Microbiology Mnemonics

Mnemonics are memory aids that help recall scientific data quickly. Below are multiple mnemonic tricks for each microbial group.

Fungi

Divisions of Fungi

Mnemonic: Zany Animals Bring Crazy Dreams

  • Zygomycota
  • Ascomycota
  • Basidiomycota
  • Chytridiomycota
  • Deuteromycota
Ascomycota Examples

Mnemonic: “Some Pretty Amazing Creatures Need Magic Tricks”

  • Saccharomyces
  • Penicillium
  • Aspergillus
  • Candida
  • Neurospora
  • Morchella
  • Tuber
  • Claviceps
Basidiomycota Examples

Mnemonic: “All Good People Use Love”

  • Agaricus
  • Ganoderma
  • Puccinia
  • Ustilago
  • Lycoperdon

Bacteria

Shapes of Bacteria

Mnemonic: Cool Boys Sing Very Softly

  • Cocci
  • Bacilli
  • Spirilla
  • Vibrios
  • Spirochaetes
Gram-Positive Genera

Mnemonic: “Big Smart Students”

  • Bacillus
  • Staphylococcus
  • Streptococcus
Gram-Negative Pathogens

Mnemonic: “Every Small Patient Suffers”

  • Escherichia
  • Salmonella
  • Pseudomonas
  • Shigella

Protista

Protist Nutrition Types

Mnemonic: All Happy Minds

  • Autotrophs
  • Heterotrophs
  • Mixotrophs
Protozoa Examples

Mnemonic: “A Perfect Player”

  • Amoeba
  • Paramecium
  • Plasmodium
Algal Protists

Mnemonic: “Every Dolphin Votes”

  • Euglena
  • Diatoms
  • Volvox

Viruses

DNA Viruses

Mnemonic: “PAPP” (Papilloma, Adeno, Parvo, Polyoma)

RNA Viruses

Mnemonic: “PICOT” (Picorna, Influenza, Corona, Orthomyxo, Togaviruses)

Childhood Viral Diseases

Mnemonic: “Measles Make People Really Sick”

  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Polio
  • Rubella
  • Smallpox

Algae

Major Algal Groups

Mnemonic: “GBRDD” (Green, Brown, Red, Diatoms, Dinoflagellates)

Pigments in Algae

Mnemonic: “Cars Fly Pretty”

  • Chlorophyll
  • Fucoxanthin
  • Phycobilins
Economic Uses of Algae

Mnemonic: “Food, Fuel, Fertilizer”

  • Food (Seaweed, Spirulina)
  • Fuel (Biofuel production)
  • Fertilizer (Seaweed extracts)