Intro microbiology concepts covering bacteria, viruses, fungi, and basic lab techniques.
34 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What are the two main domains of prokaryotes?
- Bacteria and Archaea
- Define a gram-positive bacterium based on cell wall staining.
- A bacterium that retains purple dye during gram staining due to thick peptidoglycan layer
- What is the primary structural component of bacterial cell walls?
- Peptidoglycan
- What is the function of bacterial flagella?
- Locomotion and movement through liquid environments
- Name the three basic shapes of bacteria.
- Cocci (spherical), bacilli (rod-shaped), and spirilla (spiral-shaped)
- What is a bacterial plasmid?
- A small, circular DNA molecule found in bacteria, separate from the chromosome
- What is the basic structure of a virus?
- Genetic material (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat called a capsid
- Are viruses considered living organisms?
- No, they lack the ability to reproduce independently and must use host cells
- What is the envelope of an enveloped virus?
- A lipid membrane derived from the host cell, surrounding the capsid
- Define lytic infection in viruses.
- A viral infection cycle where the virus reproduces inside the host cell and bursts the cell, killing it
- What is lysogeny?
- A viral infection where viral DNA integrates into the host chromosome and replicates with it
- Name three common types of fungi.
- Yeasts, molds, and mushrooms
- What is a hypha in fungi?
- A long, thin filament that makes up the body of a fungus (plural: hyphae)
- What is the purpose of bacterial endospores?
- To allow bacteria to survive harsh conditions like heat, drying, and chemicals
- What is osmosis in the context of microbiology?
- The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to low water concentration