BIO-250 Microbiology: Chapter 1 Study Guide

Flashcards covering key concepts from Chapter 1 of the Microbiology study guide.

Microbial World

The study of microorganisms and their relationship with humans and the environment.

Epidemic

The rapid spread of disease to a large number of hosts in a given population within a short period.

Meningitis

An infection/inflammation of the membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges.

Pandemic

The worldwide spread of a new disease.

Staphylococcus aureus

A Gram-positive bacterium commonly found on human skin and can act as an opportunistic pathogen.

Cell Theory

The theory that all living things are composed of cells.

Biogenesis

The concept that living cells arise only from pre-existing living cells.

Spontaneous Generation

The hypothetical process by which life arises from non-living matter.

Pasteurization

The process of heating liquids at high temperatures for short amounts of time to kill harmful microbes.

Germ Theory of Disease

The theory stating that diseases are caused by microorganisms.

Vaccines

Biological agents that elicit an immune response to a specific infectious disease.

The Three Domains

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, the main classifications of organisms.

Binary Fission

A form of asexual reproduction that occurs in prokaryotes, where a cell divides into two equal cells.

Archaea

Prokaryotic organisms that often live in extreme environments and lack peptidoglycan in their cell walls.

Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms that may be unicellular or multicellular and are characterized by cell walls made of chitin.

Bioremediation

The use of microbes to remove pollutants from the environment.

Biofilm

A complex aggregation of microbes that can be either beneficial or harmful.

Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs)

Diseases that are re-emerging or newly cropping up due to various factors such as ecological changes.