The Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to viruses and bacteria, focusing on their genetics, reproduction, and genetic diversity.

Bacteriophage

A virus that specifically infects bacteria, causing a genetic takeover of the bacterial cell.

Prokaryotes

Organisms, such as bacteria, whose cells are simpler and smaller than those of eukaryotes.

Capsid

The protein shell that encloses the viral genome.

Lytic Cycle

A form of viral replication leading to the destruction of the host cell.

Lysogenic Cycle

A viral reproductive cycle where the virus integrates its genome into the host genome without killing the host.

Retrovirus

A type of virus that uses reverse transcriptase to convert its RNA genome into DNA.

Antibiotic Resistance

The ability of bacteria to survive and multiply despite the presence of antibiotics, often conferred by R plasmids.

Operon

A cluster of genes in bacteria that are regulated together, allowing for coordinated expression.

Transduction

The process by which bacteriophages transfer genetic material between bacterial cells.

Transposable Elements

Segments of DNA that can move within a genome, sometimes referred to as 'jumping genes'.

Viroids

Small circular RNA molecules that infect plants and disrupt their growth.

Prions

Infectious proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases by inducing misfolding of normal proteins.

Plasmid

Small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria that can replicate independently of the bacterial chromosome.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to genetic variation within a population.

Transformation

The uptake of foreign DNA from the environment by a bacterial cell.

Conjugation

The direct transfer of genetic material between two bacterial cells that are temporarily joined.

Vaccine

A harmless derivative of pathogenic microbes used to stimulate the immune system and prevent disease.

Operon Regulation

The mechanism by which bacteria regulate gene expression based on environmental cues.

Emerging Viruses

Viruses that appear suddenly or come to the attention of medical scientists due to rising incidence.

Glycoproteins

Proteins with carbohydrate groups that form part of viral envelopes, aiding in host cell infection.