Microbe Mission

Description
Teams will answer questions, solve problems, and analyze data pertaining to microbes.

The Stations
If there are stations, there will be 10-20 of them. They will be marked with roman numerals (I, II, III...) or they will be numbered (1, 2, 3...). There will be sections in the test corresponding to each of the stations with questions (the format of which is decided by the tester, and can vary widely from tester to tester). Students typically have a time limit at stations (i.e. 5 minutes per station, then rotate).

The Test
The test will pages/sections corresponding to the individual stations (if there aren't stations then it will be a normal test). It will have blank lines for you to record your answer. There will be no questions/diagrams in the packet, so all work must be done at the corresponding station. All answers must be recorded in the packet. Spelling does count in the packet. Points may also be taken away if the packet is not neat or legible. As you record your answers, make sure that you are recording on the right page/section/question. This may save you time and effort.

Please note that there may be lines for your team name, team number, or the participants' names on each page. No matter what, ALWAYS make sure you fill out that information on each page. If you don't, points can be taken off.

Materials
Each participant must bring Z87 chemical splash goggles and a writing implement and may bring a non-programmable, non-graphing calculator, and a 2 SIDED 8.5"x11"PAGE OF NOTES. NO OTHER RESOURCES ARE ALLOWED. Students must REMEMBER all Diagrams and study material. Make sure you print the guide to this event in the event info on soinc.org.

Preparing for this event
Make a binder! This will help you tremendously in preparing for this event. Even though you can't bring it in, it's a great way to keep all your information in the same place and to remember it.

With your notes page, include pictures and charts of things you need to remember. Also remember how your page is laid out and where you put everything. In a timed test, trying to find things on your notes page is a waste of time.

If you can acquire an AP Biology textbook, it will help tremendously with learning terms and concepts.

It is also very helpful to practice, because the type of questions can vary widely from test to test.

Covered Information
You will be tested on topics relating to microbiology, ranging from different types of microscopes and microbes to learning about cell structure and uses for microbes.

Types of Microbes
Prions: special proteins that are responsible for a class of diseases known as the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, which include Mad Cow Disease. Prions destroy the tissue of the nervous system, forming holes in the brain and nervous systems. Prions, like viruses, cannot replicate on their own and rely on other organisms. Prions, unlike other microbes, do not contain nucleic acids. Prions are thought to have originated from ZIP proteins.

Viruses: microorganisms much smaller than a bacterium that invade other cells in order to replicate. Viruses are responsible for a variety of diseases, such as chicken pox. The origin of viruses is unclear; some may have come from plasmids while others may have evolved from bacteria.

Bacteria: single-celled, prokaryotic microorganisms. Some bacteria are beneficial to humans while others are pathogenic, but a majority of bacteria is harmless to humans. Pathogenic bacteria are responsible for a variety of diseases including strep throat and tetanus. Bacteria come in 3 shapes, coccus (circular), bacillus (rod shaped) and spirillum (spirally). Bacteria originate from the single-celled organisms that were the first to inhabit the Earth.

Archaea: archaea are a group of single-celled microorganisms that were previously thought to be bacteria. Archaea inhabit some of the world's most extreme environments including the ocean floor. Archaea are prokaryotes. Their origin and potential for causing disease is currently unclear; however, archaea are thought to be ancestors of eukaryotes or very close descendants because of their many similarities, including genes and inclusion of enzymes in translation and transcription processes. Unlike bacteria, no known species of archaea form spores.

Fungi: eukaryotic organisms that can be single-celled or multi-celled. Fungi have cell walls composed of chitin, unlike the cellulose walls of plants. Fungi are heterotrophic and do not have chloroplasts like photoautotrophs. Technically, fungi are more closely related to animals than they are to plants and likely shared a common ancestor with animals. Fungi are responsible for diseases such as athlete's foot.

Protists: protists are eukaryotic but do not have specialized tissues. Algal protists are similar to plants and can go through photosynthesis, but do not have cuticles that prevent water loss. As a result algal protists must live in water. Animal like protists are called protozoa and are eukaryotic and heterotrophic. These protists consume other protists and bacteria for food. Amoebae are a good example. Fungus like protists are heterotrophs with cell walls that reproduce with spores.

Sample Exercises
1. Provide two differences between bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

2. Using the following key, determine (from pictures) which cell, A, B, or C is considered an alga.

3. Based on the following graph, determine which organism is best suited for growth in acid environments.

4. A cell is observed through a light microscope at 4x magnification. The cell takes up about half of the visual field. What is the approximate length of this organism?

5. Students observe a Petri plate with many different colonies on it. Based on the color of the colony, how many different kinds of organisms do you detect? Which type of organism appears to be the most prevalent?

6. From the following picture, identify the organelle, provide its function, and state which type of microbe it is unique to.

7. What type of microbe is involved in the production of most breads? What type of organism is responsible for polio?

8. Based on the following graph, what will be the microbial population/ml after 3.5 hours of growth?

9. Provide two distinctive properties of viruses, then provide the name of two diseases that are caused by viruses. As a variation on this type of question, match the disease with the type of microbe that causes it.

Useful links

 * Has information specific to cells
 * Has vocabulary