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DNA sequencing

Technological advance that allows scientists to study microbes without growing them in culture.

Microscopy

Method that reveals microbial structure and morphology.

Culture methods

Method that reveals which microbes can grow under specific laboratory conditions.

Sequencing

Method that reveals genetic identity of microbes and community composition.

Metagenomics

Study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples.

Culture-independent methods

Techniques that study microbes without growing them in laboratory cultures.

Anaerobic microbes

Microbes that live without oxygen and are often missed by traditional culture methods.

Community-dependent microbes

Microbes that require interactions with other microbes to survive.

LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor)

The common ancestor of all living organisms.

Three domains of life

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Viruses

Not included on the tree of life because they lack universal cellular machinery.

Microbial superpowers

Unique abilities that allow microbes to transform environments and evolve rapidly.

Fermentation

Microbial process that transforms sugars into products like alcohol or lactic acid.

Nitrogen fixation

Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into biologically usable forms.

Extreme survival

Ability of microbes to live in extreme environments such as hot springs or hydrothermal vents.

Microbes as Earth’s engineers

Microbial metabolism drives planetary biochemical cycles.

Human microbiome

Community of microbes living in and on the human body.

Holobiont

Host organism plus its associated microbial community.

Antibiotic resistance

Evolutionary process where bacteria survive exposure to antibiotics.

Selective pressure

Environmental force that favors survival of certain traits.

Horizontal gene transfer

Movement of genes between organisms without reproduction.

Cambrian Explosion

Period of rapid diversification of animal body plans.

Anthropocentrism

Viewing humans as the central or most important species.