Introduction to Microbes and Their Building Blocks

These flashcards define key terms from the lecture micro-organisms, history of microbiology, scientific theory, and biological macromolecules.

Microbiology

An area of biology that deals with living things only able to be seen under magnification.

Microscopic organisms

Also known as microorganisms or microbes, these include cellular organisms like bacteria and acellular agents like viruses.

Macroscopic organisms

Organisms that can be seen with just the eye, such as Helminths (parasitic worms).

Last Common Ancestor (LCA)

The precursor cell type that gave rise to bacteria, archaea, and eukarya.

Ubiquitous

A term describing microbes because they can be found everywhere.

Evolution

The accumulation of changes that occur in organisms as they adapt to their environments.

Scientific theory

A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.

Photosynthetic microorganisms

Organisms that account for over $70\%$ of the earth's photosynthesis.

Biotechnology

The manipulation of microorganisms by humans to make products in an industrial setting.

Genetic Engineering

The manipulation of microbes, plants, and animals for the purpose of creating new products like GMOs.

Bioremediation

The use of microorganisms to restore stability to an ecosystem or clean up toxic pollutants.

Pathogen

Any agent that causes disease.

Infectious disease

Any disease caused by a microbe.

Eukaryotes

Larger cells that contain internal organelles and a nucleus.

Viruses

Acellular agents that are not true cells, comprised of either DNA or RNA with a protein covering.

Spontaneous Generation

The belief that living things arose from vital forces present in nonliving or decomposing matter.

Biogenesis

The scientifically supported belief that living things can only come from other living things.

Louis Pasteur

The scientist who disproved spontaneous generation using the 'swan-neck flask experiment' and created the Germ Theory of Disease.

Scientific method

A systematic approach to science that distinguishes true research from an educated guess.

Sterile

Being completely free of all life forms, including spores and virus particles.

Aseptic technique

Methods such as hand-washing and disinfecting air designed to reduce the presence of microbes during medical procedures.

Germ Theory of Disease

The proposal that microorganisms can be the cause of disease.

Robert Koch

The scientist who discovered that anthrax was caused by the organism Bacillus anthracis.

Macromolecules

Biological molecules which are the building blocks of all organisms, including carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids.

Monomers

The smaller subunits that bond together to form polymers.

Carbohydrates

Molecules composed of repeated units of $CH_2O$, used for structural support and energy storage.

Monosaccharide

A simple sugar unit, such as hexose ($6$ carbons) or pentose ($5$ carbons).

Glycocalyx

An outer coating on many cells involved in attachment.

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)

A method of delivering vital minerals, glucose, and amino acids via IV when a patient cannot intake calories by mouth.

Triglycerides

Storage lipids that include fats and oils, broken down for energy as needed.

Unsaturated fat

A fat possessing at least one $C=C$ bond, resulting in a more liquid state like oil.

Phospholipids

Lipids with a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail that form layers to enclose cell contents.

Cholesterol

A type of steroid that reinforces the structure of the cell membrane.

Protein native state

The functional, normal 3D shape of a protein required for it to bind to specific molecules.

Denatured

A state in which a protein's shape is disrupted by factors like heat, pH changes, or alcohol.

Transcription

The process by which RNA is formed from DNA.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

The energy molecule of the cell, composed of adenine, ribose, and $3$ phosphates.

Cell

The smallest unit capable of an independent existence, characterized as a membrane-bound living entity.

Taxonomy

The science of classifying living things.

Binomial System

A two-part nomenclature system assigning scientific names consisting of the Genus and species.