Biodiversity and Prokaryotes

Flashcards covering key concepts related to biodiversity, prokaryotes, and pathogen types.

Microscopic Organism

An organism too small to be seen by the unaided human eye.

Biogenesis

The formation of new living organisms, thought to have occurred under the unique conditions of primordial Earth.

Prokaryotes

The first groups of life to evolve on Earth, characterized by small, simple cells.

Domain Bacteria

One of the two domains of prokaryotes, consisting of unicellular organisms found everywhere, some of which can cause disease.

Domain Archaea

The second domain of prokaryotes, often found in extreme conditions such as high salinity or extreme heat.

Endospore

A thick-shelled protective container formed by some prokaryotic species for surviving harsh conditions.

Binary Fission

The process by which most prokaryotes reproduce asexually, resulting in two identical cells.

Biofilm

An organized colony of one or several species of prokaryotes attached to a surface.

Methanogens

Archaea that produce methane gas and live in anaerobic environments.

Halophiles

Archaea that thrive in very salty environments.

Thermophiles

Archaea that live and grow in high-temperature environments.

Photosynthesis

The process by which many prokaryotes produce their own food directly from sunlight.

Plasmid

A small, circular DNA molecule that resides in the cytoplasm of a bacterium and can replicate independently.

Endosymbiosis

A symbiotic relationship where one species lives inside another host species, key in the evolution of eukaryotes.

Protists

Eukaryotes that do not belong to the plant, animal, or fungus kingdoms; evolved around 2.1 billion years ago.

Viruses

Nonliving parasites that cannot reproduce on their own and require a living host cell.

Prions

Infectious proteins that disrupt normal brain function and are smaller than viruses.

Viroids

Small, circular RNA molecules that can infect plants, replicating in host cells.