Germ

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/germ

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific scope?Germs encompass bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi, protists, and microscopic animals
2. What is the ecological significance?Essential for nutrient cycling, decomposition, oxygen production, and maintaining ecosystem stability

Microbiome: The collection of all microorganisms and their genetic material present in a particular environment, especially within the human body.
Horizontal Gene Transfer: The movement of genetic material between unicellular and/or multicellular organisms other than by the ('vertical') transmission of heredity from parent to offspring.
Bacteriophage: A type of virus that infects and kills bacteria, offering a potential alternative to antibiotics.