Bacteria and Viruses vocab

Question 1

conjugation

Answer 1

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

Question 2

endospore

Answer 2

form of bacterium that has a thick internal wall around it chromosome and part of the cytoplasm.

Question 3

fission

Answer 3

cell division that forms two genetically identical cells.

Question 4

flagellum

Answer 4

long whiplike structure that helps some bacteria move.

Question 5

antibiotic

Answer 5

medicine that stops the growth and reproduction of bacteria.

Question 6

bioremediation

Answer 6

use of organisms to clean up environmental pollution.

Question 7

decomposition

Answer 7

breakdown of dead organisms and organic waste.

Question 8

nitrogen fixture

Answer 8

conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen compounds that living things can use.

Question 9

pasteurization

Answer 9

process of heating food to a temperature that kills harmful bacteria.

Question 10

pathogen

Answer 10

agent that causes disease

Question 11

resistance

Answer 11

capacity of an organism to defend itself against disease.

Question 12

antibody

Answer 12

protein that can attach to a pathogen and make it useless.

Question 13

immunity

Answer 13

ability of an organism to resist a virus or infection.

Question 14

mutation

Answer 14

change in DNA or RNA

Question 15

vaccine

Answer 15

mixture containing material from one or more deactivated pathogens.

Question 16

virus

Answer 16

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