Chapter 11: Prokaryotes

Flashcards covering key concepts from Chapter 11 on Prokaryotes, including classifications, characteristics, and medically important examples.

Prokaryotes

Organisms that lack a nuclear membrane and are classified as Domain Bacteria and Domain Archaea.

Gram Negative Bacteria

Bacteria that stain pink or red during Gram staining, typically characterized by a thin peptidoglycan layer.

Proteobacteria

A major group of Gram-negative bacteria, including various classes such as Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria.

Chemoheterotrophic

Organisms that obtain energy and carbon from organic compounds.

Alphaproteobacteria

A class of Proteobacteria that can survive in low nutrient levels and fix nitrogen.

Pathogenic

Capable of causing disease.

Rickettsia

A genus of bacteria transmitted by ticks, known to cause diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Betaproteobacteria

A class of Proteobacteria that utilizes nutrients from decomposing organic matter.

Escherichia coli (E. coli)

A species of bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans; some strains can cause food poisoning.

Gram Positive Bacteria

Bacteria that stain purple or blue, characterized by a thick peptidoglycan layer.

Firmicutes

A group of Gram-positive bacteria that typically have a low G/C content.

Actinobacteria

A group of Gram-positive bacteria with high G/C content, known for their filamentous growth form.

Mycoplasma

A genus of bacteria known for their lack of a cell wall; they are the smallest known free-living organisms.

Helicobacter pylori

A type of bacteria associated with stomach ulcers.

Cyanobacteria

Photosynthetic bacteria that carry out oxygenic photosynthesis and can fix nitrogen.

Chlamydiae

A class of bacteria that lack peptidoglycan and are typically intracellular.

Staphylococcus

A genus of bacteria known to cause various infections, including food poisoning.

Listeria

A genus of bacteria associated with contaminated food and can harm unborn babies.