UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA

FACULTY OF NATURAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
BIO2107 – BIOLOGY OF MICROORGANISMS
LECTURER: MS. RUTH DANIEL

Tutorial Topics
WEEK 1
Ajay S Ramgolam
USI: 1038880
A. If microbial life had not evolved, would you be here today? Give one good reason
why or why not.

No. Because without the evolution of cyanobacteria from anoxygenic phototrophs, the
atmosphere wouldn't have been oxygenated and we would not exist.
https://quizlet.com/140317800/microbiology-ch-1-flash-cards/#:~:text=If%20microbial
%20life%20hand%20not,reason%20why%20or%20why%20not.&text=No.,and%20we
%20would%20not%20exist.
“Most species on Earth would become extinct, and population sizes would be reduced greatly
for species that endured.”
Microbes matter. We have ignored them. We have feared and hated them. Now, it is time to
appreciate them, for our grasp of our own biology is greatly impoverished if we don’t.
https://www.businessinsider.com/what-would-happen-if-microbes-disappeared-2016-7

B. Why are microbial cells useful tools for basic science? Why are microorganisms
important to humans?

Microbes play an incredibly important role in research. Many of the breakthroughs in

molecular biology, such as understanding how the genetic code works and how genes are
used to make proteins, were made by scientists studying microbes in the laboratory.
https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/introduction-to-microbiology/0/steps/51437
They play an important role in human welfare and for the environment. These include
processing and preservation of food, production of biomolecules, manufacture of
pharmaceutical products, cosmetics industries, recycling the nutrients in the soil and so on.
Listed below are some of the applications of microorganisms in human welfare.
https://byjus.com/biology/useful-microorganisms/

C. What important functions do the following play in a cell: cytoplasmic membrane,

ribosomes, cell wall?

The Plasma Membrane

The plasma membrane, also called the cytoplasmic membrane, is the most dynamic structure
of a prokaryotic cell. Its main function is a s a selective permeability barrier that regulates the
passage of substances into and out of the cell. The plasma membrane is the definitive
structure of a cell since it sequesters the molecules of life in a unit, separating it from the
environment. The bacterial membrane allows passage of water and uncharged molecules up
to mw of about 100 Daltons, but does not allow passage of larger molecules or any charged
substances except by means special membrane transport processes and transport systems.
https://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/structure_7.html#:~:text=The%20plasma
%20membrane%2C%20also%20called,and%20out%20of%20the%20cell.
Ribosomes
A ribosome is an intercellular structure made of both RNA and protein, and it is the site of
protein synthesis in the cell. The ribosome reads the messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence and
translates that genetic code into a specified string of amino acids, which grow into long
chains that fold to form proteins.
https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Ribosome#:~:text=A%20ribosome%20is%20an
%20intercellular,that%20fold%20to%20form%20proteins.

Cell Wall
A cell wall is a rigid, semi-permeable protective layer in some cell types. This outer covering
is positioned next to the cell membrane (plasma membrane) in most plant cells, fungi,
bacteria, algae, and some archaea. Animal cells however, do not have a cell wall. The cell
wall has many important functions in a cell including protection, structure, and support.
A major role of the cell wall is to form a framework for the cell to prevent over expansion.
Cellulose fibers, structural proteins, and other polysaccharides help to maintain the shape and
form of the cell. Additional functions of the cell wall include:

Support: The cell wall provides mechanical strength and support. It also controls the
direction of cell growth.
Withstand turgor pressure: Turgor pressure is the force exerted against the cell wall
as the contents of the cell push the plasma membrane against the cell wall. This
pressure helps a plant to remain rigid and erect, but can also cause a cell to rupture.
Regulate growth: The cell wall sends signals for the cell to enter the cell cycle in
order to divide and grow.
Regulate diffusion: The cell wall is porous allowing some substances, including
proteins, to pass into the cell while keeping other substances out.
Communication: Cells communicate with one another via plasmodesmata (pores or
channels between plant cell walls that allow molecules and communication signals to
pass between individual plant cells).
Protection: The cell wall provides a barrier to protect against plant viruses and other
pathogens. It also helps to prevent water loss.
Storage: The cell wall stores carbohydrates for use in plant growth, especially in
seeds.

https://www.thoughtco.com/cell-wall-373613

D. What type of cells have a nucleus? Nucleoid? What is a cell’s genome and why
is it important?
Eukaryotes are organisms whose cells contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound
organelles. There is a wide range of eukaryotic organisms, including all animals, plants,
fungi, and protists, as well as most algae.
By definition, a nucleoid is a region within a prokaryotic cell that contains most or all of the
genetic material. This material is called the genophore or the prokaryotic chromosome. DNA
is found in both the nucleus and nucleoid.

A genome is the complete set of genetic information in an organism. It provides all of the
information the organism requires to function. In living organisms, the genome is stored in
long molecules of DNA called chromosomes. Small sections of DNA, called genes, code for
the RNA and protein molecules required by the organism. In eukaryotes, each cell's genome
is contained within a membrane-bound structure called the nucleus. Prokaryotes, which
contain no inner membranes, store their genome in a region of the cytoplasm called the
nucleoid. The full range of RNA molecules expressed by a genome is known as its
transcriptome, and the full assortment of proteins produced by the genome is called its
proteome.

E. What do the terms “growth” and “motility” mean in microbiology?

 "Motility" is defined as the ability of individual organisms or cells to convert chemical
energy to locomotion of the whole organism or cell by using a dedicated motor system.
Microbial growth refers to an increase in number of cells rather than an increase in cell size.
Many microbes (including Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria
monocytogenes) are unicellular, meaning they are made of only one cell.

F. How can the phylogenetic history of microorganisms be determined?

Metagenomic data, the collective genetic material derived directly from an environmental
sample, can be used to study the phylogenetic context of microbial diversity. The method can
sample a wide range of genes at once.
A phylogenetic reconstruction is formed from homology with sequenced genomes of isolated
strains.

G. Name the three domains of life

There is the Archaea, the Bacteria, and the Eukarya.

The Archaea possess the following characteristics:

a. Archaea are prokaryotic cells.

b. Unlike the Bacteria and the Eukarya, the Archaea have membranes composed of
branched hydrocarbon chains (many also containing rings within the hydrocarbon
chains) attached to glycerol by ether linkage

Bacteria (also known as eubacteria or "true bacteria") are prokaryotic cells that are common
in human daily life, encounter many more times than the archaebacteria. Eubacteria can be
found almost everywhere and kill thousands upon thousands of people each year, but also
serve as antibiotics producers and food digesters in our stomachs. The Bacteria possess the
following characteristics:

a. Bacteria are prokaryotic cells.

b. Like the Eukarya, they have membranes composed of unbranched fatty acid chains
attached to glycerol by ester linkages (Figure 1.3.31.3.3).
c. The cell walls of Bacteria, unlike the Archaea and the Eukarya, contain
peptidoglycan.

The Eukarya (eukaryotes)

Eukarya have eukaryotic cells.
Like the Bacteria, they have membranes composed of unbranched fatty acid chains attached
to glycerol by ester linkages.
Not all Eukarya possess cells with a cell wall, but for those Eukarya having a cell wall, that
wall contains no peptidoglycan.
Eukarya are resistant to traditional antibacterial antibiotics but are sensitive to most
antibiotics that affect eukaryotic cells.
The Eukarya are subdivided into the following four kingdoms: Protista, Fungi, Animalia,
Plantae.