Microbiology and Bacterial Characteristics Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering microbiology divisions, cell classifications, bacterial characteristics, ecological roles, and morphological arrangements based on the lecture notes.

Microbiology

The study of microorganisms, which are unicellular or cell-cluster microscopic organisms including eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and viruses.

Microbiologist

A scientist who specializes in the area of microbiology.

Bacteriology

A branch of microbiology dedicated to the study of bacteria.

Virology

A branch of microbiology dedicated to the study of viruses.

Mycology

A branch of microbiology dedicated to the study of fungi.

Parasitology

A branch of microbiology dedicated to the study of parasites.

Prokaryotic Cell

A cell classification defined by having no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, such as bacteria cells.

Eukaryotic Cell

A cell classification defined by having a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, including plant, protist, fungi, and animal cells.

Pathogens

Disease-causing microorganisms.

Decomposers

Organisms, such as certain bacteria, that rid the world of plant and animal carcasses and recycle nutrients.

Rhizobia

Bacteria that live in nodules on the roots of legumes and fix nitrogen by turning $N_2$ into $NH_3$, a process requiring $16\text{ ATP}$.

Legumes

Plants such as beans whose root nodules host nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Bacterial Surface-to-Volume Ratio

A ratio $10\times$ greater in bacterial cells than in eukaryotes due to their small size ($0.5$ to $2.0\,\mu m$), allowing internal parts to stay close to the surface for nutrient absorption and gas exchange.

Binomial Nomenclature

The system for properly writing a bacterial scientific name consisting of genus and species, where the name is italicized or underlined, the genus is capitalized, and the species is lowercase.

Coccus

A spherical or round-shaped bacterial cell (plural: cocci), such as Staphylococcus aureus.

Bacillus

A rod-shaped or hot dog-shaped bacterial cell (plural: bacilli), such as Escherichia coli.

Vibrio

A comma-shaped bacterial cell, such as Vibrio cholerae.

Strepto-

A bacterial arrangement prefix denoting a chain of bacteria, such as Streptococcus or Streptobacillus.

Staphylo-

A bacterial arrangement prefix denoting a cluster of bacteria.

Diplococcus

A bacterial arrangement consisting of pairs of spherical bacteria, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Moraxella

A genus of bacteria that causes conjunctivitis, which is the inflammation of eye membranes.

Bacterial Cell Wall

A semirigid structure present in all bacteria.