micro bio 1.1 and 1.2

What is a microorganism?

A microscopic form of life including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, algae, and viruses.

Name the two fundamental cell types.

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic.

What is the function of ribosomes?

Protein synthesis.

Define horizontal gene transfer.

The transfer of genetic material between cells that are not parent-offspring.

What is the difference between transcription and translation?

Transcription copies DNA into RNA; translation uses RNA to build proteins.

What is a microbial colony?

A visible mass of microbes grown from a single cell on solid media.

How does antibiotic resistance demonstrate evolution?

Resistant bacteria survive antibiotic exposure and pass resistance genes to offspring, increasing their frequency in the population.

What are the three domains of life?

Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya.

What is the role of the cytoplasmic membrane?

Acts as a selective barrier regulating passage of substances in/out of the cell.

Define metabolism.

The sum of all chemical reactions in a cell, including energy production and biosynthesis.