microorganisms
Invisible living things
Microorganisms are living things too small to see without magnification—bacteria, viruses, fungi, and single-celled creatures.
Most are harmless or beneficial; some cause disease.
They exist virtually everywhere: in soil, water, air, and inside larger organisms.
The gut contains trillions of microorganisms.
Also called microbes.
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- archaeaThird domain of life
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- protistsEukaryotic microorganisms, mostly unicellular
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
algae · protozoa · plankton · germs · prokaryotes · eukaryotes · unicellular · amoeba
Live microorganisms aiding digestion
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
- bioremediationLiving organisms detoxify pollutants
- decomposersOrganisms breaking down dead material
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
composting · biodegradation · biofertilizers · biocontrol · enzymes · yogurt · sourdough · kimchi
Organisms surviving extreme conditions
- panspermiaLife spreads via space rocks
- abiogenesisLife from inanimate matter
- meteoritesExtraterrestrial rocks on Earth
- tardigradesMicroscopic invertebrates, extremely resilient
Mars · Europa · biosignatures · extraterrestrial · thermophiles
Breakdown into simpler parts
- biogeochemicalLife-geology-chemistry interactions
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
- marineRelating to the sea
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
sediment · detritus · photosynthetic · biofilm · colonies · bloom · ecosystem · habitat
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- diseaseDisorder impairing normal function
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
outbreak · transmission · contamination · virulence · sepsis · toxins · pathogens · sterilization
Technique using powerful lenses
- cultureCollective social practices
- incubationDevelopment before emergence
- stainingApplying dye or pigment
- agarAlgae-derived gelling substance
inoculation · sequencing · laboratory · centrifuge · sterilization · aseptic · slides · specimens
Too small for eyes
- invisibleCannot be seen
- single-celledConsisting of one cell
- colonialOf occupied territories
- nanoscaleBillionth-meter dimension
submicroscopic · minute · micron · cellular · magnification · resolution · ultramicroscopic
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- archaeaThird domain of life
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- protistsEukaryotic microorganisms, mostly unicellular
viruses · algae · protozoa · plankton · germs · prokaryotes · eukaryotes · unicellular · amoeba · yeast
probiotics
Live microorganisms aiding digestion
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
- bioremediationLiving organisms detoxify pollutants
- decomposersOrganisms breaking down dead material
symbiosis · composting · biodegradation · biofertilizers · biocontrol · enzymes · yogurt · sourdough · kimchi · tempeh
extremophiles
Organisms surviving extreme conditions
- panspermiaLife spreads via space rocks
- abiogenesisLife from inanimate matter
- meteoritesExtraterrestrial rocks on Earth
tardigrades · Mars · Europa · biosignatures · extraterrestrial · thermophiles
decomposition
Breakdown into simpler parts
- biogeochemicalLife-geology-chemistry interactions
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
- marineRelating to the sea
freshwater · sediment · detritus · photosynthetic · biofilm · colonies · bloom · ecosystem · habitat · symbiotic
infection
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- diseaseDisorder impairing normal function
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
pandemic · outbreak · transmission · contamination · virulence · sepsis · toxins · pathogens · sterilization · disinfection
microscopy
Technique using powerful lenses
- cultureCollective social practices
- incubationDevelopment before emergence
- stainingApplying dye or pigment
agar · inoculation · sequencing · laboratory · centrifuge · sterilization · aseptic · slides · specimens · isolation
microscopic
Too small for eyes
- invisibleCannot be seen
- single-celledConsisting of one cell
- colonialOf occupied territories
nanoscale · submicroscopic · minute · micron · cellular · magnification · resolution · ultramicroscopic
- life formsorganisms, lifeforms, animal, creatures, plant
- Organic Matterblood, bone, tissue, cells, skin
- biodiversityspecies diversity, endemism, genetic diversity, biodiversity hotspots, biota
- microbiologybacteria, bacterium, virus, viruses, germs
- Microscale Biologycells, DNA, RNA, proteins, enzymes
- biospecimensblood samples, tissue samples, DNA samples, saliva samples, biological samples
microorganismsmacroorganisms
Life visible unaided
megafauna · whales · elephants · blue whale · redwood trees
microorganismsanimals
Multicellular mobile organisms
plants · vertebrates · mammals · humans · sentient beings