Diversity of Lower Invertebrates 1.0

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the diversity of lower invertebrates, focusing on the domains Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya, including their evolutionary origins and industrial importance.

Euglenophyta

Photosynthetic protists that exhibit both plant-like and animal-like features.

Thermus aquaticus

An organism involved in the production of thermophilic/heat stable enzymes like Taq polymerase used in PCR reactions for DNA amplification.

Bioleaching

A process where several Archaea are used to remove harmful chemical wastes, metals, and pollutants from contaminated environments.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)

Substances produced by some Archaea that can be used in the manufacture of bio-plastics.

Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas

Bacteria species known to cause plant diseases such as banana bacterial wilt, resulting in poor production.

Azotobacter

A genus of free-living bacteria that act as nitrogen fixers to improve soil fertility.

Rhizobium sp

Symbiotic bacteria that function as nitrogen fixers to enhance soil fertility.

Plasmodium species

Protozoan agents responsible for causing malaria in humans and animals.

Entamoeba histolytica

A protozoan agent that causes dysentery.

Giardia lamblia

A protozoan species that causes intestinal infections.

Trichomonas vaginalis

A protozoan agent that causes Urinary Tract Infections (UTI).

Acanthameoba sp

Protozoans responsible for causing infections of the eye.

16S rRNA sequences

The molecular basis used for phylogenetic analysis to create the three-domain phylogenetic tree of life.

Proteobacterium

The type of oxygen-utilizing bacteria from which mitochondria are thought to have evolved.

Cyanobacterium

The type of sunlight-utilizing bacteria from which chloroplasts are thought to have evolved.

70S Ribosomes

The type of ribosomes found in mitochondria, chloroplasts, and bacteria, as opposed to the $80S$ type found in eukaryotes.

Operons

Clusters of functionally related genes that are transcribed together as a single messenger RNA molecule to coordinate gene expression.

Horizontal Gene Transfer

The process by which genetic material is exchanged between cells via conjugation or transduction.

Biofilms

Complex communities of cells stuck together on surfaces to provide protection and facilitate nutrient exchange.

Histones

DNA-binding proteins present in both Archaea and Eukarya but absent in Bacteria.

Pseudopeptidoglycan (pseudomurein)

A major component of Archaea cell walls, distinguishing them from bacterial cell walls which contain peptidoglycans.

Reverse DNA gyrase

An enzyme found in Archaea that is not present in bacteria.

Methionine tRNA

The initiator tRNA used during translation in both Archaea and Eukarya.

Formyl-methionine tRNA

The specific initiator tRNA used by Bacteria during the process of translation.