Aerobic - having molecular oxygen present; growing in the presence of air.

Anaerobic - the absence of oxygen; able to live or grow in th absence of free oxygen.

Bioremediation - An extension of biological treatment processes that have traditionally been used to treat wastes in which microorganisms typically are used to biodegrade environmental pollutants.

BOD - biological oxygen demand.

Cell Wall - structure outside of and protecting the cell membrane.

Chloroplasts - the sites of photosynthesis in eukaryotic organisms.

Cytoplasmic Membane - the selectively permeable membrane that forms the outer limit of the protoplast, bordered externally by the cell wall in most bacteria.

DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid, passes hereditary information to offspring cells.

Endoplasmic Reticulum - the extensive array of internal membranes in a eukaryotic cell involved in coordinating protein synthesis.

Enteropathogenic - pathogens of or pertaining to the intestines.

Facultative Anaerobes - microorganisms capable of growth under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions; bacteria capable of both fermentative and respiratory metabolism.

Genome - the complete set of genetic information in a haploid set of chromosomes.

Golgi Apparatus - a membranous organelle of eukaryotic organisms involved in the formation of secretory vesicles and the synthesis of complex polysaccharides.

Heterogeneous - composed of different substances; not homologous.

Heterotrophs - organisms requiring organic compounds for growth and reproduction, the organic compounds serve as sources of carbon and energy.

Hydrophobic - a substance lacking an affinity for water; not soluble in water.

Methanogens - a type of anaerobic metabolism that results in methane production.

Mitochondrian - the site of respiration and other cellular processes in eukaryotic cells.

Nucleus - an organelle of eukaryotes in which the cell's genome occurs; the differentiated protoplasm of a cell that is rich in nucleic acids and is surrounded by a membrane.

Obligate Anaerobes - organisms that cannot use molecular oxygen; organisms that grow only under anaerobic conditions, i.e., in the absence of air or oxygen.

Organelles - membrane-bound structure that forms part of a microorganism and that performs specialized function.

Pathogens - organisms capable of causing disease in animals, plants, or microorganisms.

Ribosomes - cellular structures composed of ribosomal RNA and protein; the sites where protein synthesis occurs within cells.

Sludge - the solid portion of sewage.

Vacuoles - a membrane-bound cavity within a cell that may function in digestion, secretion, storage or excretion.