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antibiotic	substance derived from fungi or other organisms and used to destroy or prevent the growth of bacteria or other disease-causing organisms.
bacteria	microscopic organisms that often play a role in the decay of living things, the process of fermentation, and sometimes in causing disease. Bacteria are each made up of only one cell, but different kinds of bacteria can take different shapes. These organisms live in all parts of the earth including oceans, deserts, glaciers, hot springs, and in the bodies of most living things. While some kinds of bacteria are dangerous, most kinds are useful because they help in the digestion of food, in the making of soil, in the creation of medicines, and in many other natural processes.
bacterium	singular form of "bacteria." Bacteria are tiny living things made up of one cell each. Bacteria live in most living things and in all parts of the earth. Most bacteria are useful to people, but some are harmful because they can cause disease.
biodegradable	able to be broken down by the action of living organisms such as bacteria.
biodegrade	When something biodegrades, it breaks down because of the action of things like bacteria and fungi. Things like vegetables, meats, and fruits will biodegrade quite quickly. That's why you can't keep them forever, even in the refrigerator. They will eventually break down into tiny substances that are good nutrients for the soil, though.
biologist	a scientist who specializes in biology. Biology is the study of living things, such as plants, animals, cells, and bacteria.
bioluminescence	light given off naturally by certain kinds of insects, fish, or bacteria. The bioluminescence of fireflies allows them to blink on and off in the dark.
boil²	a swollen, painful sore that is filled with pus. A boil is an infection caused by bacteria.
culture	bacteria or other microorganisms that are grown by scientists or doctors for use in tests and experiments. [1/4 definitions]
diarrhea	Diarrhea is a problem with your intestines. You might get it if you eat food that is bad or drink something that contains bacteria, but people usually get it from diseases caused by a virus. Diarrhea gives you pain in your belly and sometimes makes you run to the bathroom! In the bathroom, waste that is full of liquid leaves your body very quickly. The process stops for while but usually returns. Ordinary diarrhea doesn't usually last more than a few hours, but diarrhea can be serious if people have it for a few days or longer because their bodies lose too much water.
disease	A disease is something wrong in your body that makes you sick or causes damage to some part of your body. Some diseases can make you sick just for a short time, but other diseases are very serious. Chicken pox and influenza are two kinds of diseases. Diseases are often caused by bacteria and viruses.
earwax	Earwax is a substance that is produced in your ears. It is brownish yellow and somewhat sticky. Your ears produce earwax as a way to protect the inside of your ears from things like dust or bacteria. Earwax catches these tiny things before they can go further into your ear.
ferment	When a solid or liquid food ferments, the natural sugars contained in the food change to other substances, such as alcohol or acids. Fermenting occurs when some form of bacteria or yeast is added to the food or somehow gets into it. People use the process of fermenting to create certain foods and beverages. Yogurt is a food that is made by fermenting. Yogurt starts out as milk, which has a natural sugar in it called "lactose." A certain kind of bacteria is added to the milk to make it ferment. When the milk ferments, some of the lactose changes into an acid. That's why yogurt has a kind of sour taste.
germ	a microscopic organism, especially one that causes illness. Bacteria and viruses that cause diseases are called germs. [1/2 definitions]
lichen	a living thing that is a fungus and a form of algae or special bacteria living together. The algae or the bacteria use photosynthesis to make food for the fungus. There are many kinds of lichens with different colors, such as green, gray, black, or red. They can look like scales, crusts, or branches. Lichens live on rocks and other places where there is no soil.
microorganism	any life form so small that it can only be seen with a microscope. Microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, and many protozoans.
organism	An organism is any single living thing no matter how big or small. Animals, plants, and even bacteria are organisms.
pasteurize	to heat for a certain length of time. Food and drinks are pasteurized in order to kill most of the harmful bacteria.
penicillin	a kind of mold that is used to make medicines. Penicillin kills some kinds of bacteria that cause diseases.
plague	Plague is a very serious disease that can be passed from one person to another. Plague is caused by certain bacteria. [1/3 definitions]
plaque	a film of bacteria and saliva that forms on teeth. [1/2 definitions]

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