1. Vocabulary 8th Grade Science
Unit 8: Structures and Functions of Living Organisms (infectious Disease)
Vocabulary
8th Grade Science

2. Microorganism
A living thing that can only be seen using a microscope. Also called a microbe.

3. Microbiology
The study of microscopic organisms.

4. Pathogen
Microorganisms that cause disease.

5. Fungus
Most fungi that cause disease are unicellular. All fungi are eukaryotic. Examples: Yeast, molds, mildews.

6. Parasite
An organisms that lives on or in another organism and benefits at the other organism's expense.

7. Virus
Ultramicroscopic infectious agent that can’t reproduce on its own. It must have a host. They are not considered alive.

8. Bacteria
Unicellular, prokaryotic organism. They divide using binary fission. Most are good and help us, some are bad.
*** Cyanobacteria does have chlorophyll and does photosynthesis

9. Antibiotics
Drugs that kill bacteria or slow their growth. THEY ARE NOT USED FOR VIRUSES.

10. Infectious Diseases
Diseases that can be passed from one organism to another.

11. Epidemic
An outbreak of a disease that affects many people in an area. Not as big as a pandemic.

12. Pandemic
An epidemic that spreads over a larger area, or throughout the world.

13. Vector
An organism that transmits a disease. Example: Tick give us Lyme Disease.

14. Vaccine
Contains a weakened or dead form of a pathogen. It does not cause disease. It helps to prevent the disease.

15. Injection
Administering a drug directly into a blood vessel.

16. Biotechnology
The manipulation of living things to make useful products. It causes changes in organisms. Examples: crossbreeding and selective breeding.

17. Genetic Engineering
 to enhance or modify the characteristics of an individual organism by changing their DNA.

18. Genetically Modification
When humans change the genetic material of a living organism. It is used to improve crops, make medicine and treat disease.

19. Genome
The complete sequence of an organism's DNA.

20. DNA Fingerprinting
Using a sequence of someone’s DNA to solve crimes or used in maternity and paternity test.

21. Cloning
Produces an organism that is an exact genetic copy of another.

22. Bioremediation
Using existing kinds of bacteria to clean up the environment. It does not change an organism’s genes. Example: using bacteria to clean up an oil spill.

23. Prokaryote
A unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus and membrane bound organelles. Bacteria are the only prokaryotic organisms.

24. Eukaryote
A cell that contains a nucleus and membrane bound organelles. (Plant, Animal, Protista, and Fungi Kingdoms)

25. Host Cell
Living cell in which a virus can actively multiply or in which a virus can hide until activated by environmental stimuli.

26. Immunity
The condition in which an organism can resist disease.

27. Ethics
A system of moral principles.