Module 2 Vocabulary

Question 1

Pathogen

Answer 1

An organism that causes disease

Question 2

Saprophyte

Answer 2

An organism that feeds on dead matter

Question 3

Parasite

Answer 3

An organism that feeds on a living organism

Question 4

Aerobic Organism

Answer 4

An organism that requires oxygen

Question 5

Anaerobic Organism

Answer 5

An organism that does not require oxygen

Question 6

Steady State

Answer 6

A state in which members of a population die as quickly as new members are born.

Question 7

Exponational Growth

Answer 7

Population growth that is unhindered because of the abundance of resources for an ever-increasing population.

Question 8

Logistic Growth

Answer 8

Population growth that is controlled by limited resources

Question 9

Conjugation

Answer 9

A temporary union of two organisms for purpose of DNA transfer

Question 10

Plasmid

Answer 10

A small, circular section of extra DNA that confers one or more traits to a bacterium and can be reproduced separately from the main bacterial genetic code.

Question 11

Transformation

Answer 11

The transfer of a DNA segment from a nonfunctional recipient cell

Question 12

Transduction

Answer 12

The process in which infection by a virus results in DNA being transferred from one bacterium to another

Question 13

Endospore

Answer 13

The DNA and other essential parts of a bacterium coated with several hard layers

Question 14

Strains

Answer 14

Organisms from the same species that have markedly different traits.