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Microbiology Chapter 1 Exam Questions and Answers 2024
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Microbiology Chapter 1 Exam
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Microbiology Chapter 1 ExamWhat is a microbe? - answer An organism or virus too small to be seen with the unaided
human eye. (AKA-need a microscope!)
What does PCR stand for and what is it used for? - answer Polymerase Chain Reaction
(PCR) is a technique used to amplify small amounts of DNA from an organism.
What is the size range of microbial cells in comparison to viruses? Are microbial cells
unicellular? Can they reproduce? - answer Microbial cells range in size from millimeters
to 0.2 micrometers but viruses can be 10x smaller. Some microbial cells are single-
celled but all of them have their own genome so they may reproduce; viruses do not
contain their own genome and must hijack a cell to reproduce.
Identify/Explain the 3 contradictions towards the definition of a microbe? - answer1)
Super-sized microbial cells- there are certain species of microbes that CAN be seen
with the naked eye. (Ex. Thiocarbamide ambiences, a marine sulfur bacterium that
grows as large as a fruit Flys head)
2) Microbial Communities- there are some multicellular organisms that require a
microscope to observe, yet they are not considered microbes. (Ex. Biofilms are
communities of bacteria that aren't considered microbes but NEED a microscope to be
observed).
3) Viruses- A virus consists of a noncellular particle containing genetic material that
takes over the metabolism of a cell to generate more virus particles. However, some
viruses are larger and more complex that they may have derived from a cell. (Ex.
Mimivirus infects amebas and shows evidence that it may have evolved from a cell.
What are the 3 domains of life. Which 2 are prokaryotes? What subgroups fall under the
eukaryotes? - answer1) Domain Bacteria
2) Domain Archaea
3) Domain Eukarya
Bacteria and Archaea have enough differing genes between them to be separate
domains but both domains are considered to be prokaryotes (cells lacking a nucleus).
The eukaryotes (cells with a nucleus) include the following subgroups:
-algae and plants
-fungi and animals
-protists
What does the domain Archaea consist of? What do all 3 domains share in common? -
answerThe domain Archaea consists of extremophiles; organisms that are found in
harsh environments such as extreme temperatures or highly acidic/sulfuric conditions.
, The 3 domains commonly share an ancestral cell.
What is a genome and why is it important in the study of microbes? - answerA genome
is the TOTAL genetic information contained in an organism's chromosomal DNA.
Studying the genome of a microbe and its DNA sequence reveals how a microbe grows
and associates with other species. (Ex. A microbe with a nitrogen-fixing enzyme can
probably fixate nitrogen and associate with plants.)
What were the accomplishments of Fred Sanger and which microbe genome was
completed in 1995? - answerDeveloped the first method of DNA sequencing large
enough to sequence genomes.
In 1995, the genome of Haemophilus influenzae was the first cellular microbe to be
completed, having nearly 2 million base pairs and 1700 genes!
Note: Although H. influenzae is a virus, it does not actually cause the flu.
How do metagenomes differ from sequencing individual genomes? -
answerMetagenomes are a collection of DNA sequences taken directly from the
ENVIRONMENT, whereas individual genome sequencing only includes DNA from a
particular organism.
How have microbes shaped human history?
Think food/beverages/and rocks. - answer1) Yeasts and Bacteria can be found in
numerous foods and beverages.
2) Lithotrophs (AKA "rock-eaters"), a bacteria that consumes rocks, using their sulfur as
an energy source, enables the mining of desired metals.
However, the process of bacterial leeching becomes problematic when acidic pollution
in the air causes microbial acidification, a process in which important stone monuments
experience microbial corrosion.
What are some examples of devastating microbial diseases?
Think rats/terrible bloody cough/dangerous sexually transmitted disease. - answer14th
Century Europe- Yersinia pestis, a bacterium spread by rat fleas.
19th Century Europe- Myocobacterium tuberculosis (TB), airborne disease.
Current widespread disease- Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by
human-immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Who was Florence Nightengale and what was she the founder of? What was the
significance of her work? - answerFlorence Nightengale was a nurse whom founded the
science of medical statistics. She used a "polar area chart" to demonstrate that more
soldiers were dying of microbial diseases than Crimean war causes. She successfully
convinced Britain to improve the living conditions of the British Army and the aiding
hospitals.
What was Robert Hooke's significant contribution to microbiology? - answerHooke was
the first person to create a compound microscope (only 30x magnification, used to view
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