CHAPTER 6

• What is the purpose of classifying microorganisms?


  To distinguish one microorganism from another using various characteristics.
• What are the phenotypic characteristics used for classifying microorganisms?


  Morphological, cultural, biochemical, and antigenic structures.
• What is systematics in microbiology?


  It is the science of organizing the evolutionary relationships of organisms.
• What are the three parts of systematics?


  Classification, nomenclature (taxonomy), and identification.
• What is the purpose of taxonomy?


  To identify unknown organisms and provide a common reference for known organisms.
• What does classification involve?


  The ordering of organisms into groups and determining evolutionary relationships.
• What is the aim of classification?


  To delineate groups of organisms for generalization of knowledge.
• What are taxonomic categories called?


  Taxa (singular: taxon).
• How is bacterial classification currently based?


  It is now phylogenetically based using molecular methods.
• What is multilocus enzyme electrophoresis?


  A method used in bacterial classification.
• What does restriction fragment length polymorphism refer to?


  A technique used in molecular classification of bacteria.
• What is the primary reliance of the taxonomic hierarchy?


  It relies mostly on 16 or 23S rRNA.
• What is phenotypic classification based on?


  Observable characteristics such as morphology, physiology, and metabolism.
• What is genotypic classification based on?


  The genetic makeup of microorganisms.
• What is the main advantage of genotypic classification?


  It is more accurate than phenotypic classification.
• What does nomenclature deal with?


  Assigning correct international scientific names to organisms.
• How are names of organisms treated in nomenclature?


  As Latin names, indicated by italics or underlining.
• What naming system was developed in the eighteenth century?


  Scientific nomenclature.
• What is binomial nomenclature?


  A system where every organism is assigned two names: genus and specific epithet.
• How is the genus name written in binomial nomenclature?


  With the first letter capitalized.
• How is the specific epithet written in binomial nomenclature?


  With no capital initial.
• What does the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria include?


  Rules on how to name bacteria and use the names.
• What is the aim of having a single name for a species?


  To ensure clarity in taxonomic position.
• What is identification in microbiology?


  The assignment of unidentified organisms to a particular class in classification.
• What is the basis for recognizing an organism in identification?

  Comparison between phenotypic characteristics and published data for known species.
• What is the Five-Kingdom Classification System?


  A system that classifies organisms into Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
• What does the Kingdom Monera include?


  Prokaryotic, unicellular organisms like bacteria and archaea.
• What does the Kingdom Protista include?


  Eukaryotic, unicellular organisms like protozoa and algae.
• What characterizes the Kingdom Fungi?

  Eukaryotic, multicellular organisms that lack chlorophyll and decompose other organisms.
• What does the Kingdom Plantae include?

  Eukaryotic, multicellular organisms that contain chlorophyll and photosynthesize.
• What does the Kingdom Animalia include?


  Eukaryotic, multicellular organisms that lack chlorophyll and consume other organisms.
• What is a characteristic of Kingdom Monera?


  They are unicellular and lack true nuclei.
• How do organisms in Kingdom Monera reproduce?


  By binary fission.
• What is a characteristic of Kingdom Protista?


  Most are unicellular, but some are multicellular and eukaryotic.
• How do fungi obtain their food?


  By absorbing dissolved organic matter.
• What types of reproduction occur in Kingdom Fungi?


  Both sexual and asexual reproduction.
• What is a characteristic of Kingdom Plantae?


  They obtain energy through photosynthesis.
• What is a characteristic of Kingdom Animalia?


  They are multicellular and primarily reproduce sexually.
• What are eubacteria known for?


  Causing disease in humans and animals.
• What are cyanobacteria formerly known as?


  Blue-green algae.