Concept Questions

Take some time to write out answers to these questions. If you can answer them, you have a good grasp of the material!

1. Identify the groups of microorganisms included in the scope of microbiology, and explain the criteria for including these groups in the field.

2. Why was the abandonment of the spontaneous generation theory so significant?

3. Using the scientific method, describe the steps you would take to test the theory of spontaneous generation. What are variables and controls?

4. Explain how inductive and deductive reasoning are similar and different.

5. Where do you suppose the "new" infectious diseases come from?

6. Add up the numbers of deaths worldwide from infectious diseases (Fig 1.4). Look up each disease in the index and see which ones could be prevented by vaccines or treated with drugs. How many do you think could have been prevented by modern medicine?

7. What events, discoveries, or inventions were probably the most significant in the development of microbiology?

8. Construct the scientific name of a newly discovered species of bacterium, using your name, a pet's name, a place or a unique characteristic. Be sure to use proper notation and endings.

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