BIO101 Unit 4

Kingdoms Monera, Protista, Fungi, & Viruses

Glossary

aerobic

organisms that require oxygen for respiration

anaerobic

organisms that do not require oxygen for respiration

asexual reproduction

a type of reproduction which occurs with unicellular organisms. only one parent a new organism is produced.

autotrophs

organisms which are able to make their own food (algae and plants)

bacillus

a rod-shaped bacteria

bacterium(a)

microscopic, unicellular, prokaryotic organisms many of which cause disease.

binary fission

asexual reproduction which occurs when a unicellular organism divides into two unicellular organisms by cellular division (mitosis)

carotene

a pigment producing cream-yellow and/or carrot-orange colors.

chemosynthesis

process by which some organisms make their own food using a chemical energy source.

chromosomes

Thread-like structures found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells that contain genetic material. They become visible during cellular division.

cilium(a)

motile,short, hair-like extensions covering the body surface of some bacteria and protozoans that are used for locomotion.

coccus

a sound shaped bacteria

colonial

a group of unicellular organisms living in a cluster or a chain

commensalism

a symbiotic relationship in which one species is benefited but the other species in not harmed or benefited.

conjugation

a sexual reproductive process in where genetic material is transfer from a cell of one individual to another. Usually this type of reproduction occurs between two unicellular organisms.

decomposers

organism, usually a bacteria or fungi, that breaks down organic matter into inorganic nutrients that can be recycled in the environment.

facultative anaerobes

types of bacteria which are able to grow with or without oxygen present.

flagellum(a)

whip-like extension of a protozoan and some bacteria used for locomotion

fungi

saprotrophic decomposer; the body is composed of filaments called hyphae that forms a mass called a mycelium.

heterotroph

organisms which are not able to make their own food (animals)

lichen

an algae and fungus which are living together in a symbiotic relationship. Lichen appears to be a single organism.

motile

refers to an organism which has the ability to move about freely

multicellular

refers to an organism which is composed of many cells

mutualism

a type of symbiotic relationship in which both organisms are benefited by this close living arrangement.

nonmotile

refers to an organism which is unable to move independently

obligate anaerobe

types of bacteria and viruses which are unable to grow in the presence of oxygen

parasitism

a type of symbiotic relationship in which one organism (parasite) lives on or in another living organism (host) from which it derives nourishment. The host is harmed and the parasite is benefited by the relationship.

phagocytosis

process by which amoeboid-type cells engulf large substances forming an intracellular vacuole.

photozynthesis

process by which plants and algae make their own food using the energy of the sun

protozoan

heterotrophic, unicellular protist that moves by flagella, cilia, pseudopia or are immobile. They have many animal characteristics and were probably the ancestors of animals.

pseudopodia

cytoplasmic extensions of amoeboid protists used for locomotion and engulfing food.

saprotroph

heterotroph such as a bacteria or fungi that externally digests dead organic matter before absorbing the products

spirillum

a spiral shaped bacteria

symbiosis

a close living relationship between two organisms of different species. This relationship can

be beneficial to both; help one but not harm the other; or help one and be harmful to the other.

syngamy

a sexual type or reproduction in which two protozoa function as sex cells and fuse together to produce a new organism.

unicellular

an organism which is composed of only one cell

virus

noncellular obligate parasite of living cells; smaller than bacteria; cannot reproduce without the host; consists of nucleic acid core and a outer capsule.