Chapter 19 Vocabulary

photoautotroph

Prokaryote that carries out photosynthesis in a manner similar to that of plants

binary fisson

Type of asexual reproduction in which a prokaryote replicates its DNA, and divides in half, producing two identical daughter cells

antibiotic

compound that blocks the growth and reproduction of bacteria

pathogen

disease-causing agent, such as bacterium or fungus

conjugation

form of sexual reproduction in which paramecia and some prokaryotes exchange genetic information

prion

infectious particle made up of protein rather than RNA or DNA

autotroph

organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also called a producer

heterotroph

organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes; also called a consumer

capsid

outer protein coat of a virus

virus

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

lysogenic infection

process by 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

process in which a virus enters a cell, makes a copy of itself, and causes the cell to burst

nitrogen fixation

process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia

sterilization

process of destroying bacteria using great heat or chemical action

photoheterotroph

prokaryote that is photosynthetic but also needs organic compounds for nutrition

chemoautotroph

prokaryote that obtains energy directly from inorganic molecules using chemical reactions

bacilli (bacillus)

rod-shaped prokaryote

prokaryote

single-celled microorganism that lacks a nucleus

cocci (coccus)

spherical prokaryotes

spirilla (spirillum)

spiral and corkscrew-shaped prokaryotes

endospore

type of spore formed when a bacterium produces a thick internal wall that encloses its DNA and a portion of its cytoplasm

retrovirus

virus that contains RNA as its genetic information

bacteriophage

virus that infects bacteria

flagellum

whiplike structure on some cells that is used for movement