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Bacteria and Viruses

Science

antibiotic

a chemical that kills bacteria and other microorganisms, or slows their growth
antibiotic Simple Definition

bacteria

a domain of unicellular prokaryotes with cell walls
bacteria Simple Definition

bacteriophage

a virus that infects bacteria
bacteriophage Simple Definition

binary fission

asexual reproduction where one cell divides into two identical cells
binary fission Simple Definition

capsid

the outer protein coat of the genetic material in a virus
capsid Simple Definition

conjugation

sexual reproduction where two prokaryotic cells join to exchange genetic information
conjugation Simple Definition

endospore

a thick-walled structure that protects the DNA of bacteria, this protects the DNA in unfavorable conditions
endospore Simple Definition

flagellum

a long, tail-like structure that helps a cell to move
flagellum Simple Definition

lysogenic cycle

virus replication by a host cell, whose chromosomes have been infected by viral DNA
lysogenic cycle Simple Definition

lytic cycle

virus replication where a virus use the host cell’s structures to replicate until the cell dies
lytic cycle Simple Definition

obligate aerobe

an organism that cannot survive without oxygen
obligate aerobe Simple Definition

obligate anaerobe

an organism that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen
obligate anaerobe Simple Definition

pathogen

a disease-causing agent, like a bacteria, virus, or parasite
pathogen Simple Definition

prion

an infectious particle made up of protein instead of DNA or RNA
prion Simple Definition

prokaryote

a cell without a nucleus and other organelles, like bacteria
prokaryote Simple Definition

prophage

the DNA from a virus that is embedded in the bacterial host’s DNA
prophage Simple Definition

retrovirus

an RNA virus that uses reverse transcriptase to make DNA in a host cell
retrovirus Simple Definition

toxin

a poison produced by one organism that harms other organisms
toxin Simple Definition

vaccine

a substance made of weakened or dead pathogens, it gives the body immunity against disease
vaccine Simple Definition

viroid

an infectious agent composed of a single, circular strand of RNA, it infects plants
viroid Simple Definition

virus

nonliving particle of DNA or RNA within a protein coat, it infects cells to reproduce
virus Simple Definition

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