Biology: Top Hat vocab 1-6

taxonomy

taxonomy

the naming and classification of organisms

Domain (Eu)Bacteria

These "true bacteria" are microscopic, usually single-celled organisms

prokaryotic

have no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles

peptidoglycan

what the cell wall of bacteria are made out of

biofilm

individual bacteria come together on a surface, such as the surface of your teeth (dental plaque)

mixotrophs

when an organisms is heterotrophic and autotrophic

Domain Archaea

derived from the Greek word archaios, meaning “ancient” or “primitive”

extremophiles

abundant presence in nature, particularly in places most other living cells could not survive

Halophiles

require high concentrations of salt for survival

Thermophiles

normally grow in extremely hot environments

Psychrophiles

type of microorganism that survive in extremely cold temperatures

Acidophiles

organisms that can thrive in environments of high acidity, at a pH of 2.0 or below

Methanogens

do not live in methane-rich environments, but rather, produce methane as a metabolic byproduct of anaerobic respiration in hypoxic or anoxic conditions. They are common in wetlands and swamps, where they are responsible for marsh/swamp gas; and in the digestive tracts of animals, such as ruminants (and humans!), where they are responsible for the methane content of belching and flatulence.

Kingdom Fungi

contains eukaryotic organisms once considered plants because they have cell walls and produce spores, but they are now separated from plants because 1) they are heterotrophs and 2) their cell walls are different from those of plants in that the primary component of the wall is usually chitin

Kingdom Animalia

contains eukaryotic, multicellular, and primarily heterotrophic organisms. They are usually motile and lack the rigid cell walls characteristic of many other eukaryotes. With the exception of sponges, animal cells are organized into tissue layers.

scientific name

most often used when referring to a species. It consists of the genus and specific epithet

cladistics

organisms are grouped according to shared features

derived features

a trait that evolved in the most recent common ancestor

cytosol

jelly-like fluid

nucleoid region

where DNA in bacteria is located

bacteria cell wall

surrounds the plasma membrane

Fimbriae

bristle-like, short fibers. They are responsible for cell-to-surface attachment.

Pili

are long, tubular, hair-like structures, and may be used for attachment but are also used to transfer genes, in the form of a plasmid, from one bacteria to another

flagella

for locomotion

capsules

outside the cell wall that help to protect the bacteria

endospores

contains a copy of the genetic material encased by a heavy protective coat and can survive unfavorable conditions

cyanobacteria

photosynthetic and are able to produce oxygen for the environment

colony morphology

vast differences in the characteristic shape, size, color, surface appearance, and texture of bacteria

Superbugs

bacteria that are resistant to common antibiotics

cocci

Spherical bacteria

bacilli

Rod-like bacteria

spirilla

Spiral-shaped bacteria

Gram-positive bacteria

peptidoglycan is found in a thick layer surrounding the outside of the cell and retains the crystal violet used in a Gram stain

Gram-negative bacteria

have a thinner layer of peptidoglycan sandwiched between the plasma membrane and an additional outer membrane layer and show a reddish-pink color when stained with safranin

lipopolysaccharides

what Gram negative bacteria can also be recognized by

Gram Stain steps

1. Apply crystal violet

2. Apply Gram's iodine

3. Apply an alcohol

4. Apply safranin

nodule

where nitrogen fixation takes place

lichens

complex symbiotic "organisms"

heterocysts

thicker, larger cells on Nostoc

pathogen

any substance that may cause disease

Direct contact

direct exposure to pathogen through exchange of body fluids or contact with an open sore

ndirect contact

exposure to pathogen that has been left by an infected person; examples include developing dysentery after drinking water contaminated by feces or catching a cold caused by a rhinovirus left on a doorknob by someone’s hand

Inhaling airborne pathogens

exposure to pathogens expelled from an infected person’s body by coughing or sneezing

Biological vectors

pathogen is introduced into the body by another animal

epidemic

when a disease appears in a population at a greater than expected rate of infection.

pandemic

When an epidemic spreads around the world

Epidemiology

the study of factors affecting public health. Epidemiologists study the rate of infection, distribution, and transmission of diseases in a population

plankton

the collective term for the tiny drifting and swimming organisms in lakes and seas

phytoplankton

all the aquatic photosynthetic microorganism

zooplankton

includes the aquatic heterotrophic microorganisms