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Microbiology Exam Guide Questions and Answers 100% Accurate
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Microbiology Exam Guide
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Microbiology Exam GuideThe Scope of Microbiology and the kinds of work Microbiologists do: Name some things
microbiology has an impact on. Name some different types of microbiology. - answer-
Microbiology has an impact on medicine, agriculture, food science, ecology, genetics,
biochemistry, immunology, and many other fields.
- Many microbiologists are primarily interested in the biology of microorganisms, while
others focus on specific groups.
- Virologists - viruses ; Bacteriologists - bacteria ; Phycologists - algae ; Mycologist -
fungi - Protozoologists - protozoa
- Medical Microbiology: deals with diseases of humans and animals; identify and plan
measures to eliminate agents causing infectious diseases.
- Immunology: study of the immune system that protects the body from pathogens.
- Agricultural Microbiology: impact of microorganisms on agriculture; combat plant
diseases that attack important food crops.
- Food and Dairy Microbiology: prevent microbial spoilage of food & transmission of
food-borne diseases (e.g. salmonellosis); use microorganisms to make food such as
cheeses, yogurts, pickles, beer, etc.
- Industrial Microbiology: using microorganisms to make products such as antibiotics,
vaccines, steroids, alcohols & other solvents, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, etc.
- Genetic Engineering: Engineered microorganisms used to make hormones, antibiotics,
vaccines and other products.
What are the five different types of microbes? - answer- bacteria, viruses, archaea,
fungi, protists
What is microbiology? The science of microbiology revolves around what two
interconnected themes (these would be considered two reasons for studying
microbiology)? - answer- the study of small life
- 1. Understanding the living world of microscopic organisms / understanding basic life
processes
-- Simple
-- Reproduce quickly
-- Grow densely
- 2. Applying our understanding of microbial life processes for the benefit of humankind
and planet earth.
,Microbiologists: What have scientists learned from microorganisms and what can that
generalize to? - answer- a sophisticated understanding of the chemical and physical
basis for life.
- These features make them excellent experimental systems for illuminating life
processes common to multicellular organisms.
- They can grow microbial cells to extremely high densities in small-scale laboratory
cultures, making them readily amenable to rapid biochemical and genetic study.
Microbiology as a basic biological science: - answer- Uses and develops tools for
probing the fundamental processes of life.
Microbiology as an applied science: - answer- Microbiology is at the center of many
important aspects of human and veterinary medicine, agriculture, and industry.
- Many large-scale industrial processes, such as the production of antibiotics and
human proteins, rely heavily on microorganisms.
- Microorganisms affect the everyday lives of humans in both detrimental and beneficial
ways.
Why is microbial life important? - answer- Collectively they constitute the bulk of
biomass on Earth and carry out many necessary chemical reactions for higher
organisms. In the absence of microorganisms, higher life forms would have never
evolved and could not now be sustained
What is the extent of microbial life: Where can they be found? About how many
microbial cells are there on Earth? How are they related to biomass on earth? What are
they comparable to? How many more bacterial cells are there in our bodies compared
to human cells? Where do most bacteria live? - answer- Examination of natural
materials such as soil and water invariably reveals microbial cells, but unusual habitats
such as boiling hot springs and glacial ice are also teeming with microorganisms.
- Estimates of total microbial cell numbers on Earth are on the order of 2.5 * 10^30 cells.
- Microorganisms comprise more biomass than all animals
- Comparable amount to plant life
- 10X more bacteria cells than human cells in our bodies
- Most bacteria live under Earth's surface in oceanic and
terrestrial habitats
Microorganisms are All Cells (Except for Viruses): What is a cell? What is present in all
cells and determines influx and efflux of molecules? What is the name of the structure
that stores genetic information in the form of DNA (hint: is has a different name
depending on cell type)? - answer- a fundamental unit of life
- Has a cell membrane:
,-- Present in all cells
-- Defines the cell's boundary
-- Determines influx and efflux of molecules
- Has a nucleus (eukaryote) or nucleoid (prokaryote):
-- Stores genetic information in the form of DNA
What are the 4 basic cell structures of microbial cells and what are their basic
functions? - answer- Cytoplasmic (cell) membrane
-- Barrier that separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment
- Cytoplasm
-- Fluid that fills cells
- Ribosomes
-- Protein synthesis
- Cell wall
-- Present in most bacteria, confers
structural strength
The characteristics of living systems: All cells are able to do what three things and only
some cells do what three things? - answer- Microbes are Alive (Except for Viruses)
- All cells:
1. Grow/Reproduce
2. Metabolize
3. Evolve
- Some cells:
1. Communicate
2. Move
3. Differentiate
Define: Population ; Habitat ; Community ; Ecosystem ; Microbial Ecology - answer-
Population: A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same
place at the same time (e.g. deer population).
- Habitat: The environment in which a microbial population resides
- Community: An ecological unit composed of a group of organisms or a population of
different species occupying a particular area, usually interacting with each other and
their environment.
-- microbial communities: Microorganisms exist in nature in populations of interacting
assemblages
- Ecosystem: refers to all living organisms plus physical and chemical constituents of
their environment
, - Microbial Ecology: The study of microorganisms in their natural environments
What is meant by the description of cells as machines and as coding devices? - answer-
the description of cells as machines: Cells can be viewed as biochemical catalysts,
carrying out the chemical reactions that constitute metabolism
- cells as coding devices: Replicating DNA and then processing it to form the RNAs and
proteins needed for maintenance and growth under the prevailing conditions.
DNA processing includes what two main events? - answer- The production of RNAs
(transcription) and the production of proteins (translation)
X Environmental Microbiology: Can microbes affect their environment? - answer-
Microbes affect their environments
Growth/Reproduction: turning chemicals and energy into what? All cells come from
where? - answer- Turning chemical and energy into new cells
- All cells come from preexisting cells
- Where and how was life created?!?
Evolve: What can mutate and evolve (hint: they are contained in cells)? What shows
relationships and evolutionary history? - answer- Cells contain genes
- Genes can mutate and evolve
- Phylogenetic trees can show relationships and evolutionary history
Metabolize: Uptake of what from the environment? T/F there is transformation within the
cell? Involves the removal of what? Cells are considered what, which allows them to
exchange with the environment? - answer- Uptake of chemical and energy from the
environment
- True: Transformation within cell
- Removal of waste
- Cells are open systems exchanging with the environment
Move: T/F All cells are capable of self propulsion? T/F cells can propel themselves only
toward a stimulus? - answer• False: some cells are capable of self propulsion
• False: Either toward or away from stimulus
Differentiate: Some cells can form special structures called what? This special structure
is generally highly resistant to what? - answer• Some cells can form special structures
such as spores
• Generally highly resistant to heat, dehydration, etc.
Communicate: How can some cells communicate? - answer- Some cells can
communicate with each other via chemicals that are either released or taken up
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