BIOS 242 Week 1 Learning Concepts

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Chamberlain University

BIOS-242 Fundamentals of Microbiology

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Golden Age of Microbiology

During the Golden Age of Microbiology, key discoveries shaped the field and our understanding of microorganisms. Carolus Linnaeus is known for developing the system of taxonomy and the binomial nomenclature, which classifies organisms and provides a standardized way of naming them. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, a self-taught microbiologist, built a microscope with a magnification of around 300x and was the first to observe microorganisms, which he referred to as “animalcules.” Alexander Fleming made the groundbreaking discovery of penicillin, the first antibiotic, which revolutionized medicine. Joseph Lister introduced aseptic techniques in surgery, which helped to reduce infections during operations. Ignaz Semmelweis’s work in preventing puerperal or childbed fever, particularly through hand disinfection, saved many lives. Robert Koch is known for his work with the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which causes anthrax, and for establishing Koch’s postulates that linked specific microorganisms to diseases. Louis Pasteur is famous for his S-shaped flask experiment, which disproved the theory of spontaneous generation by showing that microorganisms came from the air, not from nonliving substances.

Table 1: Summary of Key Figures in Microbiology

Scientist	Discovery/Contribution	Key Findings
Carolus Linnaeus	Taxonomy and binomial nomenclature	Classification of organisms and standardized naming system.
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek	Microscope development and observation of microorganisms	First to observe microorganisms (animalcules) using a microscope with 300x magnification.
Alexander Fleming	Discovery of penicillin, the first antibiotic	Penicillin’s effectiveness in treating bacterial infections.
Joseph Lister	Aseptic techniques in surgery	Introduction of sterilization of surgical instruments and hands to reduce infections.
Ignaz Semmelweis	Handwashing to prevent childbed fever	Promoted hand hygiene to prevent puerperal fever in maternity wards.
Robert Koch	Germ theory and Koch’s postulates	Established the link between bacteria and disease, e.g., Bacillus anthracis and anthrax.
Louis Pasteur	S-shaped flask experiment	Demonstrated that microorganisms arise from other microorganisms, not from nonliving matter.

Nucleic Acids and Macromolecules

Nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, play vital roles in genetics and cellular functions. DNA, composed of deoxyribose sugar and thymine, is located in the nucleus of cells and serves as the organism’s genetic material. It forms a double helix and guides the formation of proteins. RNA, composed of ribose sugar and uracil, helps carry out the instructions in DNA through types like mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA. Both DNA and RNA consist of repeating nucleotides, each containing a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogen base. ATP, the energy currency of the cell, stores and releases energy for various cellular processes. In addition to nucleic acids, other macromolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins are essential for cellular structure and function. Carbohydrates, for instance, provide energy, while lipids are crucial for forming cell membranes. Proteins have a complex structure and are involved in virtually every cellular function.

Table 2: Composition, Structure, and Function of Nucleic Acids

Type of Nucleic Acid	Composition of the Nucleotide	Location & Function	Structure & Sugars
DNA	Deoxyribose sugar and thymine	Located in the nucleus, stores genetic info	Double helix, base pairs: Adenine-Thymine, Cytosine-Guanine
RNA	Ribose sugar and uracil	Nucleus, carries out instructions from DNA	Single strand, base pairs: Adenine-Uracil, Cytosine-Guanine

Table 3: Macromolecules Overview

Macromolecule	Function	Example
Carbohydrates	Provide energy for organisms	Glucose, Fructose, Starch, Cellulose
Lipids	Structure of cell membranes, energy storage	Fats, Oils, Phospholipids
Proteins	Enzyme catalysis, structural components	Hemoglobin, Collagen, Antibodies

References

Bauman, R. W. (2017). Microbiology with Diseases by Body System. [VitalSource Bookshelf]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781323813478/