Microbiology: Exam 1 Study Guide
Questions with All Correct Answers
2025-2026 Updated.
microorganisms - Answer life forms too small to be seen by the human eye
bacteriology - Answer the study of bacteria
mycology - Answer the study of fungi
pathogens - Answer organisms that cause disease
culture media - Answer cells grown in/on nutrient medium
growth - Answer increase in cell number resulting from cell division
infection - Answer microorganism is growing in the body
cytoplasmic membrane; cytoplasm; ribosomes - Answer What do all cells have in common?
peptidoglycan, pseudomurein, chitin, cellulose - Answer What are some potential molecules
that make up cell walls?
Mycoplasma - Answer What genus bacteria has no cell wall?
genome - Answer a cell's full set of genes
eukaryotic has linear DNA; prokaryotic has a single circular chromosome and may also have
plasmids - Answer What is the difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic DNA?
morphology - Answer cell size and shape
Cyanobacteria - Answer What bacteria was responsible for the oxygenation of Earth?
, agents of disease, bioremediation, vaccination and antibiotic therapy, water treatment, food
safety, microflora, fermentation, biotechnology - Answer What are some of the functions of
microorganisms in human life?
industrial microbiology - Answer use of microorganisms for major industries such as
pharmaceuticals and brewing
biotechnology - Answer genetically engineered microbes making high-value products in
small amounts
bioremediation - Answer using microorganisms to clean up pollutants
Robert Hooke - Answer first to observe "small chambers" in cork and call them cells.
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek - Answer discovered bacteria with the microscope, calling them
small animalcules. Created his own microscopes in order to look at bacteria.
basic dyes - Answer positively-charged dyes that bind strongly to charged cell components,
such as methylene blue, crystal violet, and safranin
differential stains - Answer use a primary stain and a counterstain to distinguish cell types or
parts
phase-contrast microscopy - Answer Allows examination of living organisms and internal cell
structures
Brings together two sets of light rays, direct rays, and diffracted rays to form an image. Result is
dark cells on a light background.
dark-field microscopy - Answer a form of microscopy in which the specimen is brightly
illuminated on a dark background. Excellent for observing motility in microorganisms.
fluorescence microscopy - Answer uses a fluorescent dye that emits fluorescence when
illuminated with ultraviolet radiation. Cells appear to glow. Helpful in clinical diagnostic
microbiology for enumerating bacteria.
transmission electron microscopy - Answer An electron microscope used to study the
internal structure of thin sections of cells
Questions with All Correct Answers
2025-2026 Updated.
microorganisms - Answer life forms too small to be seen by the human eye
bacteriology - Answer the study of bacteria
mycology - Answer the study of fungi
pathogens - Answer organisms that cause disease
culture media - Answer cells grown in/on nutrient medium
growth - Answer increase in cell number resulting from cell division
infection - Answer microorganism is growing in the body
cytoplasmic membrane; cytoplasm; ribosomes - Answer What do all cells have in common?
peptidoglycan, pseudomurein, chitin, cellulose - Answer What are some potential molecules
that make up cell walls?
Mycoplasma - Answer What genus bacteria has no cell wall?
genome - Answer a cell's full set of genes
eukaryotic has linear DNA; prokaryotic has a single circular chromosome and may also have
plasmids - Answer What is the difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic DNA?
morphology - Answer cell size and shape
Cyanobacteria - Answer What bacteria was responsible for the oxygenation of Earth?
, agents of disease, bioremediation, vaccination and antibiotic therapy, water treatment, food
safety, microflora, fermentation, biotechnology - Answer What are some of the functions of
microorganisms in human life?
industrial microbiology - Answer use of microorganisms for major industries such as
pharmaceuticals and brewing
biotechnology - Answer genetically engineered microbes making high-value products in
small amounts
bioremediation - Answer using microorganisms to clean up pollutants
Robert Hooke - Answer first to observe "small chambers" in cork and call them cells.
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek - Answer discovered bacteria with the microscope, calling them
small animalcules. Created his own microscopes in order to look at bacteria.
basic dyes - Answer positively-charged dyes that bind strongly to charged cell components,
such as methylene blue, crystal violet, and safranin
differential stains - Answer use a primary stain and a counterstain to distinguish cell types or
parts
phase-contrast microscopy - Answer Allows examination of living organisms and internal cell
structures
Brings together two sets of light rays, direct rays, and diffracted rays to form an image. Result is
dark cells on a light background.
dark-field microscopy - Answer a form of microscopy in which the specimen is brightly
illuminated on a dark background. Excellent for observing motility in microorganisms.
fluorescence microscopy - Answer uses a fluorescent dye that emits fluorescence when
illuminated with ultraviolet radiation. Cells appear to glow. Helpful in clinical diagnostic
microbiology for enumerating bacteria.
transmission electron microscopy - Answer An electron microscope used to study the
internal structure of thin sections of cells
