Exam 2

Prokaryotes

Single-celled organisms without a membrane-bound nucleus or organelles, including bacteria and archaea.

Eukaryotes

Organisms with a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles, includes plants, animals, fungi, and protists.

Phylogeny

The evolutionary history and relationships among species.

Taxonomy

The science of classifying and naming organisms.

Bacteria

One of the domains in the three-domain system, comprising true bacteria (Eubacteria).

Archaea

One of the domains in the three-domain system, comprising extremophiles (Archaebacteria).

Eukarya

One of the domains in the three-domain system, including kingdoms such as Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, and Protista.

Species

A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Strains

Variants within a species, often with slight genetic differences.

DNA Fingerprinting

A technique used to identify individuals or species based on unique patterns in their DNA.

Serology

The study of blood serum, used to identify antibodies or antigens.

Gram-positive bacteria

Bacteria with a thick peptidoglycan layer that stains purple.

Gram-negative bacteria

Bacteria with a thin peptidoglycan layer that stains pink.

Fungal Spores

Reproductive cells of fungi that can develop into new organisms.

Mycosis

Fungal infections affecting different parts of the body.

Protozoa

Single-celled eukaryotic organisms.

Helminths

Parasitic worms.

Virion

An individual virus particle.

Lytic Cycle

A bacteriophage multiplication cycle that results in the destruction of the host cell.

Lysogenic Cycle

A bacteriophage multiplication cycle where the viral genome integrates into the host genome, replicating without killing the host.

Prions

Misfolded proteins that cause diseases by inducing other proteins to misfold.

Reverse Transcriptase

An enzyme used by retroviruses to convert RNA into DNA.

Viroids

Small, circular RNA molecules that cause disease in plants.