Introduction to Microbiology Flashcards
Basic Definitions
What defines life?
Life is something that exhibits the folowing characteristics:
*Organisation
*Homeostasis
*Metabolism
*Growth
*Reproduction
*Responds to the environment
*Adapts to the environment
What is Microbiology?
Microbiology is the study of microscopic organisms- microbes.
What is a microbe?
A microbe is an organism too small to see with the naked eye.
What is the microbiome / microbiota?
The microbiome / microbiota are those organisms that live on r in another organism.
What is a cell?
A cell is the smallestliving unit of an organism.
What does kayron mean?
Kayron means kernal and refers to the nucleus of a cell.
What is a prokaryote?
A prokaryote is a cell that lacks a nucleus and other membrane bound organelles.
What is a eukaryote?
A eukaryote is a cell that has a nucleus and other membrane bound organelles.
What does unicellular mean?
Unicellular means one celled as in one celled organisms.
What does multicellular mean?
Multicellular means many cells.
What is asexual reproduction?
Asexual reproduction is when a single parent reproduces without interaction with another organism; no gametes (egg or sperm).
What is sexual reproduction?
Sexual reproduction requires the fusion of male and female gametes.
What does genotype mean?
Genotype is the genetic makeup of an organism.
What does phenotype mean?
Phenotype is the genes that are expressed by the organism e.g. an organism has blue eyes although both blue and brown eyed genes are present in the genotype.
What is a glycoprotein?
A glycoprotein is a protein containing glycans (carbohydrates).
