COMPULSORY TASK:

To create a presentation with a minimum of 10 slides on the following topics which will make up the basis of the first part of your coursework for year 12:

A1 Structure and reproduction of microorganisms

• Viruses, to include retroviruses, bacteriophages.
• Bacteria, to include prokaryotic, cocci, bacilli, spirilla, Vibrio.
• Fungi, to include eukaryotic, yeasts, moulds.
• Protozoa, to include plasmodium, trypanosome, unicellular green algae.

You will need to research and include the following:

• The general cellular makeup of each of the 4 above microorganisms (viruses are akaryotic) and what that means (viruses are not made of cells, they consist of a capsid, capsomeres and nucleic acid.)
• How each of the above four microorganisms can spread (viruses infect a host cell where they then multiply until they burst the original host cell. These new virus particles then go on to infect new host cells).
• The different subtypes within those microorganisms (viruses - bacteriophages and retroviruses)
• Diagrams of the different microorganisms with labels
• Common examples of diseases linked to those microorganisms (viruses - Human T Cell leukaemia and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Please submit the task to your teacher on the first lesson in September. 

You can email c.lister@springwoodhighschool.co.uk for any questions relating to the task or the A-level course.

 

OPTIONAL EXTENSION:

Research the environmental conditions for the growth of microorganisms - this can be done as a presentation also.

• Host organisms
• Nutrients
• Optimum temperature
• Water