How Much Do You Know About Microbes?

This bacterium was originally thought to cause the flu, but later influenza viruses were isolated as the cause.

Paramecium is a type of protozoan that belongs to the group known as ciliates. Ciliates are characterized by the presence of hair-like structures called cilia, which they use for movement and feeding. Paramecium is a well-known example of a ciliate and is commonly found in freshwater environments. It has a distinct shape and is covered in cilia that help it propel through the water. Paramecium also has a specialized feeding organelle called the oral groove, which allows it to ingest food particles.

A Volvox is a type of microbe that belongs to the group of organisms known as algae. Specifically, it is classified as a colonial algae. This means that it is a type of algae that forms colonies or groups of individual cells that work together. In the case of Volvox, these colonies can consist of thousands of individual cells that are interconnected and function as a single organism. This classification distinguishes Volvox from other types of algae that may exist as single cells or in different forms.

The blue streaks in Roquefort cheese are indeed from the growth of Penicillium mold. This type of mold is intentionally added during the cheese-making process and gives Roquefort its distinctive flavor and appearance. The mold grows within the cheese, creating the blue veins that are characteristic of this type of cheese. Therefore, the statement is true.

Eukaryotes differ from prokaryotes in that they possess mitochondria. Mitochondria are membrane-bound organelles found in eukaryotic cells that are responsible for producing energy through cellular respiration. Prokaryotes, on the other hand, lack mitochondria and generate energy through other means. This key difference in cellular structure and energy production is one of the defining characteristics that distinguish eukaryotes from prokaryotes.

A lichen consists of an alga and fungi living together. The algae make the food by photosynthesis, and the fungi provide a safe, moist living place.

Sporozoans are a group of protozoans that are carried by hosts and often cause disease. They are characterized by their ability to form spores, which allows them to survive in harsh environments and be transmitted between hosts. Examples of sporozoans include Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, and Toxoplasma gondii, which causes toxoplasmosis. Unlike algae and sarcodines, which do not typically cause disease in hosts, sporozoans have evolved to be parasitic and have complex life cycles involving multiple hosts.

Most feed on other organisms like algae and bacteria, but some, such as Euglena, contain chlorophyll and make their own food as well.

Euglena is a type of microbe that belongs to the group of flagellates. Flagellates are characterized by having one or more whip-like structures called flagella, which they use for movement. Euglena has a single flagellum that helps it move through its aquatic environment. Additionally, Euglena is known for its ability to undergo photosynthesis, making it unique among other flagellates.

A saprophyte is an organism that obtains nutrients by decomposing dead organic matter. This type of organism plays a crucial role in the ecosystem by breaking down dead material and recycling nutrients back into the environment. Unlike scavengers, which consume dead organisms directly, saprophytes break down the dead matter externally and absorb the nutrients. The term "necrophyte" is not commonly used in biology and does not accurately describe an organism that feeds on dead things. Therefore, the correct answer is saprophyte.

An amoeba is a type of protozoan known as a sarcodine. Sarcodines are characterized by their ability to move and feed using pseudopodia, which are temporary extensions of their cell membrane. Amoebas are single-celled organisms that can be found in freshwater, saltwater, and soil environments. They are known for their flexible shape and their ability to engulf food particles through phagocytosis. Amoebas play important roles in various ecosystems as decomposers and as food sources for other organisms.

They are not living things, but are malformed proteins that induce other similar, normal proteins in the brain to also assume inappropriate form.