Microbiology Lecture No. 2 Overview

Conclusive evidence demonstrating that evolution occurs.

Open nature of the origin of life question. Antarctic meteorites from Mars, etc.

Urey-Miller Experiment. Experimental evol. (ASM News v.67#8 Aug2001 403-409)

Major types of chemical bonds

Radioactive tracers in medicine; elucidate metabolic pathways

Weak bonds for information processing in living things

Special role of carbon in living things

Selective reduction of activation energies by enzymes control reactions within cells

Catalytic RNA, and possible role of RNA in origin of life

Power of Hydrogen (pH)

Four important classes of macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and lipids)

General formula of an amino acid

Four levels of protein structure

Overview of DNA and RNA structures

Peptidoglycan; stronger than steel

Overview of membrane structure and function

What is Magnetotaxis? Example: Aquaspirillum magnetotacticum, has magnetosomes. These orient themselves in a magnetic field (The earth's natural magnetic field). The microbe uses this to determine which way is up to help it find nutrients or adjust its depth in aquatic environments. Other animals with magnetosomes: birds, dolphins, tuna and green turtles. These use magnetosomes for navigation on long migrations.