| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Prokaryote | Microorganism that lacks a cell nucleus and membrane-enclosed internal structures; all bacteria in the kingdom Monera (Prkaryotae) are prokaryotes |
| Eukaryote | An organism composed of eukaryotic cells (true nucleus and membrane bound organelles) |
| Organelle | An internal membrane-enclosed structure found in eukaryotic cells |
| Phototaxis | A nonrandom movement of an organism toward or away from light |
| Chemotaxis | A nonrandom movement of an organism toward or away from a chemical |
| Binary fission | Process in which a bacterial cell duplicates it components and divides into two cells |
| Lipopolysaccharide (also called endotoxin) | Part of the outer layer of the cell wall in Gram-negative bacteria |
| Periplasmic Space | The space between the cell membrane and the outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria that is filled with periplasm |
| Acid Fast bacteria (mycobacteria) | Slender, acid-fast rods, often filamentous; include organisms that cause tuberculosis, leprosy, and chronic infections |
| Wall Deficient Organisms (mycoplasmas) | Very small bacteria with cell membranes, RNA and DNA, but no cell walls |
| Plasmid | A small circular, independently replicating piece of DNA in a cell that is not part of its chromosome and can be transferred to another cell |
| Endospore | A resistant, dormant structure, formed inside some bacteria, such as Bacillus and Clostridium, that can survive adverse conditions |
| Monotrichous | A bacterial cell with a single flagellum |
| Amphitrichous | The presence of flagella at both ends of the bacterial cell |
| Lophotrichous | Having two or more flagella at one or both ends of a bacterial cell |
| Atrichous | A bacterial cell without flagella |
| Axial Filament (endoflagellum) | A subsurface filament attached near the ends of the cytoplasmic cylinder of spirochetes that causes the spirochete body to rotate like a corkscrew |
| Pili | Tiny hollow non-helical projections used to attach bacteria to surfaces (attachment pili or conjucation pili) |
| Conjugation Pili (sex pili) | A type of pili that attaches two bacteria together and provides a means for the exchange of genetic material |
| Attachment Pili (fimbria) | Type of pili that helps bacteria adhere to surfaces (helps with disease causing or exotoxis aspects) |
| Glycocalyx | Term used to refer to all substances containning polysaccharides found external to the cell wall |
| Capsule (not in all bacteria) | 1) A protective structure outside the cell wall, secreted by the organism 2) A network of connective fibers covering organs such as lymph nodes |
| Slime Layer | A thin protective structure loosely bound to the cell wall that protects the cell against drying, helps trap nutrients, and sometimes binds cells together |
| Endosymbiotic Theory | Holds that the organelles of eukaryotic cells arose from prokaryotes that came to live, in a symbiotic relationship, inside the eukaryote-to-be cell |
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