Bacteria and Viruses

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to bacteria and viruses, including their characteristics, reproduction, and interaction with humans.

Prokaryotes

Organisms without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles; typically unicellular.

Binary fission

A method of asexual reproduction in which a cell divides into two parts, allowing rapid bacterial reproduction.

Endospore

A durable structure formed by some bacteria to survive in extreme conditions, containing DNA and ribosomes.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own food, either through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Extremophiles

Organisms, often archaea, that thrive in extreme environments such as hot springs or highly salty lakes.

Methanogen

A type of archaea that produces methane as a metabolic byproduct in oxygen-free environments.

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease; often harmful bacteria that produce toxins.

Virus

Non-cellular microbes that invade host cells to reproduce, containing nucleic acid and a protein coat.

Lytic cycle

A viral reproductive cycle that results in the destruction of the host cell and the release of new viruses.

Vaccine

A biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.