Chapter 1 - The Microbial World and You Flashcards
microbes / microorganisms
minute living things that individually are usually too small to be seen with the unaided eye
pathogenic
disease-producing
genus (pl. genera)
the first name is is always capitalized
specific epithet (species)
second name and is not capitalized
bacterium (pl. bacteria)
relatively simple, single-celled (unicellular) organisms
prokaryotes
prenucleus
includes bacteria and archaea
archaea
prokaryotic cells lacking peptidoglycan
one of the three domains
fungus (pl. fungi)
an organism that belongs to the Kingdom Fungi
eukaryotic absorptive chemoheterotroph
eukaryotes
organisms whose cells have a distinct nucleus containing the cell’s genetic materials, surrounded by a special envelope call the nuclear membrane
protozoan (pl. protozoa)
unicellular eukaryotic organisms
usually chemoheterotrophic
alga (pl. algae)
photosynthetic eukaryote
may be unicellular, filamentous, or multicellular but lack the tissues found in plants
viruses
submicroscopic, parasitic, filterable agent consisting of a nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat
helminths
parasitic roundworm or flatworm
cell theory
all living organisms are composed of cells and arise from preexisting cells
spontaneous generation
the idea that life could arise spontaneously from nonliving matter
biogenesis
the theory that living cells arise only from preexisting cells
aspetic techniques
laboratory techniques used to minimize contamination
fermentation
enzymatic degradation of carbohydrates in which the final electron acceptor is an organic molecule, ATP is synthesized by substrate-level phosphorylation, and O2 is not required
pasteurization
the process of mild heating to kill particular spoilage microorganisms or pathogens
germ theory of disease
the principle that microorganisms cause disease
Koch’s postulates
criteria used to determine the causative agent of infectious diseases
chemotherapy
treatment of disease with chemical substances
antibiotics
antimicrobial agent, usually produced naturally by a bacterium or fungus
synthetic drugs
chemotherapeutic agent that is prepared from chemicals in a laboratory
bacteriology
scientific study of prokaryotes, including bacteria and archaea
mycology
scientific study of fungi
parasitology
scientific study of parasitic protozoa and worms
genomics
study of genes and their function
immunology
study of a host’s defenses to a pathogen
virology
scientific study of viruses
recombinant DNA
A DNA molecule produced by combining DNA from two different sources
recombinant DNA technology / genetic engineering
Manufacturing and manipulating genetic material in vitro
microbial genetics
study the mechanisms by which microorganisms inherit traits
molecular biology
the science dealing with DNA and protein synthesis of living organisms
microbial ecology
the study of the relationship between microorganisms and their environment
bioremediation
use of microbes to remove an environmental pollutant
biotechnology
industrial application of microorganisms, cells, or cell components to make a useful product
gene therapy
treating a disease by replacing abnormal genes
normal microbiota / normal flora
the microorganisms that colonize a host without causing disease
resistance
the ability to ward off diseases through innate and adaptive immunity
biofilm
a microbial community that usually forms as a slimy layer on a surface
infectious disease
a disease in which pathogens invade a susceptible host and carry out at least part of their life cycle in the host
emerging infectious diseases (EIDs)
a new or changing disease that is increasing or has the potential to increase in incidence in the near future
