Plate 10Plate 10

The Spectrum of The Spectrum of MicroorganismsMicroorganisms

Cell SizeCell Size

►The smallest objects visible to the The smallest objects visible to the unaided eye are about 0.1 mm longunaided eye are about 0.1 mm long AmoebaAmoeba Human eggHuman egg ParameciumParamecium

CentimeterCentimeter

►cm = centimetercm = centimeter►1 cm = 1/100 meter1 cm = 1/100 meter►About the width of About the width of

your pinky fingeryour pinky finger

MillimeterMillimeter

►mm = millimetermm = millimeter►1 mm = 1/1000 1 mm = 1/1000

metermeter►About the width of About the width of

a dimea dime

MicrometerMicrometer

►μμmm = micrometer = micrometer►Known as a “micron”Known as a “micron”►1 1 μμmm = 1/1,000,000 meter = 1/1,000,000 meter

40-50 microns

6-10 microns

Red blood cell

Human hair

NanometerNanometer

►nm = nanometernm = nanometer►1 nm = 1/1,000,000,000 meter1 nm = 1/1,000,000,000 meter

30-50 nm2.5 nm

Dimensional AnalysisDimensional Analysis

Convert 33.2 cm into mConvert 33.2 cm into m

1 m1 m

100 cm100 cm33.2 cm x

Dimensional AnalysisDimensional Analysis

Convert 33.2 cm into mConvert 33.2 cm into m

1 m1 m

100 cm100 cm33.2 cm x = 0.332 m

You Try!You Try!

Broad Range of Broad Range of MicroorganismsMicroorganisms

►Can be as small as a virusCan be as small as a virus 50 nm50 nm

►Can be as large as Can be as large as Armillaria ostoyaeArmillaria ostoyae (the “humongous fungus”)(the “humongous fungus”) 8.9 km8.9 km22 (2,200 acres) (2,200 acres)

““Micro”organismsMicro”organisms

► In order for an organism to be a In order for an organism to be a “microorganism”, a microscope must “microorganism”, a microscope must be used to see the details of its be used to see the details of its structurestructure

VirusesViruses

►Viruses are primarily made from 2 Viruses are primarily made from 2 types of molecules:types of molecules: A protective protein coating (capsid)A protective protein coating (capsid) DNA or RNA insideDNA or RNA inside

VirusesViruses

►3 basic virus shapes:3 basic virus shapes:

Helical Helical IcosahedronIcosahedronComplex Complex

VirusesViruses

►Characteristics of viruses similar to Characteristics of viruses similar to other living organisms:other living organisms: Can reproduce (only inside other living Can reproduce (only inside other living

cells)cells) Can evolve (mutate)Can evolve (mutate)

VirusesViruses

►Diseases caused by viruses:Diseases caused by viruses: HIV (AIDS)HIV (AIDS) InfluenzaInfluenza Chicken poxChicken pox HepatitisHepatitis Small poxSmall pox

BacteriaBacteria

►Bacteria are the most abundant Bacteria are the most abundant organisms in the world, both in organisms in the world, both in number and massnumber and mass

►Bacteria have the greatest diversity of Bacteria have the greatest diversity of speciesspecies

►No one knows for sure how many No one knows for sure how many species there arespecies there are

BacteriaBacteria

►Bacteria can be 100 to 1000 times the Bacteria can be 100 to 1000 times the size of a virussize of a virus

BacteriaBacteria

►3 main shapes:3 main shapes: Coccus (spherical)Coccus (spherical) Bacillus (rod)Bacillus (rod) Spirochete & Spirochete &

spirillum (spiral)spirillum (spiral)

BacteriaBacteria

BacteriaBacteria

►Roles that bacteria play:Roles that bacteria play: Decomposers – recycle large organic Decomposers – recycle large organic

molecules and important elements (C & molecules and important elements (C & N)N)

Relatively few actually cause diseaseRelatively few actually cause disease Help make food and other materialsHelp make food and other materials

CyanobacteriaCyanobacteria

►Prokaryotic Prokaryotic ►Commonly called “blue-Commonly called “blue-

green algae”, but they’re green algae”, but they’re more closely related to more closely related to bacteria than algaebacteria than algae

►Original producers of Original producers of oxygen (Ooxygen (O22) on earth) on earth Produce OProduce O22 more than plants! more than plants!

CyanobacteriaCyanobacteria

► In warm, nutrient-rich In warm, nutrient-rich environments, cyanobacteria can environments, cyanobacteria can grow very quicklygrow very quickly

►Algal blooms can use up oxygen in Algal blooms can use up oxygen in water, block sunlight, and release water, block sunlight, and release toxinstoxins

Microscopic AlgaeMicroscopic Algae

►Two main types:Two main types: Dinoflagellates (Dinoflagellates (spinning whipsspinning whips)) DiatomsDiatoms

ProtozoaProtozoa

►ProtoProto (first), (first), zoazoa (animals) (animals)►““Animalcules” first seen by Anton von Animalcules” first seen by Anton von

Leeuwenhoek Leeuwenhoek ►Thought to be simplest form of animal Thought to be simplest form of animal

and first to appearand first to appear

ProtozoaProtozoa

►Amoeba – move by pseudopods (“false Amoeba – move by pseudopods (“false feet”)feet”)

ProtozoaProtozoa

►Flagellates – move by flagellaFlagellates – move by flagella

ProtozoaProtozoa

►Ciliates – move by ciliaCiliates – move by cilia

ProtozoaProtozoa

►Sporozoa – no locomotion, parasiticSporozoa – no locomotion, parasitic

ProtozoaProtozoa

►Diseases caused by protozoa:Diseases caused by protozoa: MalariaMalaria Sleeping sicknessSleeping sickness GiardiaGiardia Toxoplasma Toxoplasma

FungiFungi

►Two main types:Two main types: MoldsMolds – sometimes macroscopic – sometimes macroscopic

YeastsYeasts – single-celled – single-celled

FungiFungi

►Hyphae – single chain of cellsHyphae – single chain of cells

FungiFungi

►Mycelium – mass of hyphaeMycelium – mass of hyphae

FungiFungi

►Spore – reproductive structureSpore – reproductive structure Can resist most environmental damage Can resist most environmental damage

(UV light, temperature extremes, (UV light, temperature extremes, desiccation, etc.)desiccation, etc.)