Glossary
Microbial terminology explained
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A
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Aerobic respiration
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Alga (algae, plural)
A single-celled or multicellular eukaryotic, photosynthetic organism.
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Amino acid
The basic building block of a protein.
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Antibiotic
A chemical that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria and is used to treat bacterial infections.
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Antibody
A Y-shaped protein made by certain white blood cells which is produced by the body’s immune system in response to a foreign substance (antigen). The antibody destroys the antigen.
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Antigen
A foreign substance such as a pathogen that stimulates the body’s immune system to produce antibodies.
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Archaean (archaea, plural)
A prokaryotic, single celled organism.
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B
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Bacterium (bacteria, plural)
A prokaryotic, single celled organism.
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Binary fission
A type of asexual reproduction in which the cell divides into two separate daughter cells each with identical DNA.
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Biogas
A gas that is produced from the anaerobic (without oxygen) decomposition of organic matter.
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Bioremediation
The use of microbes to break down toxic or unwanted substances.
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Budding
A type of asexual reproduction in which an outgrowth forms from the parent cell. It then usually pinches off to form a separate independent cell.
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C
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Capsid
The protein coat surrounding a virus.
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Cell
The basic unit of all living things.
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Chlorophyll
A green photosynthetic pigment usually found in organelles called chloroplasts.
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Chromosome
A long continuous pieces of DNA that carries genetic information.
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Cilium (cilia, plural)
A tiny hair-like structure on the surface of some micro-organisms or cells which beats rhythmically to either propel trapped material out of the body, for example in the lungs, or make a free-living microbe move.
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D
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DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid: the store of genetic information inside living cells and many viruses.
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Decomposer
The name given to some fungi and soil bacteria that break down dead animals and plants and their waste products into simpler substances called nutrients.
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E
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Enzyme
A protein that facilitates a biochemical reaction by speeding up the rate at which it takes place within cells.
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Eukaryote
A single-celled or multicellular organism which has a true membrane-bound nucleus and membrane bound organelles.
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Extremophile
A microbe that positively thrives in environments that would kill other organisms.
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F
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Fermentation
The conversion of organic compounds such as carbohydrate into simpler substances by microbes, usually under anaerobic conditions (with no oxygen present). Energy is produced.
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Flagellum (flagella, plural)
A long thin appendage present on the surface of some cells such as bacteria and protoctista which enables them to move.
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Food poisoning
Any illness caused by eating food contaminated by pathogenic microbes.
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Food spoilage
Changes in appearance, flavour, odour, and other qualities of the food due to microbial growth which causes it to deteriorate and spoil by decay.
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Fungus (fungi, plural)
A eukaryotic, non-photosynthetic, spore-forming organism. They range from single celled organisms to very complex multicellular organisms.
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G
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Gene
Basic unit of inheritance located on a chromosome. A gene is a piece of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that contains the instructions for the production of a specific protein.
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Generation time
The time taken for a population of micro-organisms to double in number.
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Global warming
A rise in the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere due to the increased emission of greenhouse gases which traps more heat in the atmosphere, causing the planet to warm up.
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H
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Host cell
A cell that is infected by a virus or another type of micro-organism.
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Hypha (hyphae, plural)
A very fine thread that is the basic structure of filamentous fungi.
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I
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Inflammation
A reaction of tissue to irritation, injury, or infection. It is a beneficial process as it destroys or contains the pathogen within a small area enabling the healing process to begin.
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L
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Lymphatic system
Lymph nodes linked by a network of small tubes spread throughout the body that transport the lymph fluid.
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Lysis
The physical rupture of a cell.
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M
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Memory cell
A cell which is produced as part of a normal immune response. These cells remember a specific antigen and are responsible for the rapid immune response, production of antibodies, on exposure to subsequent infections by that particular antigen.
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Methanogen
Micro-organism that produces methane.
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Micro-organism (microbe)
A small living thing. The group includes bacteria, archaea, protozoa, algae, fungi and viruses.
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Mould
A multicellular filamentous fungus.
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Mycelium
A branched network of fungal hyphae.
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N
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Normal body flora
Microbes that have adapted to living on the body, are usually present and rarely cause home.
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Nucleus
The nucleus is the control centre of the cell containing chromosomes.
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O
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Organelle
A membrane enclosed structure, in cells, that has a specialised function.
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P
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Pathogen
An organism that causes disease.
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Phagocyte
A white blood cell that can surround engulf (by phagocytosis) and destroy invading micro-organisms including viruses and bacteria. There are two separate groups - macrophages and neutrophils.
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Photosynthesis
A process that occurs in plants, algae and some bacteria called the cyanobacteria that traps the sun’s light energy and uses it to fix carbon dioxide into organic compounds.
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Primary producer
Green plants, algae and some bacteria called the cyanobacteria which produce their own food by a process called photosynthesis. They are found at the beginning of the food chain.
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Prokaryote
An organism that has a simple cell structure without a membrane bound nucleus or organelles.
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Protein
A folded long – chain molecule consisting of amino acids. Each protein has a special function. Proteins are required for the structure, function, and regulation of an organism’s cell/cells, tissues, and organs.
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Protozoan (protozoa, plural)
A eukaryotic, single celled organism that usually lacks chlorophyll.
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Pseudopodium (pseudopodium, plural)
A temporary extension of the cytoplasm of an amoeboid cell. It is used in both motility and feeding.
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R
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Recycling
A cyclical process by which essential elements are released into the environment where they are then reused.
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S
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Sporangium (sporagia plural)
A sac containing spores that develops from the fruiting body of a fungus.
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Spore
A general term for a dormant stage in an orgainisms life cycle. Spores enable survival of adverse conditions, distribution, and reproduction. There are many types which may be produced both asexually and sexually.
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T
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Toxin
Any substance that is poisonous to other organisms.
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V
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Vaccine
A special type of medicine that is given to both people and animals to artificially increase immunity to a particular disease and to prevent an infectious disease from developing.
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Viral envelope
A spikey coat that covers the virus’s protein coat or capsid.
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Virus
An infectious particle that relies on the cellular machinery of the host cell to grow and replicate.
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Y
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Yeast
A single-celled fungus.
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