Chapter 21.1 and 21.2 Vocabulary

bacteriophage

kind of virus that infects bacteria

prokaryote

unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus

pathogen

A disease-causing agent

retrovirus

RNA virus that contains RNA as its genetic information

prophage

bacteriophage DNA that is embedded in the bacterial host's DNA

antibiotic

group of drugs used to block the growth and reproduction of bacterial pathogens

virus

particle made up of nucleic acid, protein, and in some cases lipids that can replicate only by infecting living cells

vaccine

preparation of weakened or killed pathogens used to produce immunity to a disease

conjugation

process in which paramecia and some prokaryotes exchange genetic information

caspid

protein coat surrounding a virus

endospore

structure produced by prokaryotes in unfavorable conditions; a thick internal wall that encloses the DNA and a portion of the cytoplasm

binary fission

type of asexual reproduction in which an organism replicates its DNA and divides in half, producing two identical daughter cells

lysogenic infection

type of infection in which a virus embeds its DNA into the DNA of the host cell and is replicated along with the host cell's DNA

lytic infection

type of infection in which a virus enters a cell, makes copies of itself, and causes the cell to burst