BIO319-FINAL-SPRING-2025

Naegleria fowleri

Brain-eating amoeba in the Percolozoa phylum.

Point mutation

Single nucleotide change in DNA sequence.

Silent mutation

No change in amino acid sequence.

Missense mutation

Change in one amino acid in protein.

Nonsense mutation

Creates a premature stop codon.

Insertion mutation

Addition of nucleotides in DNA sequence.

Deletion mutation

Removal of nucleotides from DNA sequence.

Frameshift mutation

Disruption of reading frame due to insertions/deletions.

Inversion mutation

DNA fragment flipped in orientation.

DNA polymerase

Enzyme that synthesizes new DNA strands.

Pyrimidine dimers

DNA damage caused by UV radiation.

Base excision repair

Removes specific damaged DNA bases.

Methyl mismatch repair

Corrects mismatched bases using methylation patterns.

SOS repair

Cellular response introducing mutations to save cell.

DNA recombination

Exchange of genetic material between DNA molecules.

Transcription regulation

Control of gene expression at transcription level.

Translational control

Regulation of protein synthesis initiation.

Post-translational control

Modifications after protein synthesis to regulate activity.

Operon

Gene cluster controlled by a single regulatory region.

Global regulators

Proteins affecting expression of multiple genes.

Vertical gene transfer

Gene transfer during reproduction between generations.

Horizontal gene transfer

Gene transfer between cells of the same generation.

Two-component systems

Mechanism for sensing extracellular environment in bacteria.

Recombination

Integration of donor genetic material into recipient genome.

F plasmids

Direct synthesis of pili proteins in bacteria.

Resistance plasmids

Carry genes for antimicrobial resistance.

Virulence plasmids

Induce disease symptoms via neurotoxins.

Tumor inducing plasmids

Cause tumor formation in plant cells.

Catabolic enzyme genes

Non-essential genes for bacterial growth.

Bacteriocinogen plasmid

Synthesize bacteriocins that kill other bacteria.

Transposable elements

Genes that move between chromosomes.

Insertion sequences

Short DNA sequences with transposase genes.

Transposase

Enzyme that facilitates DNA element movement.

Natural transformation

Bacteria uptake free DNA from environment.

Transformasome

Protein complex enabling natural transformation.

Competent bacteria

Bacteria capable of natural transformation.

Bacteriophage

Virus that infects bacteria, transferring DNA.

Specialized transduction

Specific gene transfer by modified bacteriophages.

Hfr cells

High-frequency recombination cells in conjugation.

Genetic variation

Diversity in genetic traits among organisms.

Promiscuous plasmids

Plasmids that can transfer between different bacteria.

Mutualism

Both populations benefit from the relationship.

Amensalism

One population is harmed, the other unaffected.

Commensalism

One population benefits, the other is unaffected.

Neutralism

Both populations remain unaffected by each other.

Parasitism

One population benefits at the expense of another.

Genetic Recombination

Exchange of genes between DNA molecules.

Vertical Gene Transfer

Gene transfer during reproduction across generations.

Transformation

Importing free DNA from the environment into bacteria.

Transduction

Gene transfer mediated by bacteriophage vectors.

Plasmids

Circular, extrachromosomal DNA that self-replicates.

F Plasmids

Direct synthesis of proteins for pili formation.

R Plasmids

Carry genes for antimicrobial resistance.

Virulence Plasmids

Cause disease symptoms in host organisms.

Tumor Inducing Plasmids

Induce tumor formation in plant cells.

Transposons

Mobile genetic elements that cannot replicate independently.

Insertion Sequences

Short DNA sequences that facilitate transposition.

Transposase Gene

Enzyme that moves transposable elements between DNA.

Competent Bacterial Cells

Cells capable of taking up foreign DNA.

Electroporation

Method using electrical pulses to introduce DNA.

Transgenic

Organisms with genes from different species.

Gene Linkage

Study of genes on the same chromosome.

Conjugation

Direct gene transfer between bacterial cells.

Hfr Cells

Cells with integrated F plasmid into chromosome.

F Plasmid

Plasmid that facilitates bacterial conjugation.

Genetic Variation

Diversity in genetic makeup among organisms.

Genetic Diversity

Variety of genetic characteristics in a population.

Self-Transmissible Plasmids

Plasmids that can transfer themselves between cells.

Promiscuous Plasmids

Plasmids that can transfer between different species.

Restriction Endonuclease

Enzyme that cuts DNA at specific sequences.

Palindrome Sequence

DNA sequence that reads the same forwards and backwards.

EcoR1

Restriction enzyme from Escherichia coli.

Gel Electrophoresis

Technique for separating DNA fragments by size.

DNA Recombination

Process of combining DNA from different sources.

Gene Fusion

Joining of two genes to create a new function.

Transposition

Movement of genes within the chromosome.

Sterilization

Destruction of all living cells and viruses.

Disinfection

Killing of disease-causing organisms on surfaces.

Antisepsis

Removal of pathogens from living tissues.

Sanitation

Reducing microbial population to safe levels.

Microbial Load

Amount of microorganisms present on a surface.

Biosafety Levels

Ranking of pathogens by disease severity and transmission.

Microbial Control

Methods to reduce or eliminate microorganisms.

Cidal agents

Kill microbes, including bacteria and viruses.

Static agents

Inhibit or control microbial growth.

Bactericidal

Specifically kills bacteria.

Fungicidal

Specifically kills fungi.

Virucidal

Specifically kills viruses.

Bacteriostatic

Inhibits bacterial growth.

Fungistatic

Inhibits fungal growth.

Virustatic

Inhibits viral growth.

Microbial death curve

Evaluates effectiveness of microbial control protocols.

Decimal reduction time (DRT)

Time to kill 90% of organisms.

Thermal death time (TDT)

Time to kill all bacteria at specified temperature.

Moist heat

Effective method for killing microbes.

Micropore filters

0.2 µm filters remove microbial cells, not viruses.

Organic load

Presence of organic material that inhibits disinfectants.

Standard autoclave conditions

121°C at 15 psi for 20 minutes.

Factors influencing microbial control

Population size, composition, agent concentration, exposure duration.

Micropore Filters

Filters with 0.2 µm pores; remove microbial cells.