Check outBacteria Teacher's A-Z Resource Guidewhich includes similar activities.

antibiotic— any substance that kills bacteria.

autotroph— organism that makes its own food

bacillus— rod-shaped bacteria.

bacteria— single-celled prokaryote organisms with a cell membrane and cytoplasm that multiply by simple division.

bacterium— a single bacterial organism.

binary fission— asexual reproduction in which one cell divides into two identical cells.

biology— the study of living things.
chronic disease — a disease with lingering symptoms.

chemosynthesis— production of food using the energy contained in inorganic molecules.

cocci— sphere-shaped bacteria.

cytoplasm— the protoplasm, or living material outside the nucleus of a cell.

decomposer— bacteria that break down dead organic material.

epidemic— outbreak of a disease in a community.

Escherichia coli (E. coli)— bacterium normally found in the large intestine in humans, where it maintains health of the intestine and makes vitamin K.

immunology— study of disease and the body?s response to it.

lipid bilayer— cell membrane made up of two layers of fat molecules and embedded proteins.

microbes— microscopic organisms: bacteria, viruses, molds, fungus, yeast.

microbiology— the study of microbes.

nitrogen— gas in the atmosphere that is a component of proteins.

nitrogen-fixing bacteria— microbes that transform nitrogen into ammonia to aid plant growth.

pandemic— disease that has spread worldwide.

pasteurization— heating process in food that prevents bacterial contamination.

pathogen— microbe that can cause a disease.

prokaryote— cell without a nucleus.

spirillum— spiral-shaped bacteria.

symbiosis— a relationship between two organisms where one or both benefit.

vaccine— any preparation of killed microorganisms or living weakened organisms introduced into the body to produce immunity to a specific disease by causing the formation of antibodies.