Day 8: Prokaryotes Part 2, Eukaryotic Organisms, Viruses and Prions

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts from the lecture on prokaryotes, eukaryotic organisms, viruses, and prions.

Prokaryotes

Organisms that lack a nucleus; includes bacteria and archaea.

Ribosomes

Cell structures where protein synthesis occurs; in bacteria, consist of a small (30S) and large (50S) subunit, forming a 70S ribosome.

Plasmid

Extrachromosomal DNA in bacteria that can carry antibiotic resistance genes.

Glycocalyx

Coating of polysaccharides or glycoproteins on bacterial surfaces, which can be a slime layer or a capsule.

Chemotaxis

Movement of organisms in response to chemical stimuli.

Endospore

A dormant, tough, and non-reproductive structure produced by certain bacterial, such as Bacillus, to survive harsh conditions.

Extremophiles

Microorganisms, mainly archaea, that thrive in extreme environmental conditions.

Mycelium

The woven network of hyphae that constitutes the main body of a fungus.

Trophozoite

The active, motile feeding stage in the life cycle of a protozoan.

Virus

Non-cellular infectious agents that can infect all living cells, composed of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein shell.

Prions

Infectious agents composed entirely of protein that can lead to neurodegenerative diseases.

Capsid

The protein shell of a virus, which protects its nucleic acid.

Viral envelope

A lipid membrane surrounding some viruses, derived from the host cell membrane.

Helminths

Multicellular organisms, including tapeworms and roundworms, that can cause disease in humans.

Amoeboid Protozoa

Protozoa characterized by their ability to move using pseudopodia.

Bacteriophage

A virus that infects and replicates within bacteria.

Oncogenic virus

A virus that can cause cancer in its host.

Cyst

A dormant, resistant form of some protozoa that can survive adverse environmental conditions.