BIOL 201 Unit 1-3 Flashcards

First cells appeared about how many years ago?

4 billion years ago

No O2 until approximately how many years ago?

2.6 billion years ago

Plants and animals emerged around how many years ago?

0.5 billion years ago

Ribosomes in prokaryotes are located in the _____

cytoplasm

DNA in prokaryotes are found in the ____ ____

nucleoid region

Flagella

Used for movement in prokaryotic cells

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that contain a true nucleus and organelles

Chromosomes in Prokaryotes

Single, circular chromosome

Chromosomes in Eukaryotes

Contain multiple linear chromosomes

Gut microbiome

A community of microorganisms living in the digestive tracts of humans and other animals

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Adds ammonia to the soil as fertilizer

Cellulose-degrading microbes

Found in cow rumen and help in digestion

Industrial microbiology

Uses naturally-occurring microbes to make low-cost products ex. fermented products (yogurt, cheese, beer), antibiotics (penicillin)

Bioremediation

The process of cleaning up pollutants using microbes

Biotechnology

using microbes to make high-quality goods, such as GMO crops, insulin, penicillin, gene therapy, etc.

Viruses

Acellular entities that only replicate within host cells and do not metabolize

Genomes of viruses

Can be single or double-stranded DNA/RNA

Cytoplasm

An aqueous mixture of macromolecules, ions, and ribosomes that helps with mobility and maintaining cell shape

Cell wall in Bacteria

Made up of peptidoglycan

Cell wall in Archaea

Made up of protein or pseudo-peptidoglycan

Cell wall in Fungi

Made of cellulose (even though chitin is the actual answer)

Metabolism

The chemical transformation of nutrients within cells

Incidence

number of new cases (day to day)

Prevalence

total number of new and existing cases

Reservoir

place where a microbe (disease) multiplies

Carrier

organism that carries the pathogen (asymptomatic)

Vehicle

the SPECIFIC location that transfers the pathogen (e.g., soil, water, air)

Endemic

constantly present in a population (low incidences usually)

Epidemic

occurs in a large number of people in a single population

Pandemic

epidemic that is widespread (usually worldwide)

Disease outbreak

number of reported cases in short amount of time

Subclinical infections

diseased individuals who show no/mild symptoms

Infection

organism invades and colonizes the host

Incubation period

time between infection and onset of symptoms

Acute period

disease symptom(s) is/are at its peak

Decline period

symptoms are subsiding

Convalescent period

patient regains strength and returns to normal

Mortality

the incidence of death in a population

Morbidity

the incidence of disease, including fatal and nonfatal

Virulence

measures the ability of a pathogen to damage the host

Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY)

measures disease burden in terms of lost years due to disease, any disability it may cause, and premature death

Herd immunity

resistance of a group to infection due to immunity of a high proportion of the group (vaccine)

Vaccination

safely expose population to a component of the pathogen

Antibodies

proteins made by the immune system to neutralize pathogens

Direct host-to-host transmission

Contact transmission - touching, kissing, sex, etc.

Indirect host-to-host transmission

facilitated by a living or nonliving agent

Vectors

living agents that transmit disease (mosquitoes)

Fomites

nonliving agents that transmit disease (doorknob)

Zoonosis

disease that primarily infects animals but occasionally transmitted to humans (ex. Anthrax)

Emerging disease

suddenly become prevalent

Reemerging disease

becoming prevalent after being under control

What are hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons?

They are the same type of low pressure systems that form over warm, moist ocean waters

What is the 'eye' of a hurricane?

The 'eye' is the relatively peaceful center of a hurricane

What temperature of ocean water allows a hurricane to grow?

>79°F

What happens to a hurricane when it makes landfall?

It dies off because there is no warm water to supply it

What are the three factors necessary for hurricane formation?

1. Warm ocean water, 2. Moist air at the surface, 3. Light upper-level winds (low wind shear).

What types of damage can hurricanes cause?

High wind speeds, heavy rainfall leading to flooding, and storm surge, which is the rise in sea level that pushes large waves onto coastal areas

What are some health risks associated with epidemics after natural disasters?

Contaminated wounds, tetanus, fungal infections, and MRSA

How does flooding contribute to health risks after a hurricane?

Flooding increases mosquito breeding sites, causes water damage leading to fungal respiratory infections, and disrupts rodent populations, spreading disease

What are the effects of population displacement after a hurricane?

Foodborne illnesses and respiratory infections spread more quickly

What public services can be interrupted due to natural disasters?

Damage to water treatment facilities, sewer treatment facilities, and delays in trash disposal

How does electricity interruption affect health after a disaster?

It interferes with treating patients, leads to food and medicine spoilage, and decreases access to clean water

What factors make epidemics after natural disasters more severe?

1. Collapse of health facilities

2. Disruption of surveillance and public health programs

3. Food scarcity leading to malnutrition

4. Interruptions to ongoing treatments

5. Low levels of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases

6. Poor water infrastructure and sewage treatment

7. Pre-existing poor nutritional status

Why do high-income countries have an advantage during epidemics after natural disasters?

They typically have better resources and infrastructure compared to lower-income countries

What is a significant risk for poorer areas during epidemics after natural disasters?

They may still be at greater risk despite being in high-income countries