Microbiology Final Exam

• Sterile: free from living microorganisms, bacteria, or other living things
• Contaminate: Usually accidental
• Pathogen: A microorganism that causes disease in a host organism.
• Ubiquitous: Universal, microbes are found everywhere
• Inoculate: To introduce a microorganism into a culture medium to allow it to grow.
• Culture: A growth propagation system for microorganism
• Incubate: Time allowed for growth of microorganisms in a culture medium.
• Agar: Complex polysaccharide added to microbial growth media to provide a solid surface for growth
• Heterotroph: organism that obtains energy from other organisms
• Autotroph: An organism that makes its own food using energy from the sun.
• Cell wall: A rigid structure that surrounds the cell and provides support and protection.
• Mycelium: the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of fine white filaments (hyphae).
• Hyphae: long, threadlike structures that are the main structures of fungi.
• Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants and some other organisms use light energy to make their own food
• Capsule: An extracellular layer surrounding some bacteria that provides protection against phagocytosis and antibodies
• Endospore: Survival mechanism which protects the DNA from an endangered cell in unfavorable conditions
• Slime layer: A layer of mucus that covers the surface of the body of some bacteria