Germ Word Showdown
A single-celled microorganism.
What is a bacterium?
Bacteria are made up of this number of cells.
What is one cell (single-celled)?
Most bacteria reproduce this way by splitting into two cells.
What is binary fission?
Disease-causing microorganisms are called this.
What is a pathogen?
A tiny nonliving particle that can reproduce only inside a host cell.
What is a virus?
Whip-like tails that help bacteria move.
What are flagella?
Bacteria without enough food, water, or warmth may form this protective structure.
What is an endospore?
This type of reproduction allows bacteria to reproduce very quickly.
What is fission?
These medicines are used to kill harmful bacteria.
What are antibiotics?
Proteins made by the immune system to fight germs.
What are antibodies?
The process where one bacterium divides into two identical cells.
What is fission?
This helpful process breaks down dead organisms and returns nutrients to the environment.
What is decomposition?
During this process, bacteria exchange genetic material through a small bridge.
What is conjugation?
Yogurt and cheese are made using these helpful organisms.
What are bacteria?
A substance that helps the body prepare to fight diseases.
What is a vaccine?
thick protective covering formed by some bacteria during harsh conditions.
What is an endospore?
Some bacteria in soil and plant roots change nitrogen gas into forms plants can use.
What is nitrogen fixation?
Conjugation helps bacteria gain new traits like resistance to these medicines.
What are antibiotics?
Helpful bacteria in your digestive system help with this.
What is digestion?
Unlike bacteria, viruses cannot do this on their own.
What is reproduce independently?
The process of heating food or drinks to kill harmful bacteria.
What is pasteurization?
Scientists use bacteria to help clean oil spills and pollution.
What is bioremediation?
True or False: Conjugation creates completely new bacteria cells.
What is false? (It only exchanges genetic material.)
Some bacteria help treat pollution while others can cause diseases like strep throat. This shows bacteria can be both _?
What are helpful and harmful?
Antibiotics usually do NOT work on these.
What are viruses?