| A | B |
|---|
| bacterium | microscopic prokaryote |
| conjugation | process in which two bacteria of the same species attach to each other and share genetic material |
| endospore | form of bacterium that has a thick internal wall around its chromosome and part of the cytoplas |
| fission | cell division that forms two genetically identical cells |
| flagellum | long whiplike structure that helps some bacteria move |
| antibiotic | medicine that stops the growth and reproduction of bacteria |
| bioremediation | use of organisms to clean up environmental pollution |
| decomposition | breakdown of dead organisms and organic waste |
| nitrogen fixation | conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen compunds that living things can use |
| pasteurization | process of heating food to a temperature that kills most harmful bacteria |
| pathogen | agent that causes disease |
| resistance | capacity of an organism to defend itself against disease |
| antibody | protein that can attach to a pathogen and make it useless |
| immunity | ability of an organism to resist a virus or infection |
| mutation | change in DNA or RNA |
| vaccine | mixture containing material from one or more deactivated pathogens |
| virus | strand of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein layer that can infect and replicate in a host cell |
