Early Life Forms and Infectious Diseases

Early life forms on Earth likely resembled anaerobic bacteria, indicating that prokaryotes evolved from simple life and diversified due to the availability of oxygen from photosynthesis.

The study of microorganisms, especially bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

The theory that living organisms can arise from non-living matter.

Organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye, often causing infectious diseases.

An illness caused by a pathogen, often a microbe.

The cause of an infectious disease, like bacteria or viruses.

The process of discovering, isolating, and characterizing microorganisms.

The study of the cause of disease. It's how we understand what causes illness.

A technique used to determine the cause of a disease. It involves isolating and growing a suspected microorganism, infecting healthy animals, and re-isolating the microorganism from the sick animals.

The study of the cause of disease.

A specialized type of microscope that uses electrons to create highly magnified images, revealing intricate details of viruses and other microscopic structures.

A method used to visualize viruses, where a heavy metal is used to coat the virus, creating a shadow-like effect for better observation under an electron microscope.

A method used to observe viruses under the electron microscope, where a dense solution is used to contrast viruses with the background, allowing for easier viewing.

Tiny filterable agents, distinct from bacteria, that can cause a wide range of diseases, including rabies, smallpox, foot-and-mouth disease, and many more.

Viruses that infect bacteria, potentially controlling bacterial populations and serving as a source for studying viral replication and bacterial genetics.

The process of growing and multiplying viruses in a controlled environment, often using living cells or tissues.

A type of cell culture that allows for the study of cell behavior and interactions, often involving the growth of cells in a single layer on a surface.

Lines of cells that can multiply indefinitely in a laboratory environment, providing a stable source for virus cultivation.

The ability of a virus to cause the development of cancer.

The use of X-rays to study the structure of viruses, often revealing the intricate arrangements of viral components.

The study of how the body responds to infectious agents like bacteria and viruses.

A protein coat surrounding the genetic material (DNA or RNA) of a virus.

The process of analyzing the structure of a molecule using X-ray diffraction patterns.

The technique used to create a DNA copy of RNA, essential for understanding retroviruses.

Viruses that use reverse transcriptase to create DNA from their RNA genome.

A viral infection that can contribute to the development of cancer.

The study of microorganisms that cause infectious diseases in animals.

A Dutch scientist who observed microscopic organisms (animalcules) using a microscope, contributing to the understanding of microorganisms but not resolving the debate about spontaneous generation.

The occurrence of maggots on decaying meat was initially thought to be evidence of spontaneous generation.

An Italian physician who refuted the idea of spontaneous generation of maggots by demonstrating that they only appeared when flies laid eggs on meat.

An English naturalist who challenged the view that spontaneous generation can occur, but his experiments were later shown to be unreliable due to insufficient boiling time.

An Italian biologist who repeated Needham's experiments, demonstrating that no organisms survived in broth boiled for a longer duration, contradicting spontaneous generation.

Spallanzani believed that air was necessary for all life, and that it was essential for spontaneous generation, whereas Spallanzani's experiments showed otherwise.

The process of heating raw materials to a certain temperature to kill contaminating microorganisms, a technique developed by Pasteur while working on fermentation.

A French chemist who definitively disproved spontaneous generation through definitive confirmation of Spallanzani's experiments and by demonstrating that contamination originates from microorganisms entering the environment.

The idea that specific microorganisms, such as bacteria, are responsible for causing specific diseases, a cornerstone of modern medicine.

A German physician who contributed significantly to microbiology by demonstrating the pathogenicity of anthrax bacilli and developing solid media for isolating and growing bacterial colonies.

The science of studying microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.

A process where a specific microorganism is isolated and grown in a controlled environment, often used for research or diagnosis.

A type of solid medium used for growing and isolating bacterial colonies, developed by Robert Koch.