Bacteria and Viruses Vocab

Question 1

Bacterium

Answer 1

Microscopic prokaryote

Question 2

Conjugation

Answer 2

Process in which two bacteria of the same species attach to each other and share genetic material

Question 3

Endospore

Answer 3

Form of bacterium that has a thick internal wall around its chromosome and part of the cytoplasm

Question 4

Fission

Answer 4

Cell division that forms two genetically identical cells

Question 5

Flagellum

Answer 5

Long whiplike structure that helps some bacteria move

Question 6

Antibiotic

Answer 6

Medicine that stops the growth and reproduction of bacteria

Question 7

Bioremediation

Answer 7

Use of organisms to clean up environmental pollution

Question 8

Decomposititon

Answer 8

Breakdown of dead organisms and organic waste

Question 9

Nitrogen Fixation

Answer 9

Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen compounds that living things can use

Question 10

Pasteurization

Answer 10

Process of heating food to a temperature that kills most harmful bacteria

Question 11

Pathogen

Answer 11

Agent that causes disease

Question 12

Resistance

Answer 12

Capacity of an organism to defend itself against disease

Question 13

Antibody

Answer 13

Protein that can attach to a pathogen and make it useless

Question 14

Immunity

Answer 14

Ability of an organism to resist a virus or infection

Question 15

Mutation

Answer 15

Change in DNA or RNA

Question 16

Vaccine

Answer 16

Mixture containing material from one or more deactivated pathogens

Question 17

Virus

Answer 17

Strand of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein layer that can infect and replicate in a host cell