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Plate 10 The Spectrum of Microorganisms Cell Size ► The smallest objects visible to the unaided eye are about 0.1 mm long Amoeba Human egg Paramecium Centimeter ► cm = centimeter ► 1 cm = 1/100 meter ► About the width of your pinky finger Millimeter ► mm = millimeter ► 1 mm = 1/1000 meter ► About the width of a dime Micrometer Human hair ► μm = micrometer ► Known as a “micron” ► 1 μm = 1/1,000,000 meter Red blood cell 6-10 microns 40-50 microns Nanometer ► nm = nanometer ► 1 nm = 1/1,000,000,000 meter 2.5 nm 30-50 nm Dimensional Analysis Convert 33.2 cm into m 33.2 cm x 1m 100 cm Dimensional Analysis Convert 33.2 cm into m 33.2 cm x 1m 100 cm = 0.332 m You Try! Broad Range of Microorganisms ► Can be as small as a virus 50 nm be as large as Armillaria ostoyae (the “humongous fungus”) ► Can 8.9 km2 (2,200 acres) “Micro”organisms ► In order for an organism to be a “microorganism”, a microscope must be used to see the details of its structure Viruses ► Viruses are primarily made from 2 types of molecules: A protective protein coating (capsid) DNA or RNA inside Viruses ►3 basic virus shapes: Helical Icosahedron Complex Viruses ► Characteristics of viruses similar to other living organisms: Can reproduce (only inside other living cells) Can evolve (mutate) Viruses ► Diseases caused by viruses: HIV (AIDS) Influenza Chicken pox Hepatitis Small pox Bacteria ► Bacteria are the most abundant organisms in the world, both in number and mass ► Bacteria have the greatest diversity of species ► No one knows for sure how many species there are Bacteria ► Bacteria can be 100 to 1000 times the size of a virus Bacteria ►3 main shapes: Coccus (spherical) Bacillus (rod) Spirochete & spirillum (spiral) Bacteria Bacteria ► Roles that bacteria play: Decomposers – recycle large organic molecules and important elements (C & N) Relatively few actually cause disease Help make food and other materials Cyanobacteria ► Prokaryotic ► Commonly called “blue-green algae”, but they’re more closely related to bacteria than algae ► Original producers of oxygen (O2) on earth Produce O2 more than plants! Cyanobacteria ► In warm, nutrient-rich environments, cyanobacteria can grow very quickly ► Algal blooms can use up oxygen in water, block sunlight, and release toxins Microscopic Algae ► Two main types: Dinoflagellates (spinning whips) Diatoms Protozoa ► Proto (first), zoa (animals) ► “Animalcules” first seen by Anton von Leeuwenhoek ► Thought to be simplest form of animal and first to appear Protozoa ► Amoeba feet”) – move by pseudopods (“false Protozoa ► Flagellates – move by flagella Protozoa ► Ciliates – move by cilia Protozoa ► Sporozoa – no locomotion, parasitic Protozoa ► Diseases caused by protozoa: Malaria Sleeping sickness Giardia Toxoplasma Fungi ► Two main types: Molds – sometimes macroscopic Yeasts – single-celled Fungi ► Hyphae – single chain of cells Fungi ► Mycelium – mass of hyphae Fungi ► Spore – reproductive structure Can resist most environmental damage (UV light, temperature extremes, desiccation, etc.)