| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the study of microorganisms called | Microbiology |
| Name three types of microorganisms | Bacteria, Fungi and Viruses |
| Are viruses considered a living cell | No because they can only reproduce inside living cells |
| Describe the basic structure of a virus | Consist of a chemical surrounded by a protein coat |
| Name three diseases caused by a virus | Flu, measles, mumps |
| Do antibiotics work against viruses | No |
| Do all viruses cause disease | Yes |
| Are bacteria living cells | Yes because they can feed, move, respire and reproduce |
| Are bacteria larger than viruses | Yes |
| Do all bacteria cause disease | No, some are beneficial |
| Why are soil bacteria beneficial | They help break down the remains of dead animals and plants |
| Why are bacteria useful in sewage treatment | They help break down human wastes to make them less harmless |
| Name two dairy products that are made by adding bacteria | Cheese and youghurts |
| Name three disease caused by bacteria | Food poisoning, pneumonia and meningitis |
| What does bacteria do to milk | Causes it to go sour |
| Name three types of fungi | Yeast, mould and mushrooms |
| What are the benefits of fungi | Brewing, baking, source of food and making penicillin |
| What are the harmful effects of fungi | Disease, food spoilage and poisonous |
| Name two diseases caused by fungi | Athletes foot and ringworm |
| When bacteria break down the remains of dead plants and animals what is it changed to | Humus, which contains minerals |
| What is the term used to describe the use of microorganisms to make substances useful to humans | Biotechnology |
| Give two examples of uses of biotechnology in industry | Using bacteria to make cheese and yeast to make alcohol |
| Give two examples of uses of biotechnology in medicine | Using bacteria to make insulin and fungi to make penicillin |
| How would you show the presence of microorganisms in air | Open an agar plate for 20min and then incubate it upside down for 2days – bacteria will grow on surface |
| Why would you also incubate an unopened agar plate | To act as a control |
| How would show the presence of microorganisms in soil | Sprinkle fresh soil on an agar plate and incubate |
| What would you use to act as a control in soil experiment | Sprinkle sterile soil (strongly heated) on agar plate and incubate |
