Ch 1 - Cowan, Microbiology Fundamentals: A Clinical Approach, 3e
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_6x60j0
1. Microbiology: Area of biology that deals with living things ordinarily too small to be seen without magnifica-
tion.
2. Microorganisms/Microbes: living things too small to be seen without magnification; an organism of
microscopic size
3. Six major groups of microorganisms: Bacteria, archaea, protozoa, fungi, helminths, viruses
4. Bacteria: When capitalized, can refer to one of the 3 domains of living organisms proposed by Woese containing
all non-archaea prokaryotes
5. archaea (lowercase): prokaryotic single-celled organisms of primitive origin that have unusual anatomy,
physiology, and genetics and live in harsh habitats
6. Archaea (uppercase): When capitalized, refers to one of 3 domains of living organisms proposed by Woese
7. Protozoa: a group of single-celled, eukaryotic organisms
8. Fungi: Macroscopic and microscopic heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms that can be uni- or multi-cellular
9. Helminths: parasitic worms
10. Virus: Microscopic, acellular agent composed of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat. Not independently
living.
11. Algae: 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.
12. Eukaryotic cell: A cell that differs from a prokaryotic cell chiefly by having a nuclear membrane (a well-de-
fined nucleus), membrane-bound subcellular organelles, and mitotic cell division
13. Prokaryotes: Small cells, lacking special structures such as nucleus and organelles. All prokaryotes are
microorganisms
14. Ubiquitous: present or existing everywhere
15. Theory of evolution: the evidence cited to explain how evolution occurs
16. Evolution: the scientific theory that humans and other forms of life have evolved over time
17. Theory: a scientific explanation supported by a lot of evidence collected over a long period of time. It is taken
as fact.
18. Photosynthesis: a process occurring in plants, algae, and some bacteria that traps the sun's energy and
converts it to ATP in the cell. This energy is used to fix CO2 into organic compounds
19. Biotechnology: the intentional use by humans of living organisms or their products to accomplish a goal
related to health or the environment.
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, Ch 1 - Cowan, Microbiology Fundamentals: A Clinical Approach, 3e
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_6x60j0
20. Genetic engineering: An area of biotechnology that manipulates the genetics of microbes, plants, and
animals for the purpose of creating new products and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
21. Recombinant DNA technology: A technology, also known as genetic engineering, that deliberately
modifies the genetic structure of an organism to create novel products, microbes, animals, plants, and viruses.
22. Bioremediation: Decomposition of harmful chemicals by microbes or consortia of microbes.
23. Infectious disease: Any disease caused by a microorganism
24. Organelles: Small, double-membrane-bound structures in the eukaryotic cell that perform specific functions
and include the nucleus, mitochondria, and chloroplasts.
25. Spontaneous generation: Early belief that living things arose from vital forces present in nonliving, or
decomposing, matter.
26. Abiogenesis: The belief in spontaneous generation as a source of life.
27. Biogenesis: Belief that living things can only arise from others of the same kind.
28. Louis Pasteur: A French chemist, this man discovered that heat could kill bacteria that otherwise spoiled
liquids including milk, wine, and beer.
29. Robert Hooke: first to observe "small chambers" in cork and call them cells.
30. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723): -Dutch linen merchant.
-First to observe living microbes.
-Single-lens magnified up to 300X.
31. Sterile: Completely free of all life forms, including spores and viruses.
32. Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes and Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis: Showed that women became
infected in the maternity ward after examinations by physicians who had been working in the autopsy rooms
33. Joseph Lister: English surgeon who was the first to use antiseptics (1827-1912)
34. Aseptic technique: method of handling microbial cultures, patient specimens, and other sources of
microbes in a way that prevents infection of the handler and others who may be exposed
35. Germ Theory of Disease (Koch's Postulates): A theory first originating in the 1800s that
proposed that microorganisms can be the cause of diseases. The concept is actually so well established in the present
time that it is considered a fact.
36. Macromolecules: Large, molecular compounds assembled from smaller subunits, most notably biochem-
icals.
37. Monomers: A simple molecule that can be linked by chemical bonds to form larger molecules.
38. Polymers: a macromolecule made up of a chain of repeating units; examples: starch, protein, DNA
39. Carbohydrates: a compound containing primarily carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio
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Study online at https://quizlet.com/_6x60j0
1. Microbiology: Area of biology that deals with living things ordinarily too small to be seen without magnifica-
tion.
2. Microorganisms/Microbes: living things too small to be seen without magnification; an organism of
microscopic size
3. Six major groups of microorganisms: Bacteria, archaea, protozoa, fungi, helminths, viruses
4. Bacteria: When capitalized, can refer to one of the 3 domains of living organisms proposed by Woese containing
all non-archaea prokaryotes
5. archaea (lowercase): prokaryotic single-celled organisms of primitive origin that have unusual anatomy,
physiology, and genetics and live in harsh habitats
6. Archaea (uppercase): When capitalized, refers to one of 3 domains of living organisms proposed by Woese
7. Protozoa: a group of single-celled, eukaryotic organisms
8. Fungi: Macroscopic and microscopic heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms that can be uni- or multi-cellular
9. Helminths: parasitic worms
10. Virus: Microscopic, acellular agent composed of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat. Not independently
living.
11. Algae: 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.
12. Eukaryotic cell: A cell that differs from a prokaryotic cell chiefly by having a nuclear membrane (a well-de-
fined nucleus), membrane-bound subcellular organelles, and mitotic cell division
13. Prokaryotes: Small cells, lacking special structures such as nucleus and organelles. All prokaryotes are
microorganisms
14. Ubiquitous: present or existing everywhere
15. Theory of evolution: the evidence cited to explain how evolution occurs
16. Evolution: the scientific theory that humans and other forms of life have evolved over time
17. Theory: a scientific explanation supported by a lot of evidence collected over a long period of time. It is taken
as fact.
18. Photosynthesis: a process occurring in plants, algae, and some bacteria that traps the sun's energy and
converts it to ATP in the cell. This energy is used to fix CO2 into organic compounds
19. Biotechnology: the intentional use by humans of living organisms or their products to accomplish a goal
related to health or the environment.
1/6
, Ch 1 - Cowan, Microbiology Fundamentals: A Clinical Approach, 3e
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_6x60j0
20. Genetic engineering: An area of biotechnology that manipulates the genetics of microbes, plants, and
animals for the purpose of creating new products and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
21. Recombinant DNA technology: A technology, also known as genetic engineering, that deliberately
modifies the genetic structure of an organism to create novel products, microbes, animals, plants, and viruses.
22. Bioremediation: Decomposition of harmful chemicals by microbes or consortia of microbes.
23. Infectious disease: Any disease caused by a microorganism
24. Organelles: Small, double-membrane-bound structures in the eukaryotic cell that perform specific functions
and include the nucleus, mitochondria, and chloroplasts.
25. Spontaneous generation: Early belief that living things arose from vital forces present in nonliving, or
decomposing, matter.
26. Abiogenesis: The belief in spontaneous generation as a source of life.
27. Biogenesis: Belief that living things can only arise from others of the same kind.
28. Louis Pasteur: A French chemist, this man discovered that heat could kill bacteria that otherwise spoiled
liquids including milk, wine, and beer.
29. Robert Hooke: first to observe "small chambers" in cork and call them cells.
30. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723): -Dutch linen merchant.
-First to observe living microbes.
-Single-lens magnified up to 300X.
31. Sterile: Completely free of all life forms, including spores and viruses.
32. Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes and Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis: Showed that women became
infected in the maternity ward after examinations by physicians who had been working in the autopsy rooms
33. Joseph Lister: English surgeon who was the first to use antiseptics (1827-1912)
34. Aseptic technique: method of handling microbial cultures, patient specimens, and other sources of
microbes in a way that prevents infection of the handler and others who may be exposed
35. Germ Theory of Disease (Koch's Postulates): A theory first originating in the 1800s that
proposed that microorganisms can be the cause of diseases. The concept is actually so well established in the present
time that it is considered a fact.
36. Macromolecules: Large, molecular compounds assembled from smaller subunits, most notably biochem-
icals.
37. Monomers: A simple molecule that can be linked by chemical bonds to form larger molecules.
38. Polymers: a macromolecule made up of a chain of repeating units; examples: starch, protein, DNA
39. Carbohydrates: a compound containing primarily carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio
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