Microbes Flashcards Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is a Capsid?

Type of bacteria

Virus particle

Type of white blood cell

Protein coat that surrounds virus (correct)

What do White blood cells do?

Help protect us from viruses, bacteria, and other foreign invaders.

What is a Parasite?

Live in or on other living organisms, causing them harm.

What does Acquired refer to in immunology?

Specific immune system that includes antibodies. Signup and view all the answers

What is an Outbreak?

A sudden increase in cases of a particular disease. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Immune system?

The body's defense system that protects us from foreign invaders. Signup and view all the answers

What are Antibiotics?

Compounds that kill bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Virus?

Non-living infectious particle. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Plasmid?

Circular DNA found in viruses. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Vaccine?

A weakened or killed form of the pathogen that stimulates the immune system. Signup and view all the answers

What are Flagella?

Long tail that helps bacteria move. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Bacteriophage?

Type of virus that only infects bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

What are Archaebacteria?

The domain that true bacteria belong to. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Prokaryote?

Living organism that does not have any membrane-bound organelles. Signup and view all the answers

What is an Antigen?

Foreign agent or substance that induces an immune response. Signup and view all the answers

What does Pathogenic mean?

Disease-causing bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Innate immune system?

Non-specific immune system that includes your skin barrier and white blood cells. Signup and view all the answers

What is an Antibody?

A blood protein that recognizes a specific antigen. Signup and view all the answers

What are Bacteria?

Unicellular prokaryotes that can be harmful or beneficial. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Host?

Living organism that a parasite lives on. Signup and view all the answers

What is Genetics?

The scientific study of heredity. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Gene?

Sequence of DNA that codes for a protein. Signup and view all the answers

What is an Allele?

One of a number of different forms of a gene. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Gamete?

Specialized cell involved in sexual reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

What is Homozygous?

An organism that has two identical alleles for a trait. Signup and view all the answers

What is Heterozygous?

An organism that has two different alleles for a trait. Signup and view all the answers

What is Phenotype?

Physical characteristics of an organism. Signup and view all the answers

What is Genotype?

Genetic makeup of an organism. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Punnett Square?

Diagram showing the gene combinations that might result from a genetic cross. Signup and view all the answers

What is Independent assortment?

Independent segregation of genes during the formation of gametes. Signup and view all the answers

What is Incomplete dominance?

Situation in which one allele is not completely dominant over another allele. Signup and view all the answers

What is Codominance?

Situation in which both alleles of a gene contribute to the phenotype. Signup and view all the answers

What is Meiosis?

Process by which the number of chromosomes per cell is cut in half. Signup and view all the answers

What is Transformation in bacteria?

Process in which one strain of bacteria is changed by a gene from another strain. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a Bacteriophage?

A virus that infects bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Nucleotide?

Monomer of nucleic acids made up of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. Signup and view all the answers

What is Base pairing?

Principle that bonds in DNA form only between adenine and thymine, and between guanine and cytosine. Signup and view all the answers

What is DNA polymerase?

Enzyme involved in DNA replication. Signup and view all the answers

What is Replication?

Copying process by which a cell duplicates its DNA. Signup and view all the answers

What is Transcription?

Process in which part of the nucleotide sequence of DNA is copied into RNA. Signup and view all the answers

What is Translation?

Decoding of an mRNA message into a polypeptide chain. Signup and view all the answers

What is Messenger RNA?

RNA molecule that carries copies of instructions for making proteins. Signup and view all the answers

What is Transfer RNA?

Type of RNA molecule that transfers amino acids during protein synthesis. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Codon?

Three-nucleotide sequence on mRNA that codes for a single amino acid. Signup and view all the answers

What is an Anticodon?

Group of three bases on a tRNA molecule that are complementary to an mRNA codon. Signup and view all the answers

What is RNA polymerase?

Enzyme similar to DNA polymerase that binds to DNA Signup and view all the answers

What is a Mutation?

Change in a DNA sequence that affects genetic information. Signup and view all the answers

What does CRISPR stand for?

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. Signup and view all the answers

What is Ecology?

Scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Biosphere?

Part of Earth in which life exists. Signup and view all the answers

What is an Autotroph?

Organism that can capture energy and produce its own food. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Heterotroph?

Organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Herbivore?

Organism that obtains energy by eating only plants. Signup and view all the answers

What is an Omnivore?

Organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals. Signup and view all the answers

What is Classification?

The process of grouping things based on their similarities. Signup and view all the answers

What is Taxonomy?

Discipline of classifying organisms and assigning names. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Dichotomous key?

Key for the identification of organisms based on a series of choices. Signup and view all the answers

What is Binomial nomenclature?

Classification system in which each species is assigned a two-part scientific name. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Microbes and Immunology Terms

Capsid: Protective protein coat of a virus, facilitating entry into host cells.
White Blood Cells: Cells circulating in blood, crucial for defending against infections.
Parasite: Organisms that harm their hosts by living on or within them.
Acquired Immunity: Specific immune response involving antibodies developed after exposure to pathogens.
Outbreak: Sudden surge in disease incidence, indicating a public health concern.
Immune System: Body's defense network against pathogens, including innate and adaptive responses.
Antibiotics: Chemical agents effective against bacterial infections, not effective against viruses.
Virus: Non-living infectious agents that require a host to replicate.
Plasmid: Circular DNA segment, often found in bacteria, important for genetic engineering.
Vaccine: Preparation of weakened/killed pathogens that stimulates an immune response.
Flagella: Whip-like structures enabling motility in bacteria.
Bacteriophage: Viruses specifically targeting and infecting bacterial cells.
Archaebacteria: Domain containing single-celled microorganisms distinct from true bacteria.
Prokaryote: Organisms lacking membrane-bound organelles, includes bacteria and archaea.
Antigen: Substances that trigger an immune response, recognized by antibodies.
Pathogenic: Refers to bacteria that cause diseases in hosts.
Innate Immunity: Non-specific defense mechanisms including physical barriers and general immune responses.
Antibody: Proteins produced in response to specific antigens, crucial for immune defense.
Bacteria: Microscopic single-celled organisms, can be beneficial or harmful to ecosystems.

Genetics and Heredity Terms

Host: An organism that supports a parasite or symbiont.
Genetics: Study of heredity and variations in organisms.
Gene: DNA segment coding for proteins, determining specific traits.
Allele: Different forms of a gene, contributing to genetic diversity.
Gamete: Specialized reproductive cells; sperm and egg.
Homozygous: Organisms with two identical alleles for a trait.
Heterozygous: Organisms with two different alleles for a trait.
Phenotype: Observable traits of an organism influenced by genotype and environment.
Genotype: The genetic constitution of an organism.
Punnett Square: Tool for predicting genetic combinations from a cross.
Independent Assortment: Genes segregate independently during gamete formation.
Incomplete Dominance: A form of inheritance where alleles blend traits in the phenotype.
Codominance: Both alleles contribute equally to the phenotype.
Meiosis: Cell division reducing chromosome number, critical for gamete formation.
Transformation: Genetic alteration of a bacterial cell by uptake of foreign DNA.

Molecular Biology and Ecology Terms

Nucleotide: Basic building block of nucleic acids, containing sugar, phosphate, and base.
Base Pairing: Specific pairing of nucleotides in DNA; A-T and G-C.
DNA Polymerase: Enzyme that synthesizes new DNA strands during replication.
Replication: Process of copying DNA chromosomes before cell division.
Transcription: Synthesis of RNA from a DNA template.
Translation: Synthesis of proteins based on mRNA sequence.
Messenger RNA (mRNA): Carries genetic information from DNA for protein synthesis.
Transfer RNA (tRNA): Brings amino acids to ribosomes during protein assembly.
Codon: Triplet of nucleotides in mRNA that specifies an amino acid.
Anticodon: tRNA sequence that pairs with mRNA codon, aiding in translation.
RNA Polymerase: Enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template during transcription.
Mutation: DNA alteration leading to changes in genetic information.
CRISPR: Gene-editing technology enabling precise modifications in DNA.
Ecology: Study of organism interactions and their environment.
Biosphere: Regions of Earth capable of supporting life, encompassing land, water, and air.
Autotroph: Organisms capable of producing their own food from inorganic materials.
Heterotroph: Organisms obtaining energy by consuming other organisms.
Herbivore: Organisms that feed solely on plant material.
Omnivore: Organisms that consume both plants and animals.
Classification: Grouping organisms based on shared characteristics.
Taxonomy: Science of classifying organisms and naming species.
Dichotomous Key: Identification tool using a series of choices based on characteristics.
Binomial Nomenclature: Two-part scientific naming system for species.

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Description

Test your knowledge about microbes with these flashcards covering key terms such as capsids, white blood cells, and parasites. Each card presents an important concept related to the immune system and microbial interactions. Perfect for anyone studying microbiology or related fields!