Weekly Update 2 - Prokaryotic Cells
Administrative Update
The new website is up. I will be working on it throughout this week, but you can access it and start working on your blogs. The website is: http://microbiology.biogsu.org/tiki
On the left had column of the page is a series of links to different features. One of these features is the blog. Go on and start using the blog by adding the challenges from last week. You can also work on one additional challenge that was not sent out last week.
Challenge:
Discuss the use of stains in visualizing microorganisms. Why do we use them? What are differential stains, and how have they been used?
Prokaryotic Cells
The new website is up. I will be working on it throughout this week, but you can access it and start working on your blogs. The website is: http://microbiology.biogsu.org/tiki
On the left had column of the page is a series of links to different features. One of these features is the blog. Go on and start using the blog by adding the challenges from last week. You can also work on one additional challenge that was not sent out last week.
Challenge:
Discuss the use of stains in visualizing microorganisms. Why do we use them? What are differential stains, and how have they been used?
Prokaryotic Cells
This week we will delve into the prokaryotic cell. The newsletters this week will focus your attention on special aspects of prokaryotes and a few of the differences between bacteria and archaea.
Prior Knowledge
It is expected that all students are well verse in the cell theory and eukaryotic cells. You should be able to describe the cell membrane, it's basic features and functions.
Learning Objectives
- Be able to discuss the general (model) bacterial cell.
- Be able to discuss the chemical/biochemical composition of the cell.
- Be able to discuss the unique features of the bacterial cell wall.
- Be able to discuss how cells, and cell components, are studied.
- Be able to discuss the structure and function of the cell membrane.
- Be able to discuss membrane transport, especially the use of proton motive force and ion gradients.
- Be able to discuss the differences between bacterial and archaeal membrane lipids, and the diversity of bacterial phospholipids.
- Be able to describe the differences between gram-positive and gram-negative cell walls.
- Be able to discuss the features of the gram-negative outer membrane.
- Be able to describe the S-Layer and Capsule of prokaryotic cells.
- Be able to discuss the importance of a compact genome to prokaryotes.
- Be able to discuss the nucleoid.
- Be able to discuss replication, transcription and translation in prokaryotes.
- Be able to discuss prokaryote cell division.
- Be able to discuss the specialized structures of prokaryotes.
- Pay close attention to bacterial flagella and how they differ from eukaryotic flagella.
Suggested Reading
- Chapter 3 of Microbiology: An Evolving Science by Slonczewiski and Foster.
- Wikipedia Article: Bacterial Cell Structure.
- Wikipedia Article: Plasmids.
- Wikipedia Article: Flagellum.
- This article does a good job showing the differences between bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic flagella. Keep this link if you are ever asked to discuss the similarities and differences in these structures.
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