1. Chapter 5: Viruses, Bacteria and Your Health
Key Vocabulary

2. Bacteria
Single celled organism, prokaryote that contains its genetic material in the cytoplasm

3. Binary Fission
A form of asexual reproduction in which one cell divides to form two identical cells

4. A form of asexual reproduction in which one cell divides to form two identical cells

5. Conjugation
Process in which a unicellular organism transfers some of its genetic to another unicellular organism through a thin threadlike bridge

6. DECOMPOSER
Organism that breaks down chemicals from dead organisms and returns important materials to the soil and water

7. Pasteurization
A process of heating food to a high enough temperature to kill most of the bacteria without changing the taste of the food

8. Infectious disease
An illness that can pass from one organism to another

9. Toxin
A poisonous substance that can harm an organism

10. Antibiotic
A substance or chemical that can kill bacteria without harming a person’s cells

11. Antibiotic Resistance
The ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of an antibiotic

12. Vaccine
A substance introduced into the body to stimulate the production of chemicals that destroy specific disease-causing viruses and microorganisms

13. Respiration
Process of breaking down food to release energy

14. Asexual Reproduction
Reproductive process that involves only one parent and produces offspring that are identical to the parent

15. Sexual Reproduction
Reproductive process that involves two parents that combine their genetic material to produce a genetically unique offspring

16. Host
An organism that provides a source of energy or a stable environment for a virus or other organism to live

17. Parasite
An organism that lives on or in a host and causes harm to the host

18. Pathogen A disease-causing agent
For example: a virus, bacteria, or protists

19. Bacteriophage
A virus that infects bacteria

20. Virus
A tiny, non-living particle that invades and then reproduces inside a living cell

21. Cytoplasm
Gel-like substance found inside a cell that contains the cell’s organelles

22. Ribosome Site of protein synthesis organelle that makes proteins
small, non-membrane covered organelle found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes

23. Flagellum
A long, whip-like structure that enables a bacterial cell to move

24. Endospore
A small, rounded, thick-walled, resting cell that forms inside a bacterial cell