Chapter 15 - The Evolution of Microbial Life

algae

plantlike protists

amoebas

Have pseudopodia, or "false feet", for movement

apicomplexans

parasitic protozoans

archaea

Single-celled, no nucleus, Live in harsh condisions, oldest organisms on earth

bacilli

rod-shaped spore-forming bacteria

bacteria

extremely small, single-celled organisms without a nucleus; prokaryotic cells

binary fission

a form of asexual reproduction in single-celled organisms by which one cell divides into two cells of the same size

biogenesis

theory that living things come only from other living things

bioremediation

the act of treating waste or pollutants by the use of microorganisms (as bacteria) that can break down the undesirable substances

cellular slime molds

Cellular slime molds are decomposers that live mainly on decaying organic matter. They go through unicellular and multicellular stages of life where they go from an individual, to a colony, to a spore.

chemoautotrophs

An organism that needs only carbon dioxide as a carbon source but that obtains energy by oxidizing inorganic substances.

chemoheterotrophs

An organism that must consume organic molecules for both energy and carbon.

ciliates

a type of protozoa that moves using hairlike cilia

cocci

any spherical or nearly spherical bacteria

diatoms

A unicellular photosynthetic alga with a unique, glassy cell wall containing silica.

dinoflagellates

Algae that have a platelike armor and can cause red tides

endospores

A thick-walled protective spore that forms inside a bacterial cell and resists harsh conditions

endosymbiosis

a mutually beneficial relationship in which one organism lives within another

endotoxins

a poisonous component of the cell walls of certain bacteria

eukaryote

an organism consisting of a cell or cells in which the genetic material is DNA in the form of chromosomes contained within a distinct nucleus.

exotoxins

a poisonous protein secreted by certain bacteria

flagellates

a type of protozoa that moves using whiplike appendages called flagella

forams

a marine protozoan that secretes a shell and extends pseudopodia through pores in its shell

green algae

Photosynthetic protists that include unicellular, colonial, and multicellular species with grass green chloroplasts; closely related to true plants.

pathogens

organisms that cause disease

photoautotrophs

an organism that obtains energy from sunlight and carbon from CO2 by photosynthesis

photoheterotrophs

an organism that obtains energy from sunlight and carbon from organic sources

plankton

algae and other organisms, mostly microscopic, that drift passively in ponds, lakes and oceans

plasmodial slime mold

A type of protist that has amoeboid cells, flagellated cells, and an amoeboid plasmodial feeding stage in its life cycle.

prokaryote

a microscopic single-celled organism, including the bacteria, that has neither a distinct nucleus with a membrane nor other specialized organelles.

protists

eukaryotes that cannot be classified as animals, plants, or fungi

protozoans

a protist that lives primarily yb ingesting food; a heterotrophic, animal-like protist

pseudopodia

an extension of the cell membrane and cytoplasm of a cell; usually used for loco motion or feeding

ribozymes

an enzymatic RNA molecule that catalyzes chemical reactions

seaweeds

large, multicellular algae, grow on shores, closest relatives are unicellular algae

spirochetes

spiral-shaped bacteria that have flexible walls and are capable of movement

spontaneous generation

the mistaken idea that living things arise from nonliving sources

symbiosis

the living together in mutually helpful association of two dissimilar organisms

api

the tip

archae

ancient

bacill

a little stick

bi

two

bio

life

genesis

origin

chemo

chemical

auto

self

dinos

whirling

endo

inner

exo

outside

flagell

a whip

hetero

different

patho

disease

photo

light

planktos

wandering

protos

first

zoan

animal

pseudo

false

pod

foot

spiro

spiral

sym

together