Microbiology Test 2 Terms For Mc

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A field involving deliberate alterations (recombinations) of the genomes of microbes, plants, and animals through special technological processes.

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Genetic Engineering

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An enzyme present naturally in cells that cleaves specific locations on DNA. It is an important means of inactivating viral genomes, and it is also used to splice genes in genetic engineering.

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Restriction Endonucleases

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A word, verse, number, or sentence that reads the same forward or backward. Palindromes of nitrogen bases in DNA have genetic significance as transposable elements, as regulatory protein targets, and DNA splicing.

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Palindromes

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An enzyme required to seal the sticky ends of DNA pieces after splicing.

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Ligase

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The enzyme possessed by retroviruses that carries out the reversion of RNA to DNA - a form of reverse transcription.

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Reverse Transcriptase

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DNA created by using reverse transcriptase to synthesize DNA from RNA templates.

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Complementary DNA (cDNA)

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A laboratory technique for seperating DNA fragments according to length by employing electricity to force the DNA through a gellike matrix typically made of agarose. Smaller DNA fragments move more quickly through the gel, thereby moving farther than larger fragments during the same period of time.

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Gel Electrophoresis

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A process that matches complementary strands of nucleic acid (DNA-DNA, RNA-DNA, RNA-RNA). Used for locating specific sites or identifying exact sequences of nucleic acids.

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Hybridization

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Short strands of single-stranded nucleic acid that hybridize specifically with complementary stretches of nucleotides on test samples and thereby serve as a tagging and identification device.

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Gene Probes

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A technique that separates fragments of DNA using electrophoresis and identifies them by hybridization.

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Southern Blot

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Determining the exact order of nucleotides in a fragment of DNA. Most commonly done using the Sanger dideoxy sequencing method.

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DNA sequencing

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The systematic study of an organism's genes and their functions.

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Genomics

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The study of an organism's complement of proteins (its "proteome") and functions mediated by the proteins.

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Proteomics

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(also called "community genomics") The study of all the genomes in a particular ecological niche, as opposed to individual genomes from single species.

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Metagenomics

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The study of the complete complement of small chemicals present in a cell at any given time. Provides a snapshot of the physiological state of the cell and the end products of its metabolism.

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Metabolomics

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A technique that amplifies segments of DNA for testing. Using denaturation, primers, and heat-resistant DNA polymerase, the number can be increased several million-fold.

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Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

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Synthetic oligonucleotides of known sequence that serve as landmarks to indicate where DNA amplification will begin.

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Primers

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Enzyme responsible for the replication of DNA. Several versions of the enzyme exist, each completing a unique portion of the replication process.

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DNA polymerases

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A technology, associated with genetic engineering that deliberately modifies the genetic structure of an organism to create novel products, microbes, animals, plants, and viruses.

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Recombinant DNA technology

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A colony of cells (or group of organisms) derived from a single cell (or single organism) by asexual reproduction. All units share identical characteristics. Also used as a verb to refer to the process of producing a genetically identical population of cells or genes.

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Clones

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A genetic element such as a plasmid or a bacteriophage used to introduce genetic material into a cloning host during recombinant DNA experiments.

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Vector

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An organism such as a bacterium or a yeast that receives and replicates a foreign piece of DNA inserted during a genetic engineering experiment.

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Cloning Host

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A type of genetic transfer in which DNA from one organism is donated to another. The resultant cell is termed recombinant.

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Recombinant and Recombination

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Introduction of foreign DNA into cells or organisms. Used in genetic engineering to create recombinant plants, animals, and microbes.

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Transgenic (Transgenic Technology)

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Organisms whose genetic make up has been altered by the insertion or deletion of small fragments of DNA in order to create or enhance desirable characteristics from the same or another species.

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Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

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The study of biological issues and how they relate to human conduct and moral judgment.

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Bioethics

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Ti

What does it refer?

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Tumor-Inducing

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The introduction of normal functional genes into people with genetic diseases such as sickle-cell anemia and cystic fibrosis. This is usually accomplished by a virus vector.

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Gene Therapy

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An RNA sequence that is complementary to all or part of a functional mRNA molecule, to which it binds, blocking its translation.

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Antisense RNA

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Antisense molecules interact with complementary strands of nucleic acids, modifying expression of genes.

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Antisense DNA

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Any trait or factor of a cell, virus, or molecule that makes it distinct and recognizable. Example: a genetic marker.

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Markers

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A pattern of restriction enzyme fragments that is unique for an individual organism.

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DNA fingerprinting

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Any process that completely removes or destroys all viable microorganisms, including viruses, from an object or habitat. Material so treated is sterile.

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Sterilization

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Completely free of all life forms, including spores and viruses.

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Sterile

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An agent that ills bacteria.

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Bactericide

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A chemical that can kill fungal spores, hyphae and yeast.

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Fungicide

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A chemical agent that inactivates viruses, especially on living tissue.

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Virucide

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A chemical agent capable of destroying bacterial endospores.

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Sporicide

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Any process or agent that inhibits bacterial growth.

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Bacteriostatic

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An agent lethal to non-endospore-forming pathogens.

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Germicide

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The destruction of pathogenic nonsporulating microbes or their toxins, usually on inanimate surfaces.

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Disinfection

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The state of putrefaction; the presence of pathogenic organisms or their toxins in tissue or blood.

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Sepsis

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A condition free of viable pathogenic microorganisms.

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Asepsis

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The state of being free of pathogenic organisms.

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Antisepsis

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A growth-inhibiting agent used on tissues to prevent infection. Use of such an agent is antisepsis.

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Antiseptics

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To clean inanimate objects using soap and degerming agents so that they are safe and free of high levels of microorganisms.

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Sanitization

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The reduction in microbial load through mechanical means.

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Degermation

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A surface-active agent that forms a water-soluble interface. Examples: detergents, wetting agents, dispersing agents, and surface tension depressants.

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Surfactants

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The loss of normal characteristics resulting from some molecular alteration. Usually in reference to the action of heat or chemicals on proteins whose function depends upon an unaltered tertiary structure.

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Denature/Denaturation

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The least time required to kill all cells of a culture at a specified temperature.

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Thermal Death Time

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The lowest temperature that achieves sterilization in a given quantity of broth culture upon a 10-minute exposure. Examples: 55 C for E. Coli, 60 C for M. Tuberculosis, and 120 C for spores.

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Thermal Death Point

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A sterilization chamber that allows the use of steam under pressure to sterilize materials. The most common temperature/pressure combination for an autoclave is 121 C and 15 psi.

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Autoclave

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Fractional (discontinous, intermittent) sterilization designed to destroy spores indirectly. A preparation is exposed to flowing steam for an hour, and then the mineral is allowed to incubate to permit spore germination. The resultant vegetative cells are destroyed by repeated steaming and incubation.

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Tyndallization

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Destruction of microbes by subjecting them to extremes of dry heat. Microbes are reduced to ashes and gas by this process.

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Incineration

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Heat treatment of perishable fluids such as milk, fruit juices, or wine to destroy heat-sensitive vegetative cells, followed by rapid chilling to inhibit growth of survivors and germination of spores. It prevents infection and spoilage.

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Pasteurization

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To dry thoroughly. To preserve by drying.

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Desiccated

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Freeze-drying; the separation of a dissolved solid from the solvent by freezing the solution and evacuating the solvent under vacuum. A means of preserving the viability of cultures.

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Lyophilization

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Electromagnetic waves or rays, such as those of light given off from an energy source.

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Radiation

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The application of radiant energy for diagnosis, therapy, disinfection, or sterilization.

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Irradiation

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Radiant energy consisting of shortwave electromagnetic rays (X ray) or high-speed electrons that cause dislodgment of electrons on target molecules and create ions.

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Ionizing radiation

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Method of microbial control, best exemplified by ultraviolet light, that causes the formation of abnormal bonds within the DNA of microbes, increasing the rate of mutation. The primary limitation of nonionizing radiation is its inability to penetrate beyond the surface of an object.

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Nonionizing radiation

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The use of nonheating methods such as radiation or filtration to sterilize materials.

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Cold sterilization

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The union of two adjacent pyrimidines on the same DNA strand, brought about by exposure to ultraviolet light. It is a form of mutation.

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Pyrimidine dimers

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An agent (as heat or radiation or a chemical) that destroys microorganisms that might carry disease.

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Disinfectants

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A liquid chemical germicide that destroys all forms of microbiological life, including high numbers of resistant bacterial spores.

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Sterilants

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A medicinal substance dissolved in an alcoholic solvent.

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Tinctures

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A group of related chemicals with antimicrobial applications. The halogens most often used in disinfectants and antiseptics are chlorine and iodine.

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Halogens

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A 37% aqueous solution of formaldehyde gas; a potent chemical fixative and microbicide.

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Formalin

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The simplest epoxide; used as a sterilizing agent and in the production of ethylene glycol.

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Ethylene Oxide

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β-Propiolactone is a disinfectant and has been used to sterilize blood plasma, vaccines, tissue grafts, surgical instruments, and enzymes.

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Betapropiolactone (BPL)

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Antimicrobial detergent, a polar molecule that acts as a surfactant.

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Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

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A chemical having antimicrobial activity in minuscule amounts. Example: certain heavy metals are effective in a few parts per billion.

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Oligodynamic action