4. Glossary

enzyme; enzyme

Protein-based biological catalyst. It accelerates a chemical reaction without altering the final equilibrium. At the end of the reaction, the molecule is available for a new substrate (reagent).

virus; viruses

Acellular, not considered to be living organisms in their own right, and possessing the characteristic molecules of living organisms. However, they can only use these molecules to multiply within a cellular host, with the latter's participation. What's more, these small structures don't produce energy (definition of a virus by A. Lwoff in 1953).

bacteria; bactéries

Simple prokaryotic cells with neither nucleus nor organelles in the cytoplasm.

hydrolases; hydrolases

Enzymes (EC3) enable hydrolysis...