1.
Aerobic Organism: An organism that requires oxygen.
2.
Anaerobic Organism: An organism that does not require oxygen.
3.
Conjugation: A temporary union of two organisms for the purpose of a DNA transfer.
4.
Endospore: The DNA and other essential parts of a bacterium coated by several hard layers.
5.
Exponential Growth: Population growth that is unhindered because of the abundance of resources for an ever-increasing population.
6.
Logistic Growth: Population growth that is controlled by limited resources.
7.
Parasite: An organism that feeds on a living host.
8.
Pathogen: An organism that causes disease.
9.
Plasmid: A small, circular section of extra DNA that confers one or more traits to a bacterium and can be reproduced separately from the main bacterial genetic code.
10.
Saprophyte: An organism that feeds on dead matter.
11.
Steady State: A state in which members of a population die as quickly as new members are born.
12.
Strains: Organisms from the same species that have markedly different traits.
13.
Transduction: The process in which infection by a virus results in DNA being transferred from one bacterium to another.
14.
Transformation: The transfer of a DNA segment from a nonfunctional donor cell to that of a functional recipient cell.