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