Applied Microbiology & Genetics Review Questions WS 2025/26

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in applied microbiology and genetics.

Primary Metabolites

Essential compounds for growth and reproduction, produced during the growth phase.

Secondary Metabolites

Non-essential compounds that have ecological functions, produced mainly in the stationary phase.

Trophophase

Growth phase characterized by biomass production.

Idiophase

Production phase where metabolite formation dominates.

Citric Acid Cycle

A biochemical cycle that processes acetyl-CoA to produce energy.

Metabolone

Complex of enzymes of a pathway that enables substrate channeling.

Pasteur Effect

Fermentation is inhibited by the presence of oxygen, switching cells from fermentation to respiration.

Crabtree Effect

Fermentation occurs in the presence of oxygen, triggered by high glucose concentrations.

Glycerol Synthesis

Occurs to maintain redox and osmotic balance, especially under anaerobic conditions.

Homolactic Fermentation

Conversion of glucose to lactic acid primarily through glycolysis, yielding higher ATP.

Heterolactic Fermentation

Conversion of glucose to various products including lactate, ethanol, and CO₂, utilizing the pentose phosphate pathway.

Lactic Acid Bacteria

Microorganisms that convert lactose to lactic acid during cheese production.

Polylactide

A bioplastic derived from lactic acid used for packaging and medical applications due to its biodegradability.

Fungal Hosts

Organisms like Aspergillus niger used for protein production due to high secretion capacity.

Hydrophobins

Small proteins produced by fungi that modify surface properties and allow surface attachment.

Penicillin

A bactericidal antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Chromosome Theory of Heredity

States that genes are located on chromosomes and their behavior during meiosis underlies Mendel's laws.

Gene Annotation

The identification and characterization of genes and functional elements within a DNA sequence.

Operon

A cluster of genes transcribed together from a single promoter, allowing coordinated gene regulation.

Antimetabolite Screening

A method to identify mutants overproducing a compound by using analogs that inhibit normal pathways.

Transduction

The transfer of DNA between bacteria via bacteriophages.

cDNA

DNA synthesized from mRNA using reverse transcription, containing only expressed genes.

Gene Homology

Refers to genes derived from a common ancestor (orthologs), from duplication within the genome (paralogs), or acquired through horizontal transfer (xenologs).