Ch.28

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aerobic

Back 1

Referring to any metabolic process, cell, or organism that uses oxygen as an electron acceptor. Compare with anaerobic

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anaerobic

Back 2

Referring to any metabolic process, cell, or organism that uses an electron acceptor other than oxygen, such as nitrate or sulfate

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anoxygenic

Back 3

Referring to any process or reaction that does not produce oxygen. Photosynthesis in purple sulfur and purple nonsulfur bacteria, which does not involve photosystem II, is anoxygenic

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archaea

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One of the three taxonomic domains of life consisting of unicellular prokaryotes distinguished by cell walls made of certain polysaccharides not found in bacterial or eukaryotic cell walls, plasma membranes composed of unique isoprene-containing phospholipids, and ribosomes and RNA polymerase similar to those of eukaryotes

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autotroph

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Any organism that can synthesize reduced organic compounds from simple inorganic sources such as CO2 or CH4. Most plants and some bacteria and archaea are autotrophs. Also called primary producer

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bacteria

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One of the three taxonomic domains of life consisting of unicellular prokaryotes distinguished by cell walls composed largely of peptidoglycan, plasma membranes similar to those of eukaryotic cells, and ribosomes and RNA polymerase that differ from those in archaeans or eukaryotes

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bioremediation

Back 7

The use of living organisms, usually bacteria or archaea, to degrade environmental pollutants

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cellular respiration

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A common pathway for production of ATP, involving transfer of electrons from compounds with high potential energy (often NADH and FADH2) to an electron transport chain and ultimately to an electron acceptor (often oxygen)

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chemolithotroph

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An organism that produces ATP by oxidizing inorganic molecules with high potential energy such as ammonia (NH3) or methane (CH4). Also called lithotroph

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chemoorganotroph

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An organism that produces ATP by oxidizing organic molecules with high potential energy such as sugars. Also called organotroph.

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cyanobacteria

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A lineage of photosynthetic bacteria formerly known as blue-green algae. Likely the first life-forms to carry out oxygenic photosynthesis.

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direct sequencing

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A technique for identifying and studying microorganisms that cannot be grown in culture. Involves detecting and amplifying copies of certain specific genes in their DNA, sequencing these genes, and then comparing the sequences with the known sequences from other organisms

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endosymbiont

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An organism that lives in a symbiotic relationship inside the body of its host.

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enrichment culture

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A method of detecting and obtaining cells with specific characteristics by placing a sample, containing many types of cells, under a specific set of conditions (e.g., temperature, salt concentration, available nutrients) and isolating those cells that grow rapidly in response

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extremophile

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A bacterium or archaean that thrives in an “extreme” environment (e.g., high-salt, high-temperature, low-temperature, or low-pressure)

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fermentation

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Any of several metabolic pathways that make ATP by transferring electrons from a reduced compound such as glucose to a final electron acceptor other than oxygen. Allows glycolysis to proceed in the absence of oxygen

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fruiting body

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A structure formed in some prokaryotes, fungi, and protists for spore dispersal; usually consists of a base, a stalk, and a mass of spores at the top

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germ theory of disease

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The theory that infectious diseases are caused by bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.

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halophile

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A bacterium or archaean that thrives in high-salt environments.

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heterotroph

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Any organism that cannot synthesize reduced organic compounds from inorganic sources and that must obtain them by eating other organisms. Some bacteria, some archaea, and virtually all fungi and animals are heterotrophs. Also called consumer

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Koch's postulates

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Four criteria used to determine whether a suspected infectious agent causes a particular disease

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methanogen

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A prokaryote that produces methane (CH4) as a by-product of cellular respiration

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methanotroph

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An organism that uses methane (CH4) as its primary electron donor and source of carbon

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microbe

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Any microscopic organism, including bacteria, archaea, and various tiny eukaryotes

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monophyletic group

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An evolutionary unit that includes an ancestral population and all of its descendants but no others. Also called a clade or lineage

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mycelium

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A mass of underground filaments (hyphae) that form the body of a fungus. Also found in some protists and bacteria

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nitrogen fixation

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The incorporation of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into forms such as ammonia (NH3) or nitrate (NO3–), which can be used to make many organic compounds. Occurs in only a few lineages of bacteria and archaea

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oxygenic

Back 28

Referring to any process or reaction that produces oxygen. Photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, which involves photosystem II, is oxygenic

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pathogen

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Any entity capable of causing disease, such as a microbe, virus, or prion

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photosynthesis

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The complex biological process that converts the energy of light into chemical energy stored in glucose and other organic molecules. Occurs in plants, algae, and some bacteria

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phototroph

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An organism that produces ATP through photosynthesis

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phylum

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In Linnaeus' system, a taxonomic category above the class level and below the kingdom level. In plants, sometimes called a division

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thermophile

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In Linnaeus' system, a taxonomic category above the class level and below the kingdom level. In plants, sometimes called a division

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tree of life

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A diagram depicting the genealogical relationships of all living organisms on Earth, with a single ancestral species at the base