WTMA Biology Unit 5, Set 4 (2023)

pili

hairlike projections that help prokaryotes stick to surfaces and pass genetic information

plasmids

smaller circular DNA pieces in prokaryotes

conjugation

the process of passing plasmids between prokaryotes to increase genetic diversity

endospore

a hard casing that protects the chromosome and part of the cytoplasm to help bacteria survive hostile conditions

virus

a strand of genetic material surrounded by a protein coat

capsid

the outer protein layer of a virus

retrovirus

a virus that uses its RNA to change its host's DNA

lytic cycle

the (relatively short) cycle in which a virus uses the host cell to make many copies of itself, then usually destroys the cell

lysogenic cycle

the (relatively longer) cycle in which a virus integrates its DNA into the host's DNA so it is copied into all new cells formed

taxonomy

the discipline of identifying and classifying species based on natural relationships

species concept

a way of defining a species (there are several)

phylogeny

the proposed evolutionary history of a species

domain

the broadest category of biological classification

binomial nomenclature

the system of using genus and species names to identify any individual species

bacteria

prokaryotes that contain peptidoglycan in their cell walls

archaea

prokaryotes that do not contain peptidoglycan and are often found in extreme environments