Chapter 2 - Vocabulary

Question 1

Alternation of Generations

Answer 1

a life cycle in which diploid individuals produce spores that create haploid individuals; the haploid individuals reproduce sexually, producing sporophyte individuals and completing the cycle.

Question 2

Antibiotic

Answer 2

a substance that can kill or weaken microorganisms; natural antibiotics are produced by bacteria or fungi, whereas synthetic antibiotics are manufactured.

Question 3

Bacillus (plural: bacilli)

Answer 3

a rod-shaped bacterial cell.

Question 4

Bacteriophage

Answer 4

a virus that infects bacteria.

Question 5

Binary Fission

Answer 5

the division of one parent cell into two genetically identical daughter cells; a form of asexual reproduction.

Question 6

Capsid

Answer 6

a protein coat that surrounds the DNA or RNA of a virus.

Question 7

Capsule

Answer 7

an outer layer on some bacteria; provides some protection for the cell.

Question 8

Coccus (plural: cocci)

Answer 8

a round bacterial cell.

Question 9

Conjugation

Answer 9

a form of sexual reproduction in which two cells join to exchange genetic information.

Question 10

Diploid

Answer 10

a cell containing two copies of each chromosome (2n).

Question 11

Epidemic

Answer 11

a large-scale outbreak of disease; usually confined to a limited geographic region.

Question 12

Endospore

Answer 12

a dormant structure that forms inside certain bacteria in response to stress; protects the cell’s chromosome from damage.

Question 13

Endosymbiosis

Answer 13

a relationship in which a single-celled organism lives within the cell(s) of another organism; recent findings suggest this may be very common.

Question 14

Facultative aerobe

Answer 14

an organism that can live with or without oxygen.

Question 15

Fermentation

Answer 15

an anaerobic process that releases chemical energy from food.

Question 16

Gametophyte

Answer 16

a haploid organism that produces haploid sex cells in an alternation of generations life cycle.

Question 17

Gene Therapy

Answer 17

a method of treating disease in which genes are introduced into cells to replace, supplement, or repair a defective gene.

Question 18

Haploid

Answer 18

a cell containing half the usual complement of chromosomes (n).

Question 19

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Answer 19

the transfer of genetic information from one species into a different species.

Question 20

Inorganic Chemical

Answer 20

a chemical that has an abiotic origin; some simple substances that are produced by organisms are also classified as inorganic.

Question 21

Lysis

Answer 21

the rupturing of a cell; can occur when newly made viruses are released from a host cell.

Question 22

Lysogeny

Answer 22

a state of dormancy in which viral DNA may remain within a host cell’s chromosome for many cell cycle generations.

Question 23

Mutualism

Answer 23

a relationship between two species that live in very close association with each other, whereby each benefits from the association

Question 24

Obligate Anaerobe

Answer 24

an organism that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen.

Question 25

Obligate Aerobe

Answer 25

an organism that cannot survive without oxygen.

Question 26

Organic chemical

Answer 26

in biology, any chemical that contains carbon and is produced by living things; carbon dioxide is an exception - it is produced during respiration but is classified as inorganic.

Question 27

Pandemic

Answer 27

an epidemic that occurs over a widespread geographic area, often globally.

Question 28

Pathogen

Answer 28

a disease-causing agent, often a virus or microorganism.

Question 29

Plasmid

Answer 29

a small loop of DNA often found in prokaryotic cells; usually contains a small number of genes.

Question 30

Prion

Answer 30

an abnormally shaped infectious protein responsible for some brain diseases of mammals, including humans.

Question 31

RNA (ribonucleic acid)

Answer 31

a nucleic acid found in all cells and some viruses; usually carries genetic information that provides instructions for synthesizing protein.

Question 32

Spirillum (plural: spirilli)

Answer 32

a spiral or corkscrew-shaped bacterial cell.

Question 33

Spore

Answer 33

a haploid reproductive structure; usually a single cell; capable of growing into a new individual.

Question 34

Sporophyte

Answer 34

a diploid organism that produces haploid spores in an alternation of generations life cycle.

Question 35

Transduction

Answer 35

a type of gene transfer in which a virus transfers DNA from one bacterium to another.

Question 36

Transformation

Answer 36

a process in which a bacterial cell takes in and uses pieces of DNA from its environment.

Question 37

Viroid

Answer 37

a very small infectious piece of RNA responsible for some serious diseases in plants.

Question 38

Virus

Answer 38

a small infectious particle containing genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA within a protein capsule.

Question 39

Zygote

Answer 39

a cell produced by the fusion of two gametes.