Bits and Pieces
Circle of Life
An Apple a Day
100

The sticky sugars that surround some bacterium's cell wall, protecting it and allowing it to adhere to surfaces.

capsule

100

A saprophyte feeds on this

dead matter

100

This infectious agent must infect another cell to reproduce.

virus

200

Causing sore throat, these bacteria are composed of long chains of round cells.

Streptococcus

200

Photoautotrophs such as cyanobacteria derive their energy from this

sunlight

200

The cycle in which a virus's DNA is replicated alongside the host's DNA

lysogenic cycle

300

A bacteria's "outboard motor", this structure is composed of the filament, hook, and basal body. 

flagellum
300

Binary fission is an example of this type of reproduction

asexual

300

The cycle in which a virus hijacks the host cell's DNA replication system, makes copies of itself, and then causes the cell to burst.

lytic cycle

400

Formed when growing conditions become unfavorable, this internal wall protects a bacterium's DNA and ribosome until conditions improve. 

endospore

400

Using bacteria to treat sewage or to remove oil from water in oil spills are examples of this process.

microbial bioremediation

400

First developed in the 1700's by Edward Jenner, this weekend version of a pathogen is used to stimulate the body's immune system to prevent disease.

vaccine

500

Developed by a Danish physician in the 1800's, this staining technique is one of the ways biologists classify bacteria by cell wall structure. 

gram stain

500

Yogurts and cheese are manufactured by bacterial through this process.

fermentation

500

Antibiotics work bye attacking this part of a pathogenic bacteria.

bacterium's cell wall

M
e
n
u