Chapter 5: Viruses, Bacteria and Your
Health
Key Vocabulary
BacteriaSingle celled organism, prokaryote that contains its genetic material in the cytoplasm
Binary Fission• • A form of
asexual reproduction in which one cell divides to form two identical cells
A form of asexual reproduction in which one cell divides to form two identical cells
Conjugation• Process in which a
unicellular organism transfers some of its genetic to another unicellular organism through a thin threadlike bridge
DECOMPOSER
• Organism that breaks down chemicals from dead organisms and returns important materials to the soil and water
Pasteurization
• A process of heating food to a high enough temperature to kill most of the bacteria without changing the taste of the food
•
Infectious disease• An illness that
can pass from one organism to another
Toxin
• A poisonous substance that can harm an organism
Antibiotic• A substance or
chemical that can kill bacteria without harming a person’s cells
Antibiotic Resistance• The ability of
bacteria to withstand the effects of an antibiotic
Vaccine• A substance
introduced into the body to stimulate the production of chemicals that destroy specific disease-causing viruses and microorganisms
Respiration• Process of
breaking down food to release energy
Asexual Reproduction• Reproductive
process that involves only one parent and produces offspring that are identical to the parent
Sexual Reproduction• Reproductive
process that involves two parents that combine their genetic material to produce a genetically unique offspring
Host• An organism that
provides a source of energy or a stable environment for a virus or other organism to live
Parasite• An organism
that lives on or in a host and causes harm to the host
Pathogen• A disease-causing
agent;• For example: a virus,
bacteria, or protists
Bacteriophage• A virus that
infects bacteria•
Virus• A tiny, non-living
particle that invades and then reproduces inside a living cell
Bacteriophage• A virus that infects
bacteria
Cytoplasm• Gel-like
substance found inside a cell that contains the cells organelles
Ribosome• Site of protein
synthesis;• organelle that makes
proteins; • small, non-membrane
covered organelle found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes
Flagellum• A long, whip-like
structure that enables a bacterial cell to move
Endospore• A small, rounded,
thick-walled, resting cell that forms inside a bacterial cell