PORTAGE LEARNING 2025 BIOD 171
ESSENTIAL MICROBIOLOGY FINAL 100 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2026
VERIFIED ANSWERS GRADED A+ STUDY
Microbiology is the study of what? - CORRECT ANSWER -My answer: Microbiology is
the study of microorganisms and their biological processes at what is called the "micro" or
"microscopic" level.
Answer Key: Microbiology is the study of microbes (microorganisms and viruses) and their biological
processes.
What is the smallest biological unit of life? - CORRECT ANSWER -the cell
What is a macromolecule? - CORRECT ANSWER -My answer: Macromolecules are
large and complicated molecules that are made up of smaller molecules. Examples of
macromolecules are polysaccharides, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.
More info:
- Proteins are made up of amino acids (of which there are 20 different types).
- Nucleic Acids can be either DNA or RNA. Nucleic acids are made up of nucleotides. For DNA, the
nucleotides are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and thymine (T). For RNA, the nucleotides are
adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and uracil (U).
- Lipids are made up of hydrocarbons.
- Polysaccharides are made up of monosaccharides.
Answer Key: A macromolecule is classified as a complex molecule that is composed from smaller
subunits.
What are the four main types of macromolecules? - CORRECT ANSWER -My answer:
polysaccharides, lipids, nucleic acids, proteins
Answer Key: Proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and polysaccharides
, What various functions do proteins have in a cell? - CORRECT ANSWER -My Answer:
Proteins have several functions in the cell;
1. To assist materials in moving in and out of the cell
2. To act as a catalyst enzyme which speeds up a biochemical process
3. To provide structure in the cell
4. To enable movement (e.g. filaments)
Answer Key: Proteins may facilitate the movement of materials in or out of a cell. Some can act as
enzymes that catalyze, or speed up, biochemical processes. Others play a structural role while other
proteins, such as filaments, enable movement.
What are the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles? - CORRECT ANSWER -
My Answer: The two major types of nucleic acids and their roles are as follows;
1. DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA is located in the nucleus of the cell. DNA's role in the cell is to store hereditary information.
2. RNA: Ribonucleic acid
RNA is located in nucleus as well, but can also travel outside of the nucleus into other parts of the
cell.
Answer Key: There are two major types of nucleic acids: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA
(ribonucleic acid). Nucleic acids are chemical molecules that carry genetic information within the
cell. DNA contains a vast amount of hereditary information and is responsible for the inheritable
characteristics of living organisms. RNA is responsible for deciphering the hereditary information in
DNA and using it to synthesize proteins.
What is the plasma membrane, and what is it made up of? - CORRECT ANSWER -My
answer: The plasma membrane, as the outer portion of the cell, serves to contain and protect the
cell's cytoplasmic space from outside elements. It's semipermeable which means it has the ability to
allow only certain substances to pass through.
The plasma membrane is a lipid bilayer made up of phospholipids. One layer has its hydrophilic
heads pointed to the outside of the cell, with hydrophobic tails inside the cell membrane. The
second later has its hydrophilic heads pointed to the inside of the cell, with the hydrophobic tails
inside the cell membrane as well. Essentially, the hydrophobic tails are pointed toward each other
(touching neither the outside nor inside of the cell) with the outer hydrophilic heads pointing
outside the cell and the inner hydrophilic heads pointing inside the cell.
ESSENTIAL MICROBIOLOGY FINAL 100 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2026
VERIFIED ANSWERS GRADED A+ STUDY
Microbiology is the study of what? - CORRECT ANSWER -My answer: Microbiology is
the study of microorganisms and their biological processes at what is called the "micro" or
"microscopic" level.
Answer Key: Microbiology is the study of microbes (microorganisms and viruses) and their biological
processes.
What is the smallest biological unit of life? - CORRECT ANSWER -the cell
What is a macromolecule? - CORRECT ANSWER -My answer: Macromolecules are
large and complicated molecules that are made up of smaller molecules. Examples of
macromolecules are polysaccharides, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.
More info:
- Proteins are made up of amino acids (of which there are 20 different types).
- Nucleic Acids can be either DNA or RNA. Nucleic acids are made up of nucleotides. For DNA, the
nucleotides are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and thymine (T). For RNA, the nucleotides are
adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and uracil (U).
- Lipids are made up of hydrocarbons.
- Polysaccharides are made up of monosaccharides.
Answer Key: A macromolecule is classified as a complex molecule that is composed from smaller
subunits.
What are the four main types of macromolecules? - CORRECT ANSWER -My answer:
polysaccharides, lipids, nucleic acids, proteins
Answer Key: Proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and polysaccharides
, What various functions do proteins have in a cell? - CORRECT ANSWER -My Answer:
Proteins have several functions in the cell;
1. To assist materials in moving in and out of the cell
2. To act as a catalyst enzyme which speeds up a biochemical process
3. To provide structure in the cell
4. To enable movement (e.g. filaments)
Answer Key: Proteins may facilitate the movement of materials in or out of a cell. Some can act as
enzymes that catalyze, or speed up, biochemical processes. Others play a structural role while other
proteins, such as filaments, enable movement.
What are the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles? - CORRECT ANSWER -
My Answer: The two major types of nucleic acids and their roles are as follows;
1. DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA is located in the nucleus of the cell. DNA's role in the cell is to store hereditary information.
2. RNA: Ribonucleic acid
RNA is located in nucleus as well, but can also travel outside of the nucleus into other parts of the
cell.
Answer Key: There are two major types of nucleic acids: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA
(ribonucleic acid). Nucleic acids are chemical molecules that carry genetic information within the
cell. DNA contains a vast amount of hereditary information and is responsible for the inheritable
characteristics of living organisms. RNA is responsible for deciphering the hereditary information in
DNA and using it to synthesize proteins.
What is the plasma membrane, and what is it made up of? - CORRECT ANSWER -My
answer: The plasma membrane, as the outer portion of the cell, serves to contain and protect the
cell's cytoplasmic space from outside elements. It's semipermeable which means it has the ability to
allow only certain substances to pass through.
The plasma membrane is a lipid bilayer made up of phospholipids. One layer has its hydrophilic
heads pointed to the outside of the cell, with hydrophobic tails inside the cell membrane. The
second later has its hydrophilic heads pointed to the inside of the cell, with the hydrophobic tails
inside the cell membrane as well. Essentially, the hydrophobic tails are pointed toward each other
(touching neither the outside nor inside of the cell) with the outer hydrophilic heads pointing
outside the cell and the inner hydrophilic heads pointing inside the cell.
