The Microbial World and You - Chapter 1 Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the Microbial World lecture notes.

Bacteria

Single-celled prokaryotes with cell walls containing peptidoglycan.

Sporangia

Spore-producing structures in fungi (and some other microbes).

Pseudopod

Cytoplasmic extension used by some protozoa for movement and feeding.

SEM

Scanning Electron Microscope; uses electrons to image surfaces at high magnification.

TEM

Transmission Electron Microscope; electrons pass through a specimen to reveal internal details.

LM

Light Microscope; uses visible light to magnify specimens.

Microbes

Tiny living organisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae, archaea, and viruses.

Pathogenic

Capable of causing disease.

Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms (yeasts, molds, mushrooms) with chitin in cell walls; cannot photosynthesize.

Protozoa

Unicellular eukaryotic microbes; may be free-living or parasitic.

Viruses

Acellular infectious agents that replicate only inside living hosts; have DNA or RNA and a protein coat; may be enveloped.

Bacteria flora

Bacteria that inhabit the skin and gut; part of the normal microbiota.

Microbiome

The collection of microorganisms living in or on the body; can produce vitamins and protect against pathogens.

Normal Microbiota

The resident microbial community that normally inhabits an organism.

Resident flora

Microorganisms normally present in/on the body.

Pathogenic bacteria

Bacteria that cause disease.

Commercial applications of microbes

Using microbes to produce vitamins, drugs, alcohols; fermentation in foods; production of substances like cellulose, insulin, and vaccines.

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose cells contain a nucleus.

Prokaryotes

Organisms lacking a membrane-bound nucleus.

Nucleus

Membrane-bound organelle containing genetic material.

Three Domains of Life

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya (the domain containing all eukaryotes).

Peptidoglycan

Polymer in bacterial cell walls made of protein and carbohydrates.

Flagella

Long whip-like appendages used for movement.

Cocci

Spherical bacteria.

Bacilli

Rod-shaped bacteria.

Spirilla

Spiral-shaped bacteria.

Nomenclature

System of naming organisms using Genus and Species; Genus capitalized; Species lowercase; both italicized.

Genus

First part of the binomial name; always capitalized.

Species

Second part of the binomial name; not capitalized.

E. coli

Escherichia coli; a common intestinal bacterium; formatted with genus initial.

Staphylococcus aureus

Bacterium arranged in clusters (staphylococci); a common hospital pathogen.

Staph-

Prefix indicating a cluster (grape-like) arrangement of cells.

Strep-

Prefix indicating chain-like arrangement of cells.

Bacill-

Prefix indicating rod-shaped morphology.

Archaea

Prokaryotes lacking peptidoglycan in their cell walls; often extremophiles.

Extreme halophiles

Archaea that thrive in highly saline environments.

Extreme thermophiles

Archaea that thrive in hot, sulfurous environments.

Pseudopods

Cytoplasmic extensions used for movement and feeding by some protozoa.

Cilia

Short, numerous appendages used for movement.

Roundworms

Nematodes; a type of helminth (parasitic worm).

Flatworms

Platyhelminths; flattened parasitic worms.

Algae

Photosynthetic eukaryotes with cellulose cell walls; produce oxygen.

Photosynthesis

Process by which light energy is converted to chemical energy, producing sugars and oxygen.

Cellulose

Structural polysaccharide in plant and some fungal cell walls.

Oxygen

Gas produced by photosynthetic organisms and used by most life on Earth.

Carbohydrates

Sugars and starches; include monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Monosaccharide

Simple sugar; basic unit of carbohydrates.

Disaccharide

Two monosaccharides linked together.

Polysaccharide

Many monosaccharides linked together.

Lipids

Fats; insoluble in water; form membranes and store energy.

Proteins

Macromolecules essential for structure and function; enzymes speed biochemical reactions.

Amino acids

Building blocks of proteins.

Enzymes

Proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions.

Peptide bonds

Bonds linking amino acids in proteins.

Nucleic acids

DNA and RNA; polymers made of nucleotides.

Nucleotides

Nucleobase, phosphate group, and sugar.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; stores genetic information; double helix.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid; copies genetic instructions; usually single-stranded; contains uracil.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate; main energy currency of cells with three phosphate groups.

Adenine

Purine base that pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA.

Cytosine

Pyrimidine base that pairs with guanine.

Guanine

Purine base that pairs with cytosine.

Uracil

RNA base that pairs with adenine (replaces thymine in RNA).

Thymine

DNA base that pairs with adenine.

Base pairs

Complementary pairs: A with T (DNA) or U (RNA); C with G.

Helix of sugar-phosphates

The backbone of DNA and RNA formed by sugar-phosphate linkages.