dimorphism
Having two different forms of growth.
hyphae
A long, thin filament that makes up the body of a fungus.
rhizoid
Made up of hyphae embedded into the material a fungus is growing on, which functions as a root system.
stolon
Stem-like structures that grow along the surface of the ground, and serve as a method of propagation for some plants.
sporophore
A spore-bearing branch in fungi.
haustoria
It is the hyphal tip used by parasitic fungi to penetrate the host's tissue, but remain outside of its cellular membrane.
mycelia
A mass of hyphae that forms the body of a fungus.
sporangiophore
A specialized hypha that forms a sporangia-bearing branch.
sporangium
A chamber that produces and holds spores.
conidiophore
Specialized stalks on which conidia are formed.
conidia
Asexual vegetative spores formed by a fungus.
fruiting body
A multicellular structure which holds spore producing structures.
external digestion
The process in which an enzyme is released that helps digest nutrients, before an organism ingests or absorbs them.
fungicide
A biological organism or chemical compound that will kill fungi and fungal spores.
ascospore
Spores produced by fungi from the Phylum Ascomycota.
budding
An asexual form of reproduction that can occur in single-celled organisms such as yeast, or in organisms such as sponges. A cell or group of cells begins to grow on the parent's body, before breaking off to form a new organism.
smut
A type of fungus that causes plant disease.
lichen
A composite organism that is formed by the symbiotic relationship of a fungus and a photosynthetic algae.
symbiosis
A close relationship between organisms of different species, which benefits at least one of the organisms.
crustose
Can refer to a lichen that grows close to the surface of a rock, tree, or other substance.
foliose
A flat leafy type of lichen.
fruticose
A type of lichen that has small branches that bear fruiting bodies at the ends.
soredia
Asexual reproductive structure of a lichen composed of a fungal hyphae wrapped around an algae.
Algae
A broad group of autotrophic organisms, they are photosynthetic, but are simpler than most land based plants.
plankton
A wide range of microscopic organisms that float near the surface of the ocean, or other aquatic system.
phytoplankton
Made up of photosynthetic plankton, including algae, and is an important source of oxygen.
holdfast
The anchoring base of algae.
sessile
Permanently attached to something, unable to move freely.
thallus
A plant or algal body that lacks true roots, leaves, or stems.
fragmentation
An asexual form of reproduction in which the organism breaks into separate fragments, which each develop into a clone of the original.
zoospore
An asexual spore, that uses a flagellum for movement. It is used by some algae for propagation.
isogamete
Reproductive cells that are of similar size and shape from both sexes.
heterogametes
Male and female reproductive cells, the smaller sperm fertilizes the larger egg.
oogonium
An undeveloped ovum.
antheridium
Structure that produces male gametes in mosses, ferns, and some algae and fungi.
zygospore
A reproductive structure in some fungi formed by the union of isogametes.
bloom condition
An algal bloom occurs when there is a rapid growth and accumulation of algae, caused by all factors affecting growth reaching optimal levels simultaneously.
pyrenoid
A structure in the chloroplast of some algae that serves as a center for starch production.
dinoflagellate
A broad group of single-celled protists, they are characterized by the presence of two flagella. Many are photosynthetic, and some are parasitic. In bloom conditions, certain species can form a toxic "red tide"
euglenoid movement
Expansion and contraction of the pellicle, which gives a euglenoid its shape, creating movement.
water mold
Eukaryotic microorganisms that are similar to fungus, produce both sexually and asexually, and can be pathogenic or saprophytic.
slime mold
A broad grouping of organisms, similar to fungus, that reproduce using spores.
Inactivated vaccine
Made up of dead virus particles, it cannot reproduce, but still provokes a response by the immune system.
attenuated vaccine
Made up of live virus particles that have been altered to reduce their virulence, usually rendering them harmless.
emerging virus
A newly discovered virus, that may have existed previously, but has only recently started spreading to new areas and population groups.
communicable disease
Diseases that are transmitted through replicating pathogens, as opposed to toxins.
pathogen
Sometimes referred to as a germ, it is an infectious agent that spreads a disease or illness.
host
An organism that serves as a habitat for a virus or bacteria.
etiology
Study that deals with the origin, or causation of a disease.
Koch's postulates
Criteria for establishing whether a disease was caused by a given bacteria.
incubation period
The period of time it takes for symptoms to appear after exposure to a pathogen.
exotoxin
A toxin secreted by a microorganism, that may cause damage to the host.
endotoxin
A toxin that is actually a structural component of the bacteria.
pre-formed toxin
Toxins that have been formed or produced by pathogens before entering the body.
food poisoning
An illness that is caused by eating food contaminated by a toxin.
pus
A slurry of dead white blood cells that accumulates around regions of infection.
fever
An increase in body temperature by the immune system trying to fight a bacterial or viral infection.
inflammation
An organism's reaction to irritation, injury, or infection of the skin or vascular tissue. It helps remove harmful matter and dead tissue, as well as stimulate healing.
interferons
Proteins released by the cells in response to pathogens, which stimulates a response by the immune systems.
antibody
Proteins produced by the immune system which are used to bind to and neutralize bacteria, viruses, and other foreign particles.
antibiotic
A chemical or compound that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria.
chemotherapy
Treatment of cancer by a chemical that kills rapidly dividing cells, specifically cancerous cells.
biopsy
The removal of a section of tissue or cells for medical testing.
protist
A broad grouping of single-celled eukaryotic organisms, from the kingdom Protista.
protozoans
An "animal-like" protist, they ingest food as a method of nutrition.
cyst
A closed sac that protects a microorganism while in an unfavorable environment.
eyespot
A photoreceptive organelle that allows cells to orient themselves towards or away from light.
pseudopodium
Temporary cytoplasmic extensions that allow a cell to move or feed.
ciliate
A type of protozoan covered with tiny hair-like cilia which are used to sense, move, and feed.
pellicle
Found in protozoa, it is a thin outer membrane that is flexible, but stiff enough to protect and maintain its cell's shape.
macronucleus
A larger nucleus found in ciliates, it controls metabolic functions.
micronucleus
A smaller nucleus found in ciliates, it controls sexual reproduction.
oral groove
A depression which allows some types of protozoa to take in food.
gullet
A passage that takes food to the digestive tract. 2) A fold or sheath in some protozoans into which food is taken into from the oral groove.
conjugation
In bacteria it is the transfer of genetic material between two cells that are temporarily connected.
zooflagellate
A type of Protist that feeds by absorbing food across a membrane, and moves via whip-like flagella.
malaria
Caused by a type of parasitic protozoan, called a Sporozoan, that infects the liver and blood.
bacteriophage
A virus that infects a bacteria.
coccus
A spherically shaped bacteria.
bacillus
A rod shaped bacteria.
spirillum
A spiral-shaped bacteria.
nuclear area
A non-membrane bound region that contains a prokaryotic cell's genetic information.
mesosome
A fold in the plasma membrane of bacterial cells.
capsule
A layer that surrounds the cells of certain bacteria.
endospore
A dormant structure that forms a thick internal wall in some bacteria.
saprophytic
An organism that survives by feeding on dead or decaying organic matter.
conjugation
In bacteria it is the transfer of genetic material between two cells that are temporarily connected.
transformation
A living bacteria takes genetic information from a dead bacterial cell.
transduction
The process in which genetic material is transferred from one bacteria to another.
cyanobacteria
Sometimes known as blue-green algae, it is a bacteria that generates energy through photosynthesis.
heterocyst
A specialized nitrogen-fixing cell that is formed by some filamentous cyanobacteria.
pilius
A tube that allows bacteria to transfer genetic material during conjugation.
obligate anaerobe
Bacteria that only grow in the absence of oxygen.
obligate aerobe
Bacteria that only grow in the presence of oxygen.
obligate parasite
A parasitic organism that cannot survive independent of its host.
facultative anaerobe
Bacteria that will grow in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
protein coat
Structure made up of proteins serves as the outer coat of a virus.
virulence
The severity of a disease caused by a pathogen.
lytic cycle
The primary source of viral reproduction, which results in the death of the host cell.
Archaebacteria,
A kingdom made up of single-celled prokaryotic organisms that are known for being able to survive in extreme conditions.