Microbe Mission B/C

[fanjiatian]

I read that bacteria can undergo photosynthesis too.
In what ways is it different from the photosynthesis plants undergo?


Also, are cyanobacteria bacteria or algae?

[quizbowl]

I read that bacteria can undergo photosynthesis too.
In what ways is it different from the photosynthesis plants undergo?


Also, are cyanobacteria bacteria or algae?

I don't do microbes, but cyanobacteria, known as blue-green algae in some circles, are misnomers - they are not algae but rather bacteria. And yes, they do perform photosynthesis, but without chloroplasts.

[FullMetalMaple]

I believe what you guys are getting at is eutrophication?

Yup, that'd be it! I couldn't put my finger on what the word was.

[Starapollo1]

I read that bacteria can undergo photosynthesis too.
In what ways is it different from the photosynthesis plants undergo?


Also, are cyanobacteria bacteria or algae?

As quizbowl said Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are bacteria. Prokaryotes who do photosynthesis differ from traditional photosynthetic organisms in the actual photosynthesis process. In Eukaryotic organisms chloroplast are key. The choroplast has all the necessary parts for photosynthesis (stroma for light independent, granum/thylakoids for light dependent). However some (and I do stress the word some) bacteria, like Cyanobacteria, have something similar to the thylakoid located in their cytosol (cytoplasm) and thus they can carry out the process of photosynthesis because the photosystems are located in the thylakoids.

Keep in mind though that Cyanobacteria are one the few bacteria that can actually carry out photosynthesis. Most bacteria have no structures that allow them to carryout such a complex process because, being prokaryotic, they lack the internal organization needed.

Hope that helped!

[SciBomb97]

Apparently, the regionals microbe test last year had stuff on microbial origin. Was this the case for anyone else?

[sciencegirl23]

Apparently, the regionals microbe test last year had stuff on microbial origin. Was this the case for anyone else?

You mean like endosymbiosis? Those questions aren't uncommon.
Has anyone actually had to use microscopes?

[FullMetalMaple]

You mean like endosymbiosis? Those questions aren't uncommon.
Has anyone actually had to use microscopes?

Yeah, I get such questions often.

I've had to use actual microscopes twice: once at state last year and once at an invitational this year. At state, we had to answer questions about the type of microscope we were using and the microbes on the slides. At the invite, we had to prepare a wet mount slide with an "e" and focus on it on all levels (a classic bio lab, apparently - I'd never done it before, so I felt kind of dumb >_>).

[SciBomb97]

You mean like endosymbiosis? Those questions aren't uncommon.
Has anyone actually had to use microscopes?

Yeah, I get such questions often.

I've had to use actual microscopes twice: once at state last year and once at an invitational this year. At state, we had to answer questions about the type of microscope we were using and the microbes on the slides. At the invite, we had to prepare a wet mount slide with an "e" and focus on it on all levels (a classic bio lab, apparently - I'd never done it before, so I felt kind of dumb >_>).

I learned how to prepare a wet mount just today...
Canadians, taking over America one fact at a time.

[rkoopma2]

You mean like endosymbiosis? Those questions aren't uncommon.
Has anyone actually had to use microscopes?

Yeah, I get such questions often.

I've had to use actual microscopes twice: once at state last year and once at an invitational this year. At state, we had to answer questions about the type of microscope we were using and the microbes on the slides. At the invite, we had to prepare a wet mount slide with an "e" and focus on it on all levels (a classic bio lab, apparently - I'd never done it before, so I felt kind of dumb >_>).

I learned how to prepare a wet mount just today...
Canadians, taking over America one fact at a time.

we had to find some bacteria on a slide at our invitational. It was impossible...not to mention that our microscope was unplugged for half the time.

[deezee]

Apparently, the regionals microbe test last year had stuff on microbial origin. Was this the case for anyone else?

There are questions like that, but they usually just concern the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts. Prokaryotes were engulfed by eukaryotes and eventually became incorporated into the cell.