Term
|
Definition
| A type of polymer in bacterial cell walls consisting of modified sugars cross-linked by short polypeptides. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A staining method that distinguishes between two different kinds of bacterial cell walls; may be used to help determine medical response to an infection. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Describing the group of bacteria that have a cell wall that is structurally less complex and contains more peptidoglycan than the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria are usually less toxic than gram-negative bacteria. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Describing the group of bacteria that have a cell wall that is structurally more complex and contains less peptidoglycan than the cell wall of gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria are often more toxic than gram-positive bacteria. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In many prokaryotes, a dense and well-defined layer of polysaccharide or protein that surrounds the cell wall and is sticky, protecting the cell and enabling it to adhere to substrates of other cells. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A short, hairlike appendage of a prokaryotic cell that helps it adhere to the substrate or to other cells. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In bacteria, a structure that links one cell to another at the start of conjugation; also known as a sex pilus or conjugation pilus. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An oriented movement toward or away from a stimulus. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A non-membrane-bounded region in a prokaryotic cell where the DNA is concentrated. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecule that carries accessory genes separate from those of a bacterial chromosome; in DNA cloning, used as vectors carrying up to about 10,000 base pairs (10 kb) of DNA. Plasmids are also found in some eukaryotes, such as yeasts. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A thick-coated, resistant cell produced by some bacterial cells when they are exposed to harsh conditions. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A change in genotype and phenotype due to the assimilation of external DNA by a cell. When the external DNA is from a member of a different species, transformation results in horizontal gene transfer. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A process in which phages (viruses) carry bacterial DNA from one bacterial cell to another. When these two cells are members of different species, transduction results in horizontal gene transfer. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In prokaryotes, the direct transfer of DNA between two cells that are temporarily joined. When the two cells are members of different species, conjugation results in horizontal gene transfer. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In bacteria, the DNA segment that confers the ability to form pili for conjugation and associated functions required for the transfer of DNA from donor to recipient. The F Factor may exist as a plasmid or be integrated into the bacterial chromosome. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The plasmid form of the F factor. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A bacterial plasmid carrying genes that confer resistance to certain antibiotics. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An organism that requires oxygen for cellular respiration and cannot live without it. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An organism that only carries out fermentation or anaerobic respiration. Such organisms cannot use oxygen and in fact may be poisoned by it. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A catabolic pathway in which inorganic molecules other than oxygen accept electrons at the "downhill" end of electron transport chains. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An organism that makes ATP by aerobic respiration if oxygen is present but then switches to anaerobic respiration or fermentation if oxygen is not available. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia. Biological nitrogen fixation is carried out by certain prokaryotes, some of which have mutualistic relationships with plants. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A specialized cell that engages in nitrogen fixation in some filamentous cyanobacteria; also called a heterocyte. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A surface-coating colony of one or more species of prokaryotes that engage in metabolic cooperation. |
|
|
