Textbook Question
Describe the special features of snapping division that distinguish it from regular binary fission.
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Ch. 11 - Characterizing and Classifying Prokaryotes
Bauman6th EditionMicrobiology with Diseases by TaxonomyISBN: 9780134832302
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - A Brief History of Microbiology31
- Ch. 2 - The Chemistry of Microbiology28
- Ch. 3 - Cell Structure and Function39
- Ch. 4 - Microscopy, Staining, and Classification25
- Ch. 5 - Microbial Metabolism51
- Ch. 6 - Microbial Nutrition and Growth37
- Ch. 7 - Microbial Genetics51
- Ch. 8 - Recombinant DNA Technology21
- Ch. 9 - Controlling Microbial Growth in the Environment36
- Ch. 10 - Controlling Microbial Growth in the Body: Antimicrobial Drugs21
- Ch. 11 - Characterizing and Classifying Prokaryotes29
- Ch. 12 - Characterizing and Classifying Eukaryotes34
- Ch. 13 - Characterizing and Classifying Viruses, Viroids, and Prions23
- Ch. 14 - Infection, Infectious Diseases, and Epidemiology35
- Ch. 15 - Innate Immunity34
- Ch. 16 - Adaptive Immunity21
- Ch. 17 - Immunization and Immune Testing29
- Ch. 18 - Immune Disorders22
- Ch. 19 - Pathogenic Gram-Positive Bacteria25
- Ch. 20 - Pathogenic Gram-Negative Cocci and Bacilli28
- Ch. 21 - Rickettsias, Chlamydias, Spirochetes, and Vibrios25
- Ch. 22 - Pathogenic Fungi47
- Ch. 23 - Parasitic Protozoa, Helminths, and Arthropod Vectors44
- Ch. 24 - Pathogenic DNA Viruses23
- Ch. 25 - Pathogenic RNA Viruses30
- Ch. 26 - Applied and Industrial Microbiology29
- Ch. 27 - Microbial Ecology and Microbiomes22
Bauman6th EditionMicrobiology with Diseases by TaxonomyISBN: 9780134832302Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 11, Problem 10
The presence of mycolic acid in the cell wall characterizes __________ .
a. Corynebacterium
b. Listeria
c. Nocardia
d. Mycobacterium
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand what mycolic acid is. Mycolic acids are long-chain fatty acids found in the cell walls of certain bacteria, providing a waxy, hydrophobic layer that contributes to their unique staining properties and resistance to chemical damage and dehydration.
Step 2: Recall which bacterial genera are known to have mycolic acid in their cell walls. This feature is characteristic of bacteria that have a complex, lipid-rich cell wall structure.
Step 3: Review the options given: Corynebacterium, Listeria, Nocardia, and Mycobacterium. Among these, some genera are known for having mycolic acids, while others are not.
Step 4: Identify that Mycobacterium is the genus most famously associated with the presence of mycolic acid, which is a key factor in their acid-fast staining property.
Step 5: Conclude that the presence of mycolic acid in the cell wall characterizes the genus Mycobacterium.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Mycolic Acid
Mycolic acids are long-chain fatty acids found in the cell walls of certain bacteria. They provide a waxy, hydrophobic barrier that makes the bacteria resistant to chemical damage and dehydration. This unique component is key to the acid-fast property of some bacteria, affecting staining and antibiotic susceptibility.
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Acid-Fast Bacteria
Acid-fast bacteria possess cell walls rich in mycolic acid, which prevents them from being decolorized by acid-alcohol after staining. This characteristic is used to identify genera like Mycobacterium and Nocardia. Acid-fast staining techniques, such as the Ziehl-Neelsen stain, are essential for detecting these bacteria.
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Bacterial Genera with Mycolic Acid
Among bacteria, genera such as Mycobacterium and Nocardia contain mycolic acid in their cell walls. Mycobacterium is the most well-known genus characterized by this feature, including pathogens like M. tuberculosis. Corynebacterium and Listeria lack significant mycolic acid and do not exhibit acid-fastness.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
For each of the following statements that is true, write “true” in the blank. For each statement that is false, write the word(s) that should be substituted for the underlined word(s) to make the statement correct.
__________ A giant bacterium that is large enough to be seen without a microscope is Selenomonas.
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Textbook Question
Name and describe six distinct classes of phylum Proteobacteria.
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Textbook Question
For each of the following statements that is true, write “true” in the blank. For each statement that is false, write the word(s) that should be substituted for the underlined word(s) to make the statement correct.
__________ When environmental nutrients are depleted, myxobacteria aggregate in mounds to form fruiting bodies..
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