Download Lab introduction: The Microbial World and Metagenomics

Mycobacterium tuberculosis
The microbial world
S. Cerevisiae (yeast)
Classifying Life
Taxonomy – branch of biology concerned with grouping and
naming organisms
Historical Classification Systems
-Used only morphological characteristics
-Anatomy
-Physiology
-Fossil record
Current Classification System
-Uses genetic sequences (DNA, RNA, protein)
-along with morphological data
Classifying Life
Current Classification System
3 Domain System
-Bacteria and Archaea domains contain prokaryotes
-Domain Eukarya split into supergroups
Opisthokonta
Amoebozoa
Plantae
Stramenpila
Rhizariao
Eukarya
Excavata
Archea
Alveolata
Bacteria
Eukarya further grouped into kingdom, phylum, class,
order, family, genus, and species
Group organisms based on evolutionary relatedness
Microbial World
Exploring microbial diversity
Metagenomics - study of all the DNA in
a particular environment
DNA is isolated and sequenced
Can be used to identify and group the
organisms, as well as indicate functionality
Minnesota Mississippi Metagenomics Project
Project examining the microbial diversity along the Mississippi River
Domain Bacteria
- The
Cyanobacteria
example: Gleocapsa
Prokaryotic –no membrane-enclosed organelles (no nucleus)
Autotrophic (“self feeding”) –
makes organic molecules from
inorganic ones.
Phototrophic – obtain energy
from light
Domain Eukarya; Kingdom Eulgenozoa
example: Euglena
Mixotroph - obtains
food from inorganic
sources and organic
sources (other living
organisms)
Stigma (eye-spot)
Flagellum
Domain Eukarya; Kingdom Viridiplantae
Phylums Chlorophyta & Streptophyta
Photoautotrophic – photosynthesizes
Example: Chlamydomonas
Closely related to plants
Example: Spirogyra
Example: Volvox
Domain Eukarya; Kingdom Alveolata
examples: Paramecium and Blepharisma
Heterotrophic (“other feeding”) – ingests
other organisms
Chemotrophic – obtain energy from oxidation
of organic molecules
Phylum Rhizopoda
example: Amoeba
Chemoheterotrophic – engulfs prey
phagocytosis
pinocytosis
Pseudopodia (“false feet”)
-Cytoplasmic extensions