Introduction to Microbes and Their Building Blocks

Flashcards covering key concepts and terminology from the lecture on microbiology.

Microbiology

The study of microscopic organisms.

Microorganism

A tiny organism, which can be a bacterium, virus, fungus, or protozoan.

Prokaryotic cells

Cells without a nucleus, such as bacteria and archaea.

Eukaryotic cells

Cells with a true nucleus, which include animal, plant, fungi, and protist cells.

Acellular microbes

Microbes that are not composed of cells, such as viruses and prions.

Photosynthesis

The process used by microorganisms to produce oxygen and glucose from carbon dioxide and water.

Bioremediation

The use of microorganisms to clean up environmental pollutants.

Pathogen

Microbes that cause disease in humans or other organisms.

Viruses

A type of acellular infectious agent that can only replicate inside a host cell.

Prions

Infectious agents composed solely of protein, without any nucleic acid.