster. Staphylococcus: A group of cocci clustered together. Caused skin infections. Streptococcus: A row of cocci. Caused throat infections. Rods (bacilli): Singly or in a chain. Streptobacillus: A row of bacilli. Streptobacillus: A row of bacilli. Helices (spirilla)

Comparison of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

Cell wall structure Complexity Amount of peptidoglycan Peptidoglycan placement Gram-positive bacteria Simple Large amount In outer layer of bacteria Gram-negative bacteria Complex Small amount Covered by outer membrane

Outer membrane

Absent

Present with lipopolysaccharides attached

Diversity of structure of viruses

Virus is not considered as a living thing since a virus cannot reproduce without the mechanism of another organism. Basic structure of virus: Nucleic acid (genetic material) Enzymes Protein coat

Diversity of microscopic eukaryotes

Organism Saccharomyces Amoeba Nutrition Locomotion Cell wall Made of chitin Absent Chlorop Cilia or lasts flagella Absent Absent Absent Absent

Heterotroph Absent Heterotroph Slides using pseudopodia

Plasmodium
Paramecium Euglena

Heterotroph Glides on substrate

Heterotroph Swimming Autotroph and heterotroph Swimming

Absent
Absent Absent

Absent
Absent Present

Absent
Cilia Flagellum

Chlorella

Autotroph

None

Made of cellulose

Present

Absent

F.2 Microbes and the Environment

Roles of microbes in ecosystems

Producers: Organisms who change inorganic molecules into organic

molecules which can be used by other organisms for food. Some bacteria who use chlorophyll to trap sunlight. Chemosynthetic bacteria use chemical energy. Nitrogen fixers: Bacteria who remove nitrogen gas from the atmosphere and fix it into nitrates which are used by producers. Decomposers: Organisms who breakdown organic molecules and release inorganic nutrients into the ecosystem.

The Nitrogen Cycle

Bacteria convert nitrogen into ammonia Nitrification: Change ammonia intro nitrites. Change nitrites intro nitrates (oxygen is needed) Use active transport to transport nitrates into the roots of the plant Assimilation: Plants use nitrates to make proteins. Animals feed on plant and make their own protein. Plants and animals die and excrete. Waste products and dead bodies contain molecules of nitrogen. Putrefaction: decomposers break down complex protein then release nitrogen. Denitrification: Bacteria remove nitrites and nitrates.

Release of raw sewage and nitrate fertilizer into rivers

Pathogen could be found by releasing raw sewage into water

systems.
Disasters proceeding excess nitrates and phosphates in water systems:

Fertilize the algae in the water

Increased growth of algae Algae are decomposed by aerobic bacteria which use up the oxygen in the water. Water becomes low in oxygen and organisms which need oxygen will die.

Production of biofuels