Download Microbe Mission - Minnesota Science Olympiad

Microbe Mission
General
 Station based event
 One page (8½” X 11”) of notes
 Goggles, non-programmable calculator, writing
utensils
Microscopes
 Compound vs. dissecting: functions of parts
Eyepiece
Arm
Objective lenses
Focus buttons
Stage
Light source (illuminator)
Base
Cell types
 Differences and similarities between prokaryotes
and eukaryotes?
Functions/Origins
 Nucleus: DNA storage
 Mitochondria: harness energy
 Chloroplasts: harness energy (Plants only)
Endosymbiotic theory
Bacterial growth
 How do cells divide?

Binary fission
Beneficial vs. Dangerous microbes
 Yeast used to make bread

Cheese, yogurt, root-beer, chocolate
 Preservation and fermentation
 Cause diseases:

List of 2011 Microbial diseases
Div B: Event Studying
 Don’t overdo notes, and explain if you forget
 Not too many details – what’s the “big picture”
 Critical thinking

Think like a scientist (physician, researcher,
astronaut, Outstanding Olympiad Student!)
At least one (likely more) experimental based or case
study format question
Bacterial Shapes
 Spirals, circles, rods?

Spirilla (spirillum), cocci (coccus), baccilli,
(bacillus)
Gram Staining
 Function: differentiate bacteria into two large
groups
 Difference based on: cell wall properties
 Colors: pink – gram negative; purple – gram
positive
Div C: Event Studying
 Don’t overdo notes, and explain if you forget
 Not too many details – what’s the “big picture”
 Critical thinking

Think like a scientist (physician, researcher,
astronaut, Outstanding Olympiad Student!)
Multiple experimental based and/or case study
format question