Bacteria Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is a prokaryote?
A microscopic membrane bound organism that lacks a nucleus
What are methanogens?
Prokaryotes that live in areas that lack oxygen. (Often found in cow intestines) they produce swamp gas.
What are thermoacidiphiles?
Prokaryotes that like really high temperatures and areas of high acidity. They are often found in thermal vents.
What are chemosynthesizers?
Prokaryotes that are found near deep ocean vents. They convert inorganic material into energy.
What are extreme halophiles?
Prokaryotes that live in extremely salty conditions.
What is the purpose of a prokaryote’s cell wall?
To maintain shape, protect, and prevent bursting.
Eubacteria contain what carbohydrate?
Peptidoglycan
What is the name of the process used to tell the difference between types of bacteria?
Gram staining
What are the 3 shapes of prokaryotes?
Coccus, bacilli, and spirilla
What is a photoautotroph?
A bacterium that is photosynthetic.
What is a Chemoautotroph?
A bacterium that obtains energy from inorganic compounds.
What is a photoheterotroph?
a bacterium that can photosynthesize and consume organic material.
What is a chemoheterotroph?
a bacterium that can consume organic material.
What is an Obligate aerobe?
an organism that uses oxygen for cellular respiration.
what is a Facultative anaerobe?
an organism that can use oxygen if available, but can also use fermentation.
What is an Obligate anaerobe?
An organism that oxygen is poisonous to.
What is nitrogen metabolism?
when an organism fixes nitrogen gas into ammonia or ammonium.
What is binary fission?
A form of asexual reproduction that produces two daughter cells, and where the chromosomes are copied and the cell divides.
What is conjugation?
when cells use pili to exchange DNA through a protein bridge.
What is transformation?
When bacteria pick up DNA from foreign bacterial cells.
What is transduction?
When a virus is used to transport bacterial DNA from one cell to another.
What are endospores?
spores that allow bacteria to survive harsh conditions. They can remain dormant for many years.
