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Explore our science education resources by topic

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Strategies for reading a newspaper science article

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Strategies for reading a newspaper science article

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In a newspaper science article there are three important elements, the title, subtile and the first paragraph.

The title might not be easy, so focus on the subtile since it makes thing clearer. In the first paragraph, you will find all the main information of the whole text. Use the technique of the 5Ws (Who, What, When, Why and Where) to help you.

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Use a monolingual dictionary to look up the meaning of the words. Then choose three of them and make sentences

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This page describes the Chemistry Academic Word List (CAWL), giving information on what the CAWL is, details about how it was developed, information on text coverage of the CAWL, mentions some problems with the published list, as well as giving a complete list of words in the CAWL.

To explore the list more fully, try the CAWL highlighter (on this site).

What is the CAWL?

The Chemistry Academic Word List (CAWL) was developed by Leila Valipouri and Hossein Nassaji in 2013 for EFL graduate Chemistry students. It comprises 1400 word families which occur frequently in Chemistry research articles. It includes both general and academic words, since many high frequency words have different meanings, frequencies and collocations in specialist contexts. For example, the word base, which occurs in both the General Service List (GSL) and the CAWL, means the bottom or lowest part in general English, but a substance that reacts with an acid in Chemistry, while the word respect, which is likewise in both lists, is most frequently used as a verb or noun in general English, expressing courteous behaviour or language, but in Chemistry is most often used as an adverb respectively, an adjective respective, or in the phase with respect to.

Of the 1400 word families in the CAWL, 683 are from the GSL, 327 are from the AWL (Academic Word List), while the remaining 390 occur in neither list.

How was the CAWL devised?

Before devising the list, the authors developed a corpus of Chemistry articles, called the Chemistry Research Article Corpus (CRAC). Texts in the corpus were from four subject areas, namely: analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and physical/theoretical chemistry. 8 journals were chosen for the first subject area (only 8 journals were available), 10 journals for the other three, after which 10 volumes were chosen from each journal for the first subject area, 8 volumes for the remaining three, giving an equal number of 80 volumes for each subject area, 320 in total. One issue was then chosen randomly from each of the volumes, therefore making 320 issues in total. All were from the years 2003-2009. One final constraint was that all articles needed to follow the IMRAD structure. This formed their CRAC corpus, which comprised 1185 texts and a total of 4 million words.

The CAWL was then developed, with word families chosen for frequency, needing to occur at least 114 times in the CRAC, and range, needing to occur at least 10 times in each of the 4 subject areas. The CAWL excluded abbreviations (e.g. pH, CO ₂, UV), as well as pronouns, auxiliaries (e.g. verbs to be and to have), articles and numbers. It also excluded words which were too technical, e.g. aldehyde, anhydrous, hydroxyl and octahedral. To assist in removing technical vocabulary, an expert panel of 3 chemistry professors was consulted.

What is the coverage of the CAWL?

The CAWL gives a total coverage of 81.18% of the CRAC corpus. Words from the 1K (i.e. the first 1000 words of the GSL) give 59.9% coverage, the 2K (second 1000 words from the GSL) give 4.45% coverage, AWL words give 9.6% coverage, while CAWL words which are in neither the GSL nor AWL give 7.23% coverage. Although 81.18% is well below the 95% minimum threshold for comfortable comprehension, abbreviations and technical words together account for 14.29%, making 95.47% in total, which exceeds the threshold.

The authors noted that coverage by the families of the AWL is twice that of the 2K of the GSL, despite the latter having almost twice as many word families, supporting the idea that the 2K has low range and frequency in some academic disciplines, and that studying the GSL before the AWL may not be the best preparation for students of academic English across all disciplines.

The authors further noted that many low frequency AWL words were high frequency in the CAWL. Examples include chemical, intense, extract, plus, conform and mode, ranked between 101 and 237 in the CAWL, which are all in sublists 7 or 8 of the AWL, i.e. rank 360-480. Additionally, many high frequency words in the AWL do not appear in the CAWL, for example legal, policy, income, finance and legislate, all from sublist 1 of the AWL. Indeed, the first three of these words ( legal, policy, income) do not appear in the CRAC corpus at all, while finance appears only 18 times, and legislate only 6 times.

Problems with the CAWL

There are some problems with the original list as presented in the Journal of English for Academic Purposes. These include:

duplicate entries: image, among, transit, index, nominal and orient all appear twice;

misspellings in the original article, corrected below: puls => pulse, profil => profile, capilar => capillary,voltametry => voltammetry, simutaneous => simultaneous, suppos => suppose,paranthesis => parenthesis, segragate => segregate;

misnumbering in the original article, also corrected below: metabolic and fine;

inclusion of separate entries that would normally be in the same word family: bind/bound, refer/reference, stain/stainless and store/storage.

References
Valipouri, L. and Nassaji, H. (2013), 'A corpus-based study of academic vocabulary in chemistry research articles', Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 12 (2013) pp.248-263.

Chemistry Academic Word List

The Chemistry Academic Word List is shown below. It is presented in order of frequency. The overall rank in the list (out of 1400) is shown, together with the headword, and other members of the word family. The table also shows whether or not the words appear in the GSL or the AWL.

Word family information is derived from the Lextutor familizer, based on the 25k BNC-COCA lists.

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The Chemistry Academic Word List (CAWL) is a list of 1400 word families which occur frequently in Chemistry research articles.

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idioms about technology and science : English Idioms - Learn English with wordscoach.com

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idioms about technology and science : English idioms, proverbs, and expressions are an important part of everyday English. They come up all the time in both written English and spoken English. Because idioms don't always make sense literally, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom.

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Linguapress Advanced level English

Linguapress - Advanced English

Charles Darwin was one of the most influential scientists of his time, whose observations changed the way in which life itself was understood.

Darwin aged 31. He was already acclaimed as one of Britain's greatest scientists.

When Charles Darwin died in 1873 at the age of 64, the scientific world recognized that it had lost one of its greatest thinkers, and Darwin was buried among the illustrious in Britain's burial-place of honour, Westminster Abbey in London. Darwin, biologist, botanist, and geographer, was a scientist whose name is usually placed on a level with the men like Copernicus and Einstein, men whose perseverance and convictions led them to see great new truths, to understand whole new domains of existence.
Yet Darwin did not invent: he did not even propose a totally new theory* : but by years of careful observation, painstaking study, and analogical deductions, he managed to formulate in a coherent and scientific fashion, a theory which rapidly gained credence as the correct, or basically correct explanation of the diversity of life on our earth.
It was in November 1859 that Darwin published his fundamental work, The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection.
Charles Darwin was born into a family of thinkers. His father was a Fellow of the Royal Society (the elite circle of top British scientists), his mother was the daughter of Josiah Wedgwood, the man who founded the famous Wedgwood Potteries, and his grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, was a famous physician, radical thinker and philosopher who, like his grandson, spent much time studying the evolution of life.
After a childhood in the town of Shrewsbury, where he was educated at the Grammar School, Darwin went up to Edinburgh University to study medecine and natural history. When he was eighteen, he left Edinburgh and went to Cambridge University, planning to enter the church: but he was more interested in science than in religion and in the end he abandoned theology.
Shortly after graduating from Cambridge, he got a job as a naturalist on the ship H.M.S. Beagle, which was about to start on a scientific and cartographic survey of the South American coast. The journey started in December 1831 and was to last almost five years, during which time he amassed considerable documentation.
Darwin was particularly struck by the fauna of the south seas, notably by the tortoises he found on the Galapagos Islands, a group of Pacific Islands where nature seemed different from nature in other lands. The Galapagos tortoises, Darwin observed, differed from island to island, and this, he deduced, implied different forms of evolution, since the animals obviously came from the same origins. Darwin was also struck by the iguanas he found, and observed that those which lived in water had heads suitable for finding food among stones, whilst those that lived on land had a sharper profile, more fit for a herbivorous animal.
Darwin developed his theory of evolution, but it was not until 1859 that he actually published it. It was instantly seen as a great milestone in scientific thought, and precipitated violent argument all over Europe. Many found fault in it, and Darwin spent the rest of his life modifying aspects of his theory in the light of other people's observations. He also wrote a dozen or so other books on aspects of botany and biology, including his Descent of Man (1877). The debate has continued ever since; contested for a while in the Soviet Union, because of its anti-egalitarian implications, Darwinism, or Neo Darwinism (Darwinian theory modified by Mendelian genetic theory) is now accepted by almost every scientist.

DARWIN'S THEORY - IN BRIEF

Darwin noted that in any species, no two examples are identical. There are always great or small differences between specimens: he also observed, like Malthus, that in all living species, some specimens reach maturity, others do not ("the survival of the fittest"). From this he concluded that life evolves along different lines in different circumstances, according to what is fittest in each particular situation. He called this the principle of natural selection. He confirmed it by personal observation of artificial selection, the way animal or plant breeders produce new varieties by carefully selecting and breeding specimens which show the desired qualities. Neo-Darwinian theory applies principles of genetics to explain the inequal transmission of hereditary features from one generation to the next.

WORDS

painstaking : taking great trouble - coherent : logical - gain credence: become accepted - physician : doctor (do not confuse with physicist) - were prevalent : prevailed, were greater - graduate : finish one's studies - cartographic : map-making amass : collect - fauna : animals, etc - struck : impressed - milestone : turning point, moment - fit : adapted to the circumstances, and/or healthy - breed : produce (animals, plants) - feature : characteristic.

Printing: A printer-friendly document - © Linguapress. Do not copy this document to any other website
Copying permitted for personal study, or by teachers for use with their students

STUDENTS' WORKSHEET - interactive

Darwin - a genius remembered

Word endings : replace the word-endings that are missing from the following extract
Darwin, biolog, botan, and geograph, was a scient whose name is usu placed on a level with the men like Copernicus and Einstein, men whose persever and convict led them to see great new truths, to understand whole new domains of exist.
Yet Darwin did not invent: he did not even propose a total new theory* : but by years of care observ, painstak study, and analog deduct, he manag to formul in a coher and scient fash, a theory which rapid gained cred as the correct, or basic correct explan of the divers of life on our earth.

Teachers:

Listening and remembering. This is a concluding exercise designed to check that students have both understood and remembered the text, after going through it in class or on their own. Play the following extract to your class, stopping the audio at each ♦ , and asking students to remember how the sentence continued.
If you think there are too many ♦ markers, break the audio only before words or expressions highlighted in yellow, which concern structures and grammar, rather than information or vocabulary. Sometimes you may need to help students by providing the next word.

Shortly after graduating from Cambridge, he got a job ♦ as a naturalist on the ship H.M.S. Beagle, which was ♦ about to start on a scientific and cartographic survey of the ♦ South American coast. The journey started in December 1831 and♦ was to last almost five years, during ♦ which time he amassed considerable documentation.
Darwin was particularly struck by ♦ the fauna of the south seas, notably by the tortoises he found ♦ on the Galapagos Islands, a group of Pacific Islands ♦ where nature seemed different from nature in other lands. The Galapagos tortoises, Darwin observed, differed♦ from island to island, and this, he deduced, implied♦ different forms of evolution, since the animals obviously came ♦ from the same origins. Darwin was also struck by the iguanas he found, and observed that ♦ those which lived in water had heads suitable ♦ for finding food among stones, whilst ♦ those that lived on land had a sharper profile, more ♦ fit for a herbivorous animal.
Darwin developed his theory of evolution, but it was ♦ not until 1859 that he actually published it. It was instantly seen as a ♦ great milestone in scientific thought, and precipitated ♦ violent argument all over Europe. Many ♦ found fault in it, and Darwin spent the rest of his life ♦ modifying aspects of his theory ♦ in the light of other people's observations.

Technical English
Though this is a semi-technical text rather than a technical text, it employs many of the lexical features of technical English. The blank-fill exercise on endings highlights the use of derived words. In the section on Darwin's Theory - in brief, note the use of quantifiers and articles, and in particular the absence of articles before generalisations, principles and processes.

Other language points Words
Some other points that teachers might like to explain to students.

First paragraph: the illustrious . Adjectives are not normally used as nouns in English: most adjectives cannot be used in this way. But some adjectives, notably some that describe general human conditions, can do so; the rich, the poor, the lonely, the great etc.

men whose.... the word men is repeated at the start of the relative clause, to stress that whose refers to all the men concerned, not just to its direct antecedent Einstein.

Seventh paragraph: those which .... those that .... These two alternative expressions are quite interchangeable

Last paragraph: Malthus. Thomas Malthus, the father of demographics or population studies. Malthus argued that populations could not continually expand in size, as their growth would be limited by the availability of natural resources : "the increase of population is necessarily limited by the means of subsistence". Malthus failed to foresee that improved means of production and increased or better use of resources would allow populations to grow massively from pre-Industrial Revolution levels to today's levels; but in the end he was right. Populations cannot continue growing for ever.... a problem that is facing the world in the 21st century.

according to what is fittest. Note the use of the nominal relative pronoun what, which means that which. The pronoun includes its own antecedent.

inequal, (or unequal) : both forms are found, though unequal is more common in everyday English. The use of inequal stresses a semantic link to the noun inequality.

Darwin is one of the small number of people whose names have been made into new words in languages all over the world. Darwinism and darwinian are well-known English words that have been copied into many other languages. French darwinien, German darwinistisch, Arabic دارويني , Russian дарвинов�?кий, Japanese ダーウィニアン and many more languages.
Interestingly Thomas Malthus, mentioned in the article has given his name to the word malthusian, which has been copied into new words in many languages too.
A Descriptive Grammar of English, published by Linguapress, and available as an ebook, hardcover or paperback from Amazon worldwide, from Barnes & Noble in the USA or Waterstones in the UK, plus other good bookshops..
More grammar : For a clear presentation of English Grammar, discover
© linguapress.com

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Charles Darwin - a genius remembered. Advanced English

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The name of Charles Darwin is known all over the world, and Darwin is remembered as one of the greatest scientists of all time. He has even given some words to the many languages, darwinian and darwinism

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Heavy metal pollution: How can we make water safe to drink? - Science Journal for Kids and Teens

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Audio version of article + Introductory video on water scarcity and contamination + Links to water resources lesson plans

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Task-based Language Teaching; grammar and TBL

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Questions about TBLT? Need task-based lessons plans with commentaries? Check out our conference presentations and read about books on teaching English.

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Microbiology Terms from the Letter A
Abiotic = Non-living

Abiogenesis = Generation of life from abiotic components

Actinomycetes/Actinobacteria = Group of filamentous bacteria

Adhesion = Attachment of microorganisms over biotic/abiotic surface

Agar = Polymer of galactose sugar (agarose) and agaropectin derived from algae and used to solidify culture media

Agar Medium = Solid/semi-solid culture medium containing agar

Agar Diffusion = Diffusion of molecules via matrix in agar medium

Agarose Gel = A semi-solid matrix formed by the solidification of agarose; mainly used in the differentiation of proteins, and nucleic acids

Aerobes = Microorganisms requiring atmospheric oxygen for respiration/survival

Anaerobes = Microorganisms that can survive in absence of atmospheric oxygen

Aerotolerant = Anaerobes that can tolerate atmospheric oxygen

Antibiotics = Medicines/chemicals used against bacteria/bacterial infections

Antibiotic Resistance = ABR; the ability of bacteria to escape the effect of antibiotics

Antifungal = Medicines/chemicals used against fungi/fungal infections

Antifungal Resistance = Ability of fungi to escape the effect of antifungals

Antimicrobials = Medicines/chemicals used against microorganisms/microbial infections

Antimicrobial Resistance = AMR; the ability of microorganisms to escape the effect of antimicrobials

Anthelmintic = Medicines/chemicals used against helminths/helminthic infections

Antiprotozoal = Medicines/chemicals used against protozoa/protozoan infections

Antiparasitic = Medicines/chemicals used against parasites/parasitic infections

Antiviral = Medicines/chemicals used against viruses/viral infections

Antiviral Resistance = Ability of viruses to escape the effect of antivirals

Antiseptics = Antimicrobials applied over living tissues

Archaea = Domain of prokaryotic organisms, similar morphology to bacteria but unique biochemistry against microorganisms

Aseptic = Sterilized/free from microbes

Asepted = Microbial cell lacking septa

Agglutination = Clumping together

Antigen = Foreign body capable of activating the immune system

Antibody = Glycoprotein produced by the immune system against a specific antigen

Antagonistic = Showing inhibitory/cidal response to another

Amphitrichous = Bacteria with a single flagellum at each end

Atrichous = Lacking flagella

Alpha (α)-hemolytic = Microorganisms partially disrupting RBCs giving greenish zone of hemolysis

Attenuate = To reduce the virulence of a pathogen

Autoclave = Sterilizing equipment that uses a pressurized hot stem; to sterilize using an autoclave

Autotroph= Organism that can synthesize their own food

ATP = Adenosine Triphosphate; energy currency of cell/stored form of energy in a living system

AST = Antimicrobial Sensitivity (Susceptibility) Testing; Procedure to test the sensitivity of antimicrobials

ATCC = American Type Culture Collection; Organization storing and providing standard microorganisms

ABR = Antibacterial Resistance

AMR = Antimicrobial Resistance
Microbiology Terms from the Letter B
Bacteria = A domain of prokaryotic, microscopic, unicellular organism

Bacterial Culture = Bacteria grown in a culture medium

Bacteriology = Study of Bacteria

Bacteriophage = Viruses that can infect bacteria

Bacillus = Rod-shaped bacterium

Bacteremia = Presence of bacteria in the blood

Bacteriuria = Presence of bacteria in urine

Bacterial = Caused/Related to bacteria

Bactericidal = Substance having the capacity to kill bacteria

Bacteriostatic = Substance having the capacity to inhibit bacterial growth/multiplication

Basal medium = Culture medium with minimum nutrition that is enriched with highly nutritious substance to make enrichment/special media

Bio-hazard = Biological components that are hazardous

Broth = Liquid culture medium

Broad-spectrum Antibiotics = Antibiotics acting against a broad range (both Gram-positive and negative) of bacteria

Biochemical Tests = A set of tests to identify the biochemical characteristics of a microorganism

Biochemical Characterization = Classification of microorganisms based on biochemical characters

Biofilm = A thick film/aggregate of bacteria formed within a thick slimy extracellular matrix

Bioluminescent bacteria = Bacteria emitting light

Blood Agar = Enriched culture medium containing blood

Blood Borne Infections = Infections transmitted through blood

Buffer = Solution that resists change in pH of a solution

BSC = Bio-safety cabinet
Microbiology Terms from the Letter C
Capsule = Gelatinous extracellular layer covering bacteria, usually made of polysaccharide

Capsulated = Having capsule as the outermost layer

Capsid = Protenious capsular shell enclosing viral genomes

Carbon source = Nutrient/component in a culture medium that provides carbon for microbial growth

Chain = Arrangement of microbial cells in form of a line

Chitin = Protein in the cell wall of the fungus

Chromosome = Bacteria genomic DNA

Cidal effect = Killing of bacteria/microorganisms

Cilia = Fine hair-like appendages in Eukaryotes

Ciliates = Protozoans having cilia

Clone = Offspring of a single microbial cell

Cluster = Arrangement of microbial cells in a group

Cryopreservation = Preservation of microbial cells in very low temperature

Coagulase = Microbial enzyme that can clot plasma

Coagulase Test = Test to detect the ability of a microbe to produce coagulase

Coliform = A group of Gram-negative bacilli found in the feces of vertebrates

Colony = Visible group of microbial cells developed after microbial culture

Complex Media = Media that supports the growth of broad-range of microbes

Compound microscope = Light microscope that uses two sets of lenses

Conjugation = Transfer of bacterial DNA by direct contact between two bacterial cells

Contamination = Introduction of unwanted microorganisms

Contaminated growth = Microbial culture with unwanted/uninoculated microorganisms

Co-culture/Consortia = Mutual growth of two different species/genera of microbes in a single culture

Commensals = Normal flora

Coulter counter = Device used to count microbial cells in a suspension

Culture = To grow/multiply microorganisms; culture medium with grown microorganisms

Culture = Isolated and multiplied single species of microorganisms

Culture Medium = Nutritious substance that supports the growth of microorganisms

CFU = Colony formation unit; microbial cell/cells that form a single colony
Microbiology Terms from the Letter D
Decontamination = Making a sample/object sterile; removal of alive microorganisms

Decomposers = Microorganisms that degrade complex organic matters into a simpler form

Desiccation = Removal of water

Diatoms = Microscopic, unicellular algae

Dinoflagellates = Unicellular algae with two flagella

Diffusion = Spreading over a matrix of medium or gel

Diplococcus = Arrangement of microbial cells in a group of two

Diphtheroid = Commensal bacteria morphologically similar to C. diphtheriae

Dilution = Suspension of microorganisms or chemicals in a certain proportion

Direct Microscopy = Counting of microbial cells in a sample using a microscope

Disinfectant = Chemicals that kill/inhibit microorganisms (used in inanimate surfaces)

Disinfection = Removal of microorganisms (mainly from the inanimate surface)

Disc/Disk = A small circular (usually 6 mm) filter-paper piece mostly used to carry antibiotics or chemicals for test

DNA = Deoxyribonucleic acid
Microbiology Terms from the Letter E
Enterobacterales /Enteric bacteria = Bacteria found in GI-tract; Members of Enterobacteriaceae

Electrophoresis = Technique to separate macromolecules and nucleic acids using electricity over agarose gel

Endotoxin = Pyrogenic lipopolysaccharide mostly within cell-wall of Gram-negative bacteria; toxin within the bacterial cell

Enterotoxin = Exotoxin affecting intestinal cells

Exotoxin = Toxin released outside the microbial cell

Enteric fever = Typhoidal/Paratyphoid fever

Eubacteria = A domain of prokaryotes including true bacteria

Extremophiles = Organisms thriving in extreme environments

ELISA = Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay; a detection technique

ETC = Electron Transport Chain

ESBL = Extended Spectrum -Lactamase; a type of -Lactamase enzyme
Microbiology Terms from the Letter F
Facultative Aerobe = Aerobic microorganism that can even survive in anaerobic condition

Facultative Anaerobe = Anaerobe that can even survive in presence of oxygen

Fermentation = Anaerobic breakdown of organic substance (sugar) into alcohol, acid, or gas by microorganisms

Flagella = Hair-like protruding appendages in the microorganism that provide motility

Flagellates = Microbes having flagella

Filamentous = Long thread-like morphology of microorganisms

Fimbriae = Fine proteinous appendages smaller than flagella

Fluorescence Microscope = Microscope that uses a fluorescent dyed sample and sample emitted light to form a magnified image of the sample

Fungus = Kingdom including eukaryotic organisms with chitin as a component of cell wall
Microbiology Terms from the Letter G
Gene = Functional unit of DNA encoding for a particular trait

Genetic Analysis = Study of genetic materials

Gene mapping =Determining the position of genes in DNA

Genetically Engineered/Modified = Organisms whose genes are artificially modified

Genera/Genus = A taxonomic category below a family that constitutes phylogenetically or morphologically similar species

Genotype = Complete genetic constituent of a microorganism

Germinal Stage = Stage of microbes in which they can replicate

Germs = Microorganisms that can cause disease/infection; pathogens

Germ Theory = A principle that defines the relation between germs and disease

Gliding Bacteria = Bacteria having gliding motility

Globulins = Antibodies

Gram Stain = A compound stain composed of Crystal Violet, Iodine, and Safranin used to differentiate bacteria

Gram Staining = Staining technique that uses Gram stains

Gram Positive = Bacteria that stain purple or violet after Gram staining

Gram Negative = Bacteria that stain red or pink after Gram staining

Growth Medium = Culture medium
Microbiology Terms from the Letter H
Halophiles = Salt-loving microorganisms

Heterotrophs = Organisms that depend on others for food/nutrition

Hazard = A great risk

Hemolysis = Breakdown of RBCs

Hemolytic Bacteria = Bacteria capable of breaking down RBCs

Host = Living body that provides nutrition to parasite

Hyphae = Thin, elongated, and nucleated branching fungal cells either septate or aseptate/non-septate
Microbiology Terms from the Letter I
Immunogenic = Capable of stimulating the immune system

Immunogen = Antigen/infectious agent

Immune = Resistant

Immunity = Resistance against infections

Immunization = Vaccination

Immunodeficiency =Lack of ability of the immune system to resist infections

Immune compromised = Suppressed immune system

Immunoglobulin = Antibodies

In Vitro =In laboratory; outside the natural habitat

In Vivo =In natural habitat

Indicator Organisms/Indicator = Microorganisms that indicate the presence of certain pathogens without actually isolating the pathogens

Infection =Invasion of tissue by one or more pathogenic organisms and establishment of disease

Infectious =Capable of causing infection

Inhibition = Interference and suppression of microbial growth/multiplication

Inhibitory zone = A zone of inhibition formed around an antimicrobial substance

Invasive =Capable of penetrating tissue layer

Inoculation = Introduction (transfer) of microorganisms

Inoculate = To introduce/transfer microorganisms into something

Inoculating Loop = Tool with a loop at its end that is used to transfer microorganisms

Inoculating Wire =Tool with a straight wire that is used to transfer microorganisms

Inoculum = Substance/sample with microorganisms to be tested

Incubate = To keep/maintain in ambient conditions for microbial growth

Incubator = Device that maintains ambient conditions for microbial growth

Incubation = Keeping inoculated media in ambient temperature and atmospheric conditions for microbial growth
Microbiology Terms from the Letter J
Junk DNA = DNA whose function is not known
Microbiology Terms from the Letter K
Koch's Postulates = Criteria to define a microorganism as causative of a disease
Microbiology Terms from the Letter L
LAB = Lactic Acid Bacteria; bacteria producing lactic acid

Laminar Air Flow Cabinet/Hood=Device used to prevent contamination of and from sample

Lancefield Classification = Classification scheme of Streptococcus spp. based on serological characteristics (surface antigens)

Latent = Existing without showing symptoms

Latent Infection = Infection without observable symptoms

Lethal = Potential of taking life

Lethal Dosage (LD)= Amount of toxin that is enough to kill

Lichen = Obligate association of fungus and algae

Light Microscope = Microscope that uses visible light

Liquid Media = Broth/culture medium in a liquid state

Lysogeny = A type of life cycle of viruses (bacteriophage) using viral genome integrated bacterial DNA for multiplication/replication

LPS = Lipopolysaccharide
Microbiology Terms from the Letter M
McFarland Standard Solution = Solution of 1% barium chloride and 1% sulfuric acid at a fixed concentration

Methanogens = Microorganisms producing methane gas during metabolism

Metabolism =Chemical reactions occurring inside living cells

Mesophilic = Microorganisms whose ambient growth temperature is between 20 to 45 ⁰ C

Microbiology = Study of microorganisms

Microbes = Microorganism

Microbial = Relating to microorganisms

Microorganisms = Organisms that are visible only under a microscope

Microscopy = Use of microscope to produce a magnified image of microscopic objects

Microscope = Device used to form a highly magnified image of tiny objects for clear visualization

Microbial flora = Microorganisms normally living in/on our body surface without causing disease

Microaerophilic = Microorganism that can survive in presence of a very low concentration of oxygen

Mold = Filamentous fungi/fungi with mycelial body

Monoclonal = Originating from a single cell

Mutation = Sudden change in gene

Mutant = Organism with certain mutation making it different from than parents

Mycelium = Elongated branching structure of hyphae

Mycology = Study of fungus

MDR = Multi drug resistant

MIC = Minimum inhibitory condition; minimum concentration of antimicrobial required to inhibit microbial growth

MBC = Minimum bactericidal concentration; minimum concentration of antibiotics necessary to kill bacteria

MPN = Most probable number; a technique used to estimate viable microbial concentration in a sample
Microbiology Terms from the Letter N
Negative Bacteria =Gram negative bacteria

No Growth = Lack of microbial multiplication and formation of visible colonies

Non-selective Media = Culture media that support the growth of a wide range of media and produce similar colonies for different microbial species

Non-culturable Bacteria = Bacteria that can't be cultured in vitro in culture media

Nosocomial = Hospital born/acquired
Microbiology Terms from the Letter O
Obligate Parasite = Parasite that can't live outside the host

Obligate Aerobe = Organisms that can't survive without oxygen

Obligate Anaerobe = Organism that can't survive in presence of oxygen

Oncogene = Gene capable of triggering mutation in the cell causing the development of cancer

Oxidizing bacteria = Bacteria that oxidize certain components/substrate
Microbiology Terms from the Letter P
Parasite = Organism that depends on the living body for survival

Parasitic = Depending on others for survival

Pasteurization = A technique of sterilization by rapidly heating and cooling the sample (liquid)

Pathogen = Organism that has the potential to cause infection

Pathogenic = Capable of causing disease

Pathogenicity = Capacity of the pathogen to cause disease

Pathogenesis = Order of development of a disease

Pathology = Study of disease

Pathovar = Bacterial strain with similar characteristics except in their pathogenicity

Petri Dish/Petri plate = Transparent cylindrical plate for containing culture media in which microorganisms are cultured

Phage = Bacteriophage

Phenotype = Observable morphological characteristics

Phenotypic = Based on observable characters

Photosynthetic Microorganisms = Microbes capable of conducting photosynthesis

Pili = Short, thin, flexible, and soft bacterial appendages

Pipette = Instrument used to measure and transfer small volume of liquid sample

Plasmid = Circular, double stranded, extrachromosomal DNA of bacteria

Presumptive Test = Biochemical test to presume the presence of specific microorganisms in a sample

Probiotics =Viable microorganisms that are consumed to promote gut flora and gut health

Prions = Small proteinaceous infective agents lacking nucleic acid

Pseudohyphae = Arrangement of yeast cells giving the appearance of a hyphae

Psychrophilic =Microorganisms thriving in cold

PCR =Polymerase Chain Reaction; a molecular technique to amplify nucleic acid
Microbiology Terms from the Letter Q
Qualitative Analysis/Test = Test to identify microorganisms in a sample

Quantitative Analysis/Test = Tests to identify and count the number of microorganisms in a sample

Quorum Sensing = Coordinated behavior/communication in microbial/bacterial community
Microbiology Terms from the Letter R
Rapid Test = Tests used for quick identification of an unknown microorganism

Recombinant DNA = A chemically combined DNA containing DNA portions of different organisms

Replication = Production of exact copies

Respiration = Breakdown of an organic molecule (glucose)inside the cell producing ATP

Restriction Enzyme = Bacteria enzymes that cleave DNA at specific sites

Reverse Transcription = Process of the formation of DNA from RNA

RNA = Ribonucleic acid

RIA = Radioimmunoassay
Microbiology Terms from the Letter S
Sample = Specimen/Materials from where microorganisms are supposed to be isolated

Selective Media = Media that selectively allow the growth of certain species of microorganisms while inhibiting the growth of the others

Septate =Divided

Serovar = Serotype; bacterial or viral strains with all the characters same but different antigens and stimulate a host's immune system for the production of different antibodies

Sheathed Bacteria = Bacteria arranged in filaments covered with a mucilaginous sheath

Slime Layer = An outer slimy layer in some bacteria made of polysaccharides, glycolipids, and glycoproteins.

Species = A taxonomic category below the genus that can interbreed

Spirochetes = Spirally twisted-shaped bacterial group

Sporulation = Process of formation of spore

Spore = A thick-walled dormant stage of bacteria or fungi that can develop into a viable individual

Sterilization = Process of removing (killing) all viable microorganisms

Strain = Variants of the same species resulted due to certain variations/mutations in their genes

Sub-type = Strain

Sub-species = A taxonomic category below species including organisms that are morphologically distinct but can interbreed

Staph = Staphylococcus

Strep= Streptococcus

SEM = Scanning Electron Microscope
Microbiology Terms from the Letter T
Taq Polymerase = Bacterial polymerase enzyme derived from Thermus aquaticus

Thermophiles = Organisms that thrive in temperatures above 45 ⁰ C

Thermotolerant = Organisms whose ambient temperature is below 45 ⁰C but can even survive and grow in temperatures above 45 ⁰ C

Transcription = Process of formation of RNA from DNA

Translation = Process of formation (decoding) proteins from RNA

Transformation = Transfer of genetic material (DNA) directly from one bacterium to another through a cell membrane

Transduction= Introduction of foreign gene/DNA into bacterial DNA via virus

Transgenic = Organism whose genetics have been altered by incorporation of foreign gene/DNA segment

Transmission = Transfer of pathogens from one host to another

Transposition = Transfer of DNA/gene from one site to another

TEM = Transmission Electron Microscope
Microbiology Terms from the Letter U
Urease Test = Biochemical test to detect the production of urease enzyme by bacteria
Microbiology Terms from the Letter V
Variants = Subtype (usually of viruses and bacteria) that are genetically different but the genetic difference is not sufficient to classify as a separate strain

Viruses = Self-replicating obligate parasitic infectious agents having only one type of nucleic acid as their genome

Virulence = Microorganism's ability to damage host's cells/components

Virulence factor = Molecules secreted by or expressed within pathogens that enable them to establish infection

Vaccine = Medicine that stimulates the body's immune response to protect and prevent infection

Viable = Living

Virology = Study of viruses
Microbiology Terms from the Letter W
Winogradsky Column = An instrument acting as a self-supporting ecosystem used to study microbial diversity of an environment
Microbiology Terms from the Letter X
Xanthophyta = Yellow-green algae
Microbiology Terms from the Letter Y
Yeasts = Single-celled fungi
Microbiology Terms from the Letter Z
ZN-stain = Staining procedure used to stain acid-fast bacteria (Mycobacteria)

Zoonoses = Infections transmitted by animals

Zone of Inhibition = A clear zone without visible microbial growth around antimicrobial component
References

1. World of Microbiology and Immunology K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, Editors. Volumes 1 and 2. 2003. The Gale Group, Inc. 27500 Drake Road Farmington Hills, MI, 48331-3535.

2. Prescott's Microbiology, 12th Ed. 2019. Joanne Willey, Kathleen Sandman and Dorothy Wood. McGraw Hill Publication.

3. Textbook of Microbiology by Surinder Kumar. 2012. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd. ISBN : 978-93-5025-510-0

4. Jawetz, Melnick and Adelberg's Medical Microbiology. 25th Eds. International Edition. 2001. McGraw Hill Publication

5. Textbook of Microbiology and Immunology. 2nd Eds. By Subash Chandra Parija. Elsevier publication.

6. Essentials of Medical Microbiology. 4th Eds. By Rajesh Bhatia and Rattan Lal Ichhpujani. 2008. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd

7. Leber, Amy L., editor in chief. (2016). Clinical microbiology procedures handbook (Fourth edition). Washington, DC : ASM Press 1752 N St., N.W., [2016]

8. Tille, P. M., & Forbes, B. A. (2014). Bailey & Scott's diagnostic microbiology (Thirteenth edition.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.

9. Microbiology from A to Z explained - Micropia - Micropia

10. Microbiology Words - 400+ Words Related to Microbiology (relatedwords.io)

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Microbiology Terms and Terminology with Definitions

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Here are the basic microbiology terms, terminology, and glossary with their meaning and definition. Microbiology terms from letter A to Z.

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Nutrients are substances required by the body to perform its basic functions. Most nutrients must be obtained from our diet, since the human body does not synthesize or produce them. Nutrients have …