Vector
Definition
In biology, a vector refers to an organism that does not cause disease itself but spreads infection by conveying pathogens from one host to another.
Analogy
Consider vectors as delivery drivers. They don't make the pizza (disease), but they deliver it from the pizza place (one host) to your house (another host).
Related terms
Plasmid: A small, circular piece of DNA found in bacteria that can act as a vector in genetic engineering.
Carrier: An organism that harbors a pathogen without suffering disease symptoms, similar to a vector.
Epidemiology: The study of how diseases spread, often involving vectors.
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