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Chap 1
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189
Microbiology
Undergraduate 3
09/12/2011

Additional Microbiology Flashcards

 


 

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Term
Cell
Definition
Fundamental unit of life
Term
Chemolithotropy
Definition
A from of metabolism in which energy is generated from inorganic compounds
Term
Communication
Definition
Interactions between cells using chemical signals
Term
Differentiation
Definition
Modification of cellular components to form a new structure, such as a spore
Term
Ecosystem
Definition
Organisms plus their nonliving environment
Term
Enrichment culture technique
Definition
A method for isolating specific microorganisms from nature using specific culture media and incubation conditions
Term
Enzyme
Definition
A protein or RNA catalyst that functions to speed up a chemical reaction
Term
Evolution
Definition
Decent with modification leading to new forms or species
Term
Genome
Definition
An organism's full complement of genes
Term
Genomics
Definition
The identification and analysis of genomes
Term
Growth
Definition
In microbiology, an increase in cell number with time
Term
Habitat
Definition
The environment in which a microbial population resides
Term
Koch's postulates
Definition
A set of criteria for proving that a given microorganism causes a certain disease
Term
Metabolism
Definition
All biochemical reactions in a cell
Term
Microbial community
Definition
Two or more populations of cells that coexist and interact in a habitat
Term
Microbial ecology
Definition
The study of microorganisms in their natural environment
Term
Microorganism
Definition
A microscopic organism consisting of a single cell or cell cluster or a virus
Term
Motility
Definition
The movement of cell by some form of self propulsion
Term
Pathogen
Definition
A disease causing microorganism
Term
Pure culture
Definition
A culture containing a single kind of microorganism
Term
Spontaneous generation
Definition
The hypothesis that living organisms can originate from nonliving matter
Term
Sterile
Definition
Free of all living organisms cells and viruses
Term
Archaea
Definition
One or two known domains of prokaryotes, compare with bacteria
Term
Autotroph
Definition
An organism able to grow with carbon dioxide as it's sole carbon source
Term
Bacteria
Definition
One of two known domains of prokaryotes, compare with Archaea
Term
Cell wall
Definition
A rigid layer present outside the cytoplasmic membrane, confers structural strength to the cell and protection from osmotic layers
Term
Cell wall
Definition
A rigid layer present outside the cytoplasmic membrane, confers structural strength to the cell and protection from osmotic layers
Term
Chemolithotroph
Definition
An organism that obtains it's energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds
Term
Chemoorganotroph
Definition
an organism that obtains its energy from the oxidation of organic compounds
Term
chromosome
Definition
a genetic element containing genes essential to cell function
Term
cyanobacteria
Definition
Prokaryotic oxygenic phototrophs
Term
Cytoplasm
Definition
the aqueous internal portion of a cell, bounded by the cytoplasmic membrane
Term
Cytoplasmic membrane
Definition
the cell's permeability barrier to the environment; encloses the cytoplasm
Term
Domain
Definition
The highest level of biological classification
Term
Endosymbiosis
Definition
the theory that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated from Bacteria
Term
Eukarya
Definition
The domain of life that includes all eukaryotic cells
Term
Eukaryote
Definition
A cell having a membrane-enclosed nucleus and usually other membrane-enclosed organelles
Term
Evolution
Definition
change in a line of descent over time leading to new species or varieties within a species
Term
Extremophile
Definition
An organism that grows optimally under one or more environmental extremes
Term
Gram Stain
Definition
A differential staining technique in which bacterial cells stain either pink (-) or purple (+) depending upon their structural makeup
Term
Heterotroph
Definition
an organism that requires organic carbon as its carbon source
Term
Nucleoid
Definition
the aggregated mass of DNA that constitutes the chromosome of cells of Bacteria and Archaea
Term
Nucleus
Definition
a membrane-enclosed structure that contains the chromosomes in eukaryotic cells
Term
Organelle
Definition
A membrane- enclosed structure, such as a mitochondrion or chloroplast, present in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells
Term
Phototroph
Definition
an organism that obtains its energy from light
Term
phylogeny
Definition
the evolutionary relationships between organisms
Term
plasmid
Definition
an extrachromosomal genetic element nonessential for growth
Term
Prokaryote
Definition
a cell that lacks a membrane-enclosed nucleus and other organelles
Term
Proteobacteria
Definition
a large phylum of bacteria hat includes many of the common gram-negative bacteria, such as escherichia coli
Term
Protist
Definition
algae and protozoa
Term
Resolution
Definition
in microbiology, the ability to distinguish two objects as distinct and separate under the microscope
Term
ribosome
Definition
a cytoplasmic particle that functions in protein synthesis
Term
Virus
Definition
A genetic element that contains either a DNA or an RNA genome, has an extracellular form and depends on a host cell for replication
Term
Allele
Definition
A sequence variant of given gene
Term
Banded iron formation
Definition
iron oxide-rich ancient sedimentary rocks containing zones of oxidized iron formed by oxidation of Fe2+ by O2 produced by cyanobacteria
Term
Binomial System
Definition
the system devised by the Swedish scientist Carl linnaeu for naming living organism in which an organism is given a genus name and a species epithet
Term
Cladistics
Definition
Phylogenetic methods that group organisms by their evolutionary relationships,not by their phenotypic similarities
Term
Domain
Definition
in a taxonomic sense, the highest level of biological classification
Term
DNA- DNA hybridization
Definition
the experimental determination of genomic similarity by measuring the extent of hybridization of DNA from one organism with that of another
Term
ecotype
Definition
a population of genetically identical cells sharing a particular resource within an ecological niche
Term
Endosymbiotic hypothesis
Definition
the idea that a chemoorganotrophic bacterium and a canobacterium were stably incorporated into another cell type to five rise, respectively, to the mitochondria and chloroplasts of modern day eukaryotes
Term
Eukarya
Definition
all eukaryotes: algae, protist, fungi, slime molds, plants and animals
Term
Evolution
Definition
decent with modification; DNA sequence variation and the inheritance of that variation
Term
FAME
Definition
Fatty acid methyl ester; a technique for identifying microorganisms from their fatty acids
Term
FISH
Definition
fluorescent in situ hybridization; a staining technique for phylogenic studies
Term
Fitness
Definition
the capacity of an organism to survive and reproduce as compared to that of competing organisms
Term
GC ratio
Definition
in DNA form an organism, the percentage of the total nucleic acid that consists of guanine and cytosine bases.
Term
Horizontal gene transfer
Definition
the transfer of DNA from one cell to another, possibly distantly related, cell
Term
molecular clock
Definition
a DNA sequence such as the gene for rRNA that can be used as a comparative temporal measure of evolutionary divergence
Term
Monophyletic
Definition
In phylogeny, a group descended from one ancestor
Term
Multilocus sequence typing (MLST)
Definition
a taxonomic tool for classifying organisms from gene sequence variation in several house keeping genes
Term
Phylogenetic probe
Definition
an oligonucleotide, sometimes made fluorescent by attachment of a dye, complementary in sequence to some sequence in rRNA
Term
Phylogeny
Definition
the evolutionary history of an organism
Term
Ribosomal Database Project (RDP)
Definition
a large database of small subunit rRNA sequences that can be retrieved electronically and used in comparative rRNA sequence studies
Term
Ribotyping
Definition
a means of identifying microorganisms from analysis of DNA fragments generated from restriction enzyme digestion of the genes encoding their 16S rRNA
Term
16S rRNA
Definition
a large polynucleotide that functions as part of the small subunit of the ribosome of Bacteria and Archaea and form whose gene sequence evolutionary information can be obtained its eukaryotic counterpart is 18S rRNA
Term
Small Subunit rRNA
Definition
RNA from the 30S ribosomal subunit of Bacteria and Archaea or the 40S ribosomal subunit of eukaryotes that is, 16S or 18S rRNA, respectively
Term
Species
Definition
defined in microbiology as a group of strains that all share the same major properties and differ in one of more significant properties from other groups of strains; defined phylogenetically as a monophyletic exclusive group based on DNA sequence analyses
Term
Stromatolite
Definition
a laminated microbial mat, typically built from layers of filamentous Bacteria and other microorganism which can become fossilized
Term
Systematics
Definition
The study of the diversity of organisms and their relationships includes taxonomy and phylogeny
Term
Taxonomy
Definition
the science of identification, classification and nomenclature
Term
Universal phylogenic tree
Definition
a tree that shows the positions of representatives of all domains of cells
Term
proteobacteria
Definition
a major lineage of Bacteria that contains a large number of gram-negative rods and cocci
Term
nucleic acid probe
Definition
an oligonucleotide, usually 10-20 bases in length, complementary in base sequence to a nucleic acid sequence in a target gene or RNA
Term
Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)
Definition
a method employing a fluorescent dye covalently bonded to a specific nucleic acid probe for identifying of tracking organisms in the environment
Term
Anoxic
Definition
Oxygen free
Term
Fermentation
Definition
Anaerobic catabolism of an organic compound in which the compound serves as both an electron donor and an electron acceptor and in which ATP is usually produced by substrate level phosphorylation
Term
Hydrogenase
Definition
An enzyme widely distributed in anaerobic microorganisms, capable od oxidizing of evolving H2
Term
Homofermentative
Definition
Producing only lactic acid from the fermentation of glucose
Term
Heterofermentative
Definition
Producing a mixture of products, typically lactate, ethanol,and CO2,from the fermentation of glucose
Term
Stick land reaction
Definition
The fermentation of an amino acid pair
Term
Secondary fermentation
Definition
A fermentTion in which the substrates are the fermentation products of other organism
Term
Syntrophy
Definition
A process whereby two or more microorganisms cooperate to degrade a substrate neither can degrade alone
Term
Free energy G
Definition
Energy available to do work,G0 is free energy under standard conditions
Term
Exergonic
Definition
Release energy
Term
Activation energy
Definition
The energy required to bring the substrate of an enzyme to the reaction state
Term
Catalyst
Definition
A substrate that accelerates a chemical reaction but is not consumed in the reaction
Term
Enzyme
Definition
A protein that can speed up a specific chemical reaction
Term
Coenzyme
Definition
A small and loosely bound nonprotein molecule that participates in a reaction as a part of an enzyme
Term
Electron donor
Definition
A substance that can donate electrons to an electron acceptor,becoming oxidized in the process
Term
Electron acceptor
Definition
A substance that can accept electrons from an electron donor, becoming reduced in the process
Term
Reduction potential
Definition
E0' the inherent tendency, measured in volts under standard conditions, of a compound to donate electrons
Term
Adenosine triphosphate ATP
Definition
A nucleotide that is the primary form in which chemical energy is conserved and utilized in cells
Term
Fermentation
Definition
Anaerobic catabolism in which an organic compound is both an electron donor and an electron acceptor and ATP is produced by substrate level phosphorlation
Term
Respiration
Definition
The process by which a compound is oxidized with O2, as the terminal electron acceptor usually accompanied by ATP production by oxidative phosphorylation
Term
Substrate level phosphorylation
Definition
Production of ATP by the direct transfer of an energy rich phosphate molecule from a phosphorylated organic compound to ADP
Term
Glycolysis
Definition
A biochemical pathway in which glucose is fermented, yielding ATP and various fermentation products,also called en den Meyer old parkas pathway
Term
Oxidative phosphorylation
Definition
The production of ATP from a photon motive force forced by electron transport of electrons from organic or inorganic electron donors
Term
Proton motive force Pmf
Definition
A source of energy resulting from the seperation of protons from hydroxyl ions across the cytoplasmic membrane, generating a membrane potential
Term
ATP synthase atpase
Definition
A multi protein enzyme complex embedded in the cytoplasmic membrane that catalysts the synthesis of ATP coupled to dissipation of the proton motive force
Term
Citric acid cycle
Definition
A cyclical series of reactions resulting in the conversion of acetate to two molecules of CO2
Term
photosynthesis
Definition
a series of reactions in which ATP is synthesized by light-driven reactions and CO2 is fixed into cell material
Term
phototrophs
Definition
an organism that uses light as an energy source
Term
autotroph
Definition
an organism that uses CO2 as its sole carbon source
Term
oxygenic photosynthesis
Definition
photosynthesis carried out by cyanobacteria and green plants in which O2 is evolved
Term
AN-oxygenic photosynthesis
Definition
photosynthesis in which O2 is not produced
Term
chlorophyll
Definition
a light sensitive Mg containing porphyrin of phototrophic organism that initiates the process of photophosphorylation
Term
bacteriochlorophyll
Definition
the chlorophyll pigment of anoxygenic phototrophs
Term
thylakoids
Definition
membrane stacks in cyanobacteria or in the chloroplast of eukaryotic phototrophs
Term
antenna pigments
Definition
light harvesting cholorophylls or bacteriochlorophylls in photocomplexes that funnel energy to the reaction center
Term
Chlorosome
Definition
a cigar-shaped structure present in the periphery of cells of green sulfur and green nonsulfer bacteria and containing the antenna bacteriochlorophylls
Term
carotenoid
Definition
a hydrophobic accessory pigment present along with chlorophyll in photosynthetic membranes
Term
phycobiliprotein
Definition
the antenna pigment complex in cyanobacteria that contains phycocyanin and allophycocyanin or phycoerythrin coupled to proteins
Term
phycobilisome
Definition
an aggregate of phycobiliproteins
Term
photophosphorylation
Definition
the production ATP in photosynthesis
Term
reverse electron transport
Definition
the energy dependent movement of electrons against the thermodynamic gradient to form a strong thermodynamic gradient to form a strong reductant from a weaker electron donor
Term
chemolithotroph
Definition
a microorganism that oxidizes inorganic compounds as electron donors in energy metabolism
Term
mixotrophs
Definition
an organism in which an inorganic compound serves as the electron donor in energy metabolism and organic compounds serve as the carbon source
Term
hydrogenase
Definition
an enzyme, widely distributed in anaerobic microorganisms, capable of taking up or evolving H2
Term
nitrification
Definition
the microbial conversion of NH3 to NO3-
Term
anammox
Definition
anoxic ammonia oxdation
Term
crearchaeota
Definition
a phylum of archaea that contains both hyperthermophilic and colddwelling organisms
Term
hyperthermophiles
Definition
an organism with a growth temperature optimum of 80 degrees Celsius or greater
Term
extreme halophile
Definition
an organism whose growth is dependent on large concentrations (generally 9% or more) of NaCl
Term
compatible solute
Definition
an organic or inorganic substance accumulated in the cytoplasm of a halophilic organism that maintains osmotic pressure
Term
halorhodopsin
Definition
a light driven chloride pump that accumulates Cl- within the cytoplasm
Term
methanogens
Definition
a CH4- producing organism
Term
solfatara
Definition
a hot, sulfur rich generally acidic environment commonly inhabited by hyperthermophilic archaea
Term
hydrothermal vents
Definition
a deep sea hot spring emitting warm (~20 degrees C) to superheated (>300 degrees C) water
Term
thermosome
Definition
a heat shock (chaperonin) protein complex that functions to refold partially heat denatured proteins in hyperthermophiles
Term
reverse DNA gyrase
Definition
a protein universally present in hyperthermophiles that introduces positive supercoils into circular DNA
Term
banded iron formations
Definition
iron oxide-rich ancient sedimentary rocks containing zones of oxidized iron (Fe3+) formed by oxidation of Fe2+ by O2 produced by cyanobacteria
Term
thalassemia
Definition
a genetic trait that confers resistance to malaria, but causes a reduction in the efficiency of red blood cells by altering a red blood cell enzyme
Term
Sickle cell trait
Definition
a genetic trait that confers resistance to malaria, but causes a reduction in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood by reducing the life expectancy of the affected read blood cells
Term
Malaria
Definition
a disease characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and anemia, caused by the protist Plasmodium spp. usually transmitted between mammals through the bite of the anopheles mosquito
Term
eukaryotes
Definition
a cell or organism having a unit membrane-enclosed nucleus and usually other organelles; a member of eukarya
Term
histones
Definition
a positively charged proteins that package eukaryotic DNA in nucleosomes
Term
cristae
Definition
the internal membranes of a mitrocondrion
Term
hydrogenosome
Definition
a organelle of endosymbiotic origin present in certain anaerobic eukaryotic microorganisms that functions to oxidize pyruvate to H2, CO2 and acetate along with the production of one molecule of ATP
Term
chloroplast
Definition
the photosynthetic organelle of eukaryotic phototrophs
Term
calvin cycle
Definition
the series of biosynthetic reactions by which most photosynthetic organisms convert CO2 to organic compounds
Term
Endosymbiotic hypothesis
Definition
the idea that a chemoorganotrophic bacterium and a cyanobacterium were stably incorporated into another cell type to give rise, respectively, to the mitochondria and chloroplasts of modern-day eukaryotes
Term
cytoskeleton
Definition
the cellular scaffolding typical of eukaryotic cells in which microtubules microfilaments, and intermediate filaments define the cell's shape
Term
Extracellular matrix
Definition
ECM - Proteins and polysaccharides that surround an animal cell and in which the cell is embedded
Term
Eukarya
Definition
eukaryotic organisms
Term
ciliates
Definition
any protist characterized in part by rapid motility driven by numerous short appendages called cilia
Term
Fungi
Definition
nonphototrophic eukaryotic microorganisms with rigid cell walls
Term
Conidia
Definition
the asexual spores of fungi
Term
chitin
Definition
a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine commonly found in the cel walls of fungi
Term
algae
Definition
phototrophic eukaryotes, both microorganism and macro-organisms
Term
colonial
Definition
the growth form of certain protists and green algae in which several cells live together and cooperate for feeding; motility of reproduction; an early form of multcellularity
Term
nucleus
Definition
the organelle that contains the eukaryotic cells chromosomes
Term
mitrochondrion
Definition
the respiratory organelle of eukaryotic organisms
Term
stroma
Definition
the lumen of the chloroplast, surrounded by the inner membrane
Term
thylakoids
Definition
a membrane layer containing the photosynthetic pigments in chloroplasts
Term
lysosomes
Definition
an organelle containing digestive enzymes for hydrolysis of proteins, fats and polysaccharides
Term
peroxisome
Definition
an organelle that functions to rid the cell of toxic substances such as peroxides, alcohols, and fatty acids
Term
microtubules
Definition
a filamentous polymer of the protein alfa tubulin and beta tubulin that functions in eukaryotic call shape and motility
Term
microfilaments
Definition
a filamentous polymer of the protein actin that helps maintain the shape of a eukaryotic cell
Term
intermediate filament
Definition
a filamentous polymer of fibrous keratin proteins, supercoiled into thicker fibers, that functions in maintaining cell shape an the positioning of certain organelles in the eukaryotic cell
Term
Protist
Definition
a unicellular eukaryotic microorganism may be flagellate or aflagellate, phototrophic or nonphototrophic and most lack cell walls includes algae and protazoa
Term
phagocytosis
Definition
a mechanism for ingesting particulate material in which a portion of the cytoplasmic membrane surrounds the particle and brings it into the cell
Term
Slime Mold
Definition
a nonphototrophic protist that lacks cell walls and that aggregates to form fruiting structure or masses of protoplasm
Term
mushrooms
Definition
the aboveground fruiting body, or basidiocarp, of basidiomycete fungi
Term
yeasts
Definition
the single-celled growth form of various fungi
Term
FtsZ
Definition
a protein that forms a ring along the midcell division plane to initiate cell division
Term
Divisome
Definition
a complex of proteins that directs cell division process in prokaryotes
Term
transpeptidation
Definition
formation of peptide crossing links between muramic acid residues in peptidoglycan synthesis
Term
Cytoplasmic membrane
Definition
the permeability barrier of the cell, separating the cytoplasm from the environment
Term
simple transport system
Definition
a transporter that consists of only a membrane spanning protein and is typically driven by energy from the proton motive force
Term
ABC transport
Definition
a membrane transport system consisting of three proteins, one of which hydrolyzes ATP, the system transports specific nutrients into the cell
Term
gram positive
Definition
a bacterial cell whose cell wall consists chiefly of peptidoglycan; it lacks the outer membrane of gram negative cells
Term
gram negative
Definition
a bacterial cell with a cell wall containing small amounts of peptidoglycan and an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharide, lipoprotein, and other complex macromolecules
Term
gram stain
Definition
a differential staining procedure that stains cells either purple (+) or pink (-)
Term
peptidoglycan
Definition
a polysaccharide composed of alternating repeats of N-acetylmuramic acid arranged in adjacent layers and cross-linked by short peptides
Term
teichoic acid
Definition
a phosphorylated polyalcohol found in the cell wall of some gram-positive bacteria
Term
outer membrane
Definition
a phospholipid and polysaccharide- containing unit membrane that lies external to the peptidoglycan layer in cells of gram negative bacteria
Term
periplasm
Definition
a gel like region between the outer surface of the cytoplasmic membrane and the inner surface of the lipopolysaccharide layer of gram negative bacteria
Term
S layer
Definition
an outermost cell surface layer composed of protein or glycoprotein present on some bacteria and archaea
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