Bacteria/ Archaea (27.1-27.

6): Key Terms

27.1
Peptidoglycan: a network of modified-sugar polymers cross-linked by short polypeptides; high
amounts of this in gram-positive bacteria
Gram Stain: tool in medicine for determining if bacteria is gram-positive or gram-negative
Gram-positive: bacteria that have simpler walls with a relatively large amount of peptidoglycan
Gram-negative: bacteria that has less peptidoglycan and are structurally more complex with an
outer membrane that contains lipopolysaccharides (carbohydrates bonded to lipids)
Capsule: the sticky layer of polysaccharide or protein; enables prokaryotes to adhere to their
substrate or to other individuals in a colony
Fimbriae: singular fimbria; aka attachment pili; hair-like protein appendages; used by
prokaryotes to stick to substrates
Sex pili: singular sex pilus; appendages that pull two cells together prior to DNA transfer from
one cell to the other
Taxis: movement toward or away from a stimulus
Nucleoid: a region of cytoplasm that appears lighter than the surrounding cytoplasm
Plasmids: small rings of separately replicating DNA; most carry only a few genes
Endospores: resistant cells that certain bacteria will develop when an essential nutrient is
lacking

27.2
Transformation: when the genotype and possibly phenotype of a prokaryotic cell are altered by
the uptake of foreign DNA from its surroundings
Transduction: when bacteriophages carry bacterial genes from one host cell to another; type of
horizontal gene transfer
Conjugation: when genetic material is transferred between two bacterial cells (same or
different species) that are temporarily joined
F factor: consisted of about 25 genes, most required for the production of sex pili
F plasmid: F for fertility; F factor in its plasmid form
R plasmids: R for resistant; plasmid that carries resistant genes

27.3
Photoautotrophs: photosynthetic organism that capture light to use it to drive the synthesis of
organic compounds and inorganic carbon compounds (EX: CO2, HCO3-)
Chemoautotrophs: only need inorganic carbon compounds (EX: CO2) as a carbon course;
oxidize inorganic substances for nutrition
Photoheterotrophs: harness energy from light but must obtain carbon in organic form
Chemoheterotrophs: must consume organic molecules to obtain energy and carbon
Obligate aerobes: needs oxygen to live; no oxygen = die
Obligate anaerobes: doesnt need oxygen to live; oxygen = die
Anaerobic respiration: when substances other than O2 (such as nitrate ions or sulfate ions)
accept electrons at the downhill end of electron transport chains
Facultative anaerobes: Use O2 if present but can also survive in anaerobic conditions
Nitrogen fixation: when atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is converted to ammonia (NH3)
Heterocytes: formerly called heterocysts; specialized cells that carry out only nitrogen fixation
Biofilms: surface-coating colonies of bacteria (think plaque on teeth); can be of different
species

27.4
Extremophiles: organism that thrives in physically or geochemically extreme condition that are
detrimental to most life on Earth
Extreme halophiles: organisms that thrive in high salt concentrations
Extreme thermophiles: organisms that thrive in relatively high temperatures; hot springs,
thermal vents, etc
Methanogens: organisms that produce methane as a byproduct of their metabolism and are
obligate anaerobes

27.5
Decomposers: fungi and prokaryotes that break down and absorb nutrients from nonliving
organic material
Symbiosis: relationship between organisms of two different species that live together in direct
contact
Host: organism serving as the home and food source for the smaller organism (symbiont)
Mutualism: symbiotic relationship where both parties benefit
Commensalism: symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither
helped nor harmed
Parasitism: symbiotic relationship where an organism (parasite) benefits at the expense of the
other (host)
Parasite: an organism that feeds on another species (host) which in or on the host; parasite
harms but does not typically kill the host

27.6
Exotoxins: toxic protein secreted by a pathogen that produces symptoms even when the
pathogen is absent
Endotoxins: toxic component of the outer membrane of certain gram-negative bacteria that is
released when the bacteria dies
Bioremediation: the use of living organisms to detoxify and restore polluted and degraded
ecosystems