Microbiology Chapter 1 Vocab

Eucaryotes (Eukaryotes)

A cell that differs from a prokaryotic cell chiefly by having a nuclear membrane and membrane bound organelles.

Theories

A collection of statements, propositions, or concepts that explains or accounts for a natural event.

Genetic Engineering

A field involving deliberate alterations (recombinations) of the genomes of microbes, plants, and animals through special technological processes.

Protozoa

A group of typically single celled, eukaryotic organisms.

Photosynthesis

A process occurring in plants, algae, and some bacteria that traps the sun's energ and converts it to ATP in the cell. This energy is used to fix CO2 into organic compounds.

Nomenclature

A set system for scientifically naming organisms, enzymes, anatomical structures, etc.

Organelles

A small component of eukaryotic cells that is bounded by a membrane and specialized in function.

Recombinant DNA

A technology, also known as genetic engineering, that deliberately modifies the genetic structure of an organism to create novel products, microbes, animals, plants, and viruses.

Hypothesis

A tentative explanation of hat has been observed or measured.

Germ Theory of Disease

A theory first originating in the 1800s which proposed that microorganisms can be the cause of disease. The concept is actually so well established in the present time that it is considered fact.

Division

An alternate term for phylum.

Parasites

An organism that lives on or within another organism (host) from which it obatins nutrients or protection while producing some degree of harm to the host.

Pathogen

Any agent, usually a virus, bacterium, fungus, protozoan, or helminth, that causes disease.

Sterilization

Any process that completely removes or destroys all viable microorganisms, including viruses, from an object or habitat.

Biogenesis

Belief that living things can only arise from others of the same kind.

Bacteria

Category of prokaryotes with peptidoglycan in their cell walls and a single, circular chromosome, and widely distributed in the earth's habitats.

Spontaneous Generation

Early belief that living things arose from vital forces present in nonliving or decomposing matter.

Fungi

Heterotrophic unicelluar or multicelluar eukaryotic organism which may take the form of a larger macroscopic organisms, as in the case of mushrooms, or smaller microscopic organisms such as yeast or molds.

Domain

In levels of classification, the broadest general category to which an organism is assigned. Members of a domain share only one or a few general characteristics.

Order

In levels of classification, the division of organisms that follows class.

Class

In levels of classification, the division of organisms that follows phylum.

Family

In levels of classification, the mid-level division that follows order.

Species

In levels of classification, the most specific level of organization...follows genus.

Genus

In levels of classification, the second most specific level..follows family.

Kingdom

In the levels of classification, the second division from more general to more specific.

Phylum

In the levels of classification, the third level of classification from general to more specific.

Aseptic Techniques

Methods of handling microbial cultures, patient specimens, and other sources of microbes in a way that prevents infection of the handler and others who may be exposed.

Viruses

Microscopic acellular agent composed of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat.

Eubacteria

Non-archaea prokaryotes...true bacteria.

Eukarya

One of the three domains of living organisms that contains all eukaryotic organisms.

Hosts

Organism in which smaller organisms or viruses live, feed, and reproduce.

Algae

Photosynthetic, plantlike organisms which generally lack the complex structure of plants, they may be single or mult cellular and inhabit diverse habitats such as marine and freshwater environments, glaciers, and even hot springs.

Scientific Method

Principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge, involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of a hypothesis.

Archaea

Prokaryotic single-celled organisms of primitive orgin that have unusual anatomy, physiology, and genetics, and live in harsh habitats.

Binomial Scientific Names (Binomial Nomenclature)

Scientific method of assigning names to organisms that employs two names to identify every organism-genus plus species name.

Prokaryotes

Small cells lacking special structures such as a nucleus and organelles. All prokaryotes are microorganisms.

Abiogenesis

The belief in spontaneous generation as a source of life.

Decomposition

The breakdown of dead matter and wastes into simple compounds that can be directed back into the natural cycle of living things.

Taxonomy

The formal system of organizing, classifying, and naming living things.

Epidemiology

The study of the factors affecting the prevalencs and spread of disease within a community.

Immunology

The study of the system of the body defenses that protect against infection.

Biotechnology

The use of microbes or their products in the commercial or industrial realm.

Bioremediation

The use of microbes to reduce or degrade pollutants, industrial wastes, and household garbage.

Microbiology

a specialized area of biology that deals with living things ordinarily too small to be seen without magnification, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa and viruses.