CHAPTER 1 - COWAN, MICROBIOLOGY
FUNDAMENTALS: A CLINICAL APPROACH 3RD
EDITION IN-DEPTH EXPLANATIONS ALIGNED
WITH CURRENT EXAM STANDARDS
Microbiology ANSWER >> Area of biology that deals with living things ordinarily too
small to be seen without magnification.
Microorganisms/Microbes ANSWER >> living things too small to be seen without
magnification; an organism of microscopic size
Six major groups of microorganisms ANSWER >> Bacteria, archaea, protozoa, fungi,
helminths, viruses
Bacteria ANSWER >> When capitalized, can refer to one of the 3 domains of living
organisms proposed by Woese containing all non-archaea prokaryotes
archaea (lowercase) ANSWER >> prokaryotic single-celled organisms of primitive origin
that have unusual anatomy, physiology, and genetics and live in harsh habitats
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, Archaea (uppercase) ANSWER >> When capitalized, refers to one of 3 domains of
living organisms proposed by Woese
Protozoa ANSWER >> a group of single-celled, eukaryotic organisms
Fungi ANSWER >> Macroscopic and microscopic heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms
that can be uni- or multi-cellular
Helminths ANSWER >> parasitic worms
Virus ANSWER >> Microscopic, acellular agent composed of nucleic acid surrounded
by a protein coat. Not independently living.
Algae ANSWER >> Photosynthetic, plantlike organisms that generally lack the complex
structure of plants; they may be single-celled or multicellular and inhabit diverse habitats
such as marine and freshwater environments, glaciers, and hot springs. Do not directly
infect humans.
Eukaryotic cell ANSWER >> A cell that differs from a prokaryotic cell chiefly by having a
nuclear membrane (a well-defined nucleus), membrane-bound subcellular organelles,
and mitotic cell division
Prokaryotes ANSWER >> Small cells, lacking special structures such as nucleus and
organelles. All prokaryotes are microorganisms
Ubiquitous ANSWER >> present or existing everywhere
Theory of evolution ANSWER >> the evidence cited to explain how evolution occurs
Evolution ANSWER >> the scientific theory that humans and other forms of life have
evolved over time
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FUNDAMENTALS: A CLINICAL APPROACH 3RD
EDITION IN-DEPTH EXPLANATIONS ALIGNED
WITH CURRENT EXAM STANDARDS
Microbiology ANSWER >> Area of biology that deals with living things ordinarily too
small to be seen without magnification.
Microorganisms/Microbes ANSWER >> living things too small to be seen without
magnification; an organism of microscopic size
Six major groups of microorganisms ANSWER >> Bacteria, archaea, protozoa, fungi,
helminths, viruses
Bacteria ANSWER >> When capitalized, can refer to one of the 3 domains of living
organisms proposed by Woese containing all non-archaea prokaryotes
archaea (lowercase) ANSWER >> prokaryotic single-celled organisms of primitive origin
that have unusual anatomy, physiology, and genetics and live in harsh habitats
1
, Archaea (uppercase) ANSWER >> When capitalized, refers to one of 3 domains of
living organisms proposed by Woese
Protozoa ANSWER >> a group of single-celled, eukaryotic organisms
Fungi ANSWER >> Macroscopic and microscopic heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms
that can be uni- or multi-cellular
Helminths ANSWER >> parasitic worms
Virus ANSWER >> Microscopic, acellular agent composed of nucleic acid surrounded
by a protein coat. Not independently living.
Algae ANSWER >> Photosynthetic, plantlike organisms that generally lack the complex
structure of plants; they may be single-celled or multicellular and inhabit diverse habitats
such as marine and freshwater environments, glaciers, and hot springs. Do not directly
infect humans.
Eukaryotic cell ANSWER >> A cell that differs from a prokaryotic cell chiefly by having a
nuclear membrane (a well-defined nucleus), membrane-bound subcellular organelles,
and mitotic cell division
Prokaryotes ANSWER >> Small cells, lacking special structures such as nucleus and
organelles. All prokaryotes are microorganisms
Ubiquitous ANSWER >> present or existing everywhere
Theory of evolution ANSWER >> the evidence cited to explain how evolution occurs
Evolution ANSWER >> the scientific theory that humans and other forms of life have
evolved over time
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