Microbiology for Allied Health Professions

These flashcards cover essential terminology and concepts in microbiology as presented in the lecture notes.

Genetics

The study of inheritance and heredity in living things.

Genotype

The sum of all gene types; an organism's distinctive genetic makeup.

Phenotype

The expression of certain traits or functions of an organism.

Chromosome

A structure containing genetic material necessary for reproduction.

Genome

All the genetic material an organism possesses.

Eukaryote

An organism with complex cells that contain a nucleus.

Prokaryote

A single-celled organism that lacks a nucleus.

Polyploid

An organism with more than two complete sets of chromosomes.

Plasmid

A small circular DNA molecule that can replicate independently of chromosomal DNA.

Antigenic variation

The mechanism that allows bacteria to evade the host immune system by changing surface proteins.

DNA replication

The process by which a cell copies its DNA before cell division.

RNA polymerase

An enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template.

Transcription

The process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA.

Translation

The process of synthesizing proteins from mRNA.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides that encodes for a specific amino acid.

Operon

A functioning unit of genomic DNA containing a cluster of genes under the control of a single promoter.

Lac operon

A model system for gene regulation involving the metabolism of lactose in E. coli.

Promoter region

A sequence of DNA that initiates transcription of a particular gene.

Ribosome

The cellular structure where protein synthesis occurs.

tRNA (transfer RNA)

Type of RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

mRNA (messenger RNA)

Type of RNA that conveys genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.

rRNA (ribosomal RNA)

Type of RNA that forms the core of the ribosome's structure and catalyzes protein synthesis.

MicroRNAs (miRNA)

Short RNA sequences that regulate gene expression.

Inducible operon

An operon whose genes are normally off but can be turned on in response to a specific substance.

Repressible operon

An operon that is usually on but can be turned off when a specific molecule is present.

Mutagen

An agent that causes changes in DNA sequence.

Point mutation

A mutation affecting only one or a few nucleotides.

Silent mutation

A change in a nucleotide that does not affect the amino acid sequence of a protein.

Missense mutation

A mutation that causes a different amino acid to be incorporated into a protein.

Nonsense mutation

A mutation that creates a premature stop codon in the protein-coding sequence.

Frameshift mutation

A mutation that results from the insertion or deletion of nucleotides in a DNA sequence.

Bacterial transformation

The uptake of naked DNA from the environment by a bacterial cell.

Conjugation

The transfer of genetic material between bacteria through direct contact.

Transduction

The transfer of genetic material from one bacterium to another via a virus.

Horizontal gene transfer

The movement of genetic material between organisms through mechanisms other than reproduction.

Proofreading

Mechanisms used by DNA polymerases to correct errors during DNA replication.

Excision repair

A DNA repair mechanism where incorrect bases are removed and replaced.

Catenation

The linking of two or more DNA strands together.

Decatenation

The separation of linked DNA molecules.

Gene expression

The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product.

Central dogma

The flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.

Protein synthesis

The process of translating the genetic code into proteins.

Regulatory proteins

Proteins that regulate the expression of genes.

Ribosomal subunits

The two components that make up a ribosome during translation.

Operon structure

The arrangement of genes under a common regulatory system.

Genetic recombination

The exchange of genetic material between organisms or within genomes.

Antibiotic resistance

The ability of bacteria to survive and grow in the presence of antibiotics.

Hfr donor

A high-frequency recombination strain that transfers chromosomal genes during conjugation.

Competent cell

A bacterial cell that can take up extracellular DNA.

Biological control

Using living organisms to suppress pest populations.

Bioinformatics

The use of technology to manage biological information.

Genetic engineering

Manipulating an organism's genes to alter its characteristics.

Transposable elements

DNA sequences that can move within a genome.

Phenotypic diversity

Variability in observable traits among individuals.

Adaptation

A change that improves a species' fitness in its environment.

Industrial microbiology

The use of microbes for industrial processes.

Microbial pathogenesis

The study of how microbes cause disease.

Public health microbiology

The study of microbes that affect population health.

Virulence factor

A molecule produced by a pathogen that contributes to its ability to cause disease.

Biofilm

A structured community of microbial cells embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix.

Zoonotic disease

A disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Infectious disease

Disorders caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

Pathogenicity test

Experimental procedures to determine the virulence of a microorganism.

Bioremediation

The use of microbes to remove pollutants from the environment.

Synthetic biology

The design and construction of new biological parts and systems.

Microbial ecology

The study of the relationships between microorganisms and their environment.

Metagenomics

The study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples.