Microbiology Vocab II

Vocabulary words II:
1. Closed system - a region that is isolated from its surroundings by a boundary that admits no transfer of matter or energy across it

2. Undefined media - basal or complex media

3. Z-streak - is a technique used to isolate a pure strain from a single species of microorganism, often bacteria

4. Selective media – a growth medium or culture medium is a liquid or gel designed to support the growth of microorganisms or cells, or small plant

5. Differential media -are used to isolate or identify particular organisms.

6. Microaerophiles - A microaerophile is a microorganism that requires oxygen to survive,

7. Aerobic - relating to, involving, or requiring free oxygen

8. Anaerobic - An organism, such as a bacterium, that can live in the absence of atmospheric oxygen

9. Thermophile – microorganism that thrives at a temperature of 50 C or higher

10. Basophile – a motile polymorphonuclear leukocyte that bins IgE

11. Ionizing radiation – high energy radiation capable to produce ionizing through substance

12. Beta radiation - is ionizing radiation resulting from the decay of radioisotopes where a beta particle is emitted.

13. Filtration - the action or process of filtering something.

14. Heavy metals - a metal of relatively high density, or of high relative atomic weight.

15. Aldehydes – an organic compound containing the group – CHO

16. CO2 fixation - conversion of inorganic carbon (carbon dioxide) to organic compounds by living organisms

17. Glycolysis – the energy yielding breakdown (fermentation) of glucose to pyruvic or lactic acid

18. Metabolism – a general term for the totality of chemical and physical processes occurring in a cell

19. Kreb’s cycle - the sequence of reactions by which most living cells generate energy during the process of aerobic respiration.

20. Nitrogen fixation - any process of combining atmospheric nitrogen with other elements

21. Quantinary structure – most complex pr structure characterized by the formation of large, multiunit proteins by more than one of the polypeptides

22. Ethylene oxide - flammable toxic gas used as an intermediate and fumigant

23. Catabolism – the chemical breakdown of compounds into simpler units to be used incell metabolism

24. Anabolism – the energy consuming process of incorporating nutrients into protoplasm through biosynthesis

25. Oxidative phosphorylation - is the metabolic ... structure, enzyme s, and energy released by the oxidation of nutrient s to reform

26. Electron transport - couples electron transfer between an electron donor (such as NADH ) and an electron acceptor

27. Chemiosmosis – generation of a concentration gradient of hydrogen ions called the proton motive force

28. Dehydrogenase –an enzyme that catalyzes the removal of hydrogen atoms from a particular molecule

29. Kinase - an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to a specified molecule.

30. Electron acceptor - An electron acceptor is a chemical entity that accepts electrons transferred to it from another compound

31. Melba toast - thin toast we eat?

32. FADH2 - lavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) is a redox cofactor involved in several important reactions in metabolism

33. NADH - icotinamide adenine dinucleotide, abbreviated NAD+, is a coenzyme found in all living cells.

34. Enveloped virus – virus whose nucleocapsid is enclosed by a membrane derived in part from the host cell

35. Capsid – protein covering of a virus’s nucleic acid core

36. Replication – n DNA synthesis, the semiconservative mechanisms that ensure precise duplication of the parent DNA strand

37. Transcription – Mrna synthesis, the process by which a strand of RNA is produced against DNA template

38. Translation – protein synthesis, the process of decoding the messenger RNA code into a polypeptide

39. Codon – a specific sequence of three nucleotides in Mrna

40. Operons – genetic operational unit that regulates metabolism by controlling Mrna production

41. Helicase/gyrase - DNA gyrase produces DNA supercoiling and DNA helicase unwinds DNA

42. mRNA is derived from a large primary transcript from a DNA sequence

43. tRNA - Its main purpose is to transfer specific amino acids to growing polypeptide chain during the ribosomal site of protein synthesis during what you call translation.

44. Plasmid – extrachromosomal genetic units characterized by several features

45. Chemoheterotroph – microorganisms that derive their nutritional needs from organic compounds

46. Chemoautotroph – an organism that relies upon inorganic chemicals for its energy and carbon dioxide for its carbon

47. Vector – an animal that transmits infectious agents from one host to another

48. Host – organism in which smaller organisms or viruses live, feed, and reproduce

49. Infectious agent - an agent capable of producing infection

50. Virulence – in infection, the relative capacity of a pathogen to invade and harm host cells

51. Defined media - here are different types of media for growing different types of cells

52. Obligate anaerobe - an organism that cannot grow in the presence of oxygen

53. Facultative anaerobe - A facultative anaerobic organism is an organism, usually makes ATP

54. Exponential growth – period of maximum growth rate in a growth curve

55. Open system - a material system in which mass or energy can be lost to or gained from the environment.

56. Acidophile – an organism that thrives in a relatively acid environment

57. Psychrophile – a microorganism that thrives at low temperature (0 C – 20 C )

58. Mesophile – microorganisms that grow at intermediate temperatures

59. Halophile - n organism, esp. a microorganism, that grows in or can tolerate saline conditions.

60. Endospore – small dormant, resistant derivative of a bacterial cell that germinates under favorable growth conditions into a under favorable growth conditions into a vegetative cell

61. Autoclave – sterilization chamber that allows the use of steam under pressure to sterilize materials

62. Pasteurization – heat treatment of perishable fluids such as milk, fruit juices or wine to destroy heat sensitive vegetative cells

63. Sterilization – process that completely removes or destroys all viable microorganisms

64. Antiseptic – growth inhibiting agent used on tissues to prevent infection

65. Germicidal - bactericidal: preventing infection by inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms

66. Sporicidal - Referring to a sporicide or the activity of a sporicide

67. Halogen – a group of related chemicals with antimicrobial applications

68. Organic – relating to, or derived from living matter

69. Essential - absolutely necessary; extremely important closed system