Emerging Diseases

• one that has appeared in a population for the first time
• or one that previously existed but is rapidly increasing in incidence

Pathogens

• any agent that causes a disease
• usually virus, bacterium, fungus, protozoan, or helminth

Bioremediation

• decomposition of harmful chemicals by microbes or consortia of microbes

Genetic Engineering

• a field involving deliberate alterations of the genomes of microbes, plants, and animals through special technological processes

Algae

• photosynthetic, plantlike organ that generally lack the complex structure of plants
• they may be single-celled or multicellular
• inhabits diverse habitats

Macroscopic

• visible to the naked eye

Adapitibility

• the adjustment of bacterial physiology to a new environment

Immunology

• the study of the system of body defenses that protect against infection

Epidemiology

• the study of the factors affecting the prevalence and spread of disease within a community

Biotechnology

• the use of microbes or their products in the commercial or industrial realm

Infectious

• capable of cause an infection

Prokaryote

• a single celled organism that does not have special structures such as a nucleus or membranous organelles
• includes:
  • bacteria
  • archea

Eukaryote

• a member of the domain Eukarya
• cells have a well-defined nucleus and membranous organelles
• includes:
  
  • plants
  • animals
  • fungi
  • protozoa
  • algae

Parasites

• an organism that lives on or within another organism from which it obtains nutrients and enjoys protection
• produces harm to the host

Hosts

• organism in which smaller organisms or viruses live, feed, and reproduce

Spontaneous Generation

• early belief that living things arose from vital forces present in nonliving or decomposing matter

Abiogenesis

• the belief in spontaneous generation as a source of life

Biogenesis

• belief that living things can only arise from others of the same kind