Microbiology Flashcards
(29 cards)
microorganism (microbe)
tiny organisms too small to see with the naked (unaided) human eye
microbiology
the study of microorganisms
SI unit
a physical unit in the metric system e.g. metre, kilogram, second
millimetre
one thousandth of a metre
SI unit
a physical unit in the metric system e.g. metre, kilogram, second
micrometre
one millionth of a metre
nanometre
one billionth of a metre
viruses
an infective agent that consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat
bacteria
unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms
fungi
a taxon of spore-producing heterotrophic eukaryotes
protista
a large grouping of simple and often microscopic eukaryotes
prokaryotes
organisms with simple cells with no nuclei or other membrane bound organelles
eukaryotes
organisms whose cells have a nucleus as well as other membrane bound organelles
unicellular
an organism consisting of a single cell
multicellular
an organism consisting of more than one cell
genetic material
- the information for building and maintaining an organism is carried by molecules called nucleic acids (DNA and RNA)
nucleus
a double membrane bound organelle that contains the cells genetic material
membrane-bound
a space that is surrounded by a membrane
organelles
a specialised part of a cell with a specific function
mitochondrion
an organelle where cellular respiration occurs
binary fission
when a single cell divides into two equal cells
chloroplasts
an organelle where photosynthesis occurs
mitosis
a type of cell division resulting in two cells each having the same chromosomes as the original cell
phylogenetic tree
a branching diagram showing the evolutionary relationships between different taxa
