 | Term | Definition |
| |
bacteriophage |
viruses that infect and destroy bacteria |
| |
capsid |
outer coat of proteins surrounding a virus's inner core |
| |
host cell |
living cell in which a virus replicates |
| |
lysogenic cycle |
viral replication where provirus is formed; host cell is not killed right away |
| |
lytic cycle |
viral replication where host cell soon bursts |
| |
prion |
virus-like infectious agent made only of protein |
| |
provirus |
viral DNA that is integrated into a host cell's chromosome and replicated each time the host cell replicates |
| |
retrovirus |
viral replication using reverse transcriptase to make DNA from viral RNA |
| |
reverse transcriptase |
enzyme carried in the capsid of a retrovirus; makes DNA from viral RNA |
| |
viroid |
a virus-like infectious agent that is composed of only a single, circular strand of RNA |
| |
virus |
disease-causing, nonliving particle made of genetic material enclosed in a capsid |
| |
binary fission |
asexual reproduction in bacteria |
| |
chemosynthesis |
organisms that obtain energy by breaking down inorganic compounds |
| |
conjugation |
sexual reproduction in bacteria; genetic information is exchanged |
| |
endospore |
structure formed by bacteria during unfavorable conditions |
| |
nitrogen fixation |
where bacteria use enzymes to convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3) |
| |
obligate aerobe |
bacteria that require oxygen for cellular respiration |
| |
obligate anaerobe |
bacteria that are killed by oxygen and can survive only in oxygen-free environments |
| |
toxin |
poison produced by a bacterium |
