BACTERIAL IDENTIFICATION LAB
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(VERIFIED AND UPDATED)
To familiarize students with the science and technology used to identify types of DNA based on
their DNA sequence. - ANS What is the overall purpose of this virtual lab?
Prepare a sample and isolate the whole DNA, make copies of it, sequence the DNA, analyze and
identify - ANS What are the four basic steps involved in this bacterial identification lab?
The piece of DNA used for identifying bacteria; The identification relies on matching the
sequence from your sample against a database of all known 16S rDNA sequences - ANS What
is "16S rDNA," and how is it used to identify species of bacteria?
to identify a bacterial sample received from a clinician. - ANS As the pathology lab technician,
what is your task in this virtual lab?
dissolving the cell wall with a digestive buffer (in the white-capped bottle) available as a
commercial kit - ANS Extracting DNA involves which initial step?
- ANS What is the wire ring used for?
The buffer contains proteolytic enzymes that eat the cell wall. - ANS Why are the proteolytic
enzymes necessary?
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Since we will be using other enzymes in the next step, we need to get rid of the proteolytic
enzymes. - ANS Why do you then need to inactivate the proteolytic enzymes and how do you
do it?
DNA is lighter than the cellular debris floating around from the step that destroyed the cellular
wall. The centrifuge allows us to safely remove the DNA from the microcentrifuge tube. -
ANS After removing the enzymes, why do you spin the sample in the centrifuge?
a solid deposit of cellular debris - ANS What is the pellet?
the liquid - ANS What is the supernatant?
the DNA is contained in the supernatant - ANS Where is the DNA?
Polymerase Chain Reactant; makes copies of DNA - ANS What does "PCR" stand for and what
is the purpose of PCR?
- ANS Summarize the process of PCR in a diagram. Include all the steps, labeled and in the
right order.
water, a buffer to maintain pH, nitrogenous bases - ANS What does the Master Mix contain?
small pieces of DNA that bind to specific sequences - ANS What are primers? Why is a primer
added?
The hotness is then elevated once again to 72 degrees Celsius. - ANS Once the primers bind,
what occurs next?
Extremely similar among different species - ANS What does "highly conserved" mean?
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(VERIFIED AND UPDATED)
To familiarize students with the science and technology used to identify types of DNA based on
their DNA sequence. - ANS What is the overall purpose of this virtual lab?
Prepare a sample and isolate the whole DNA, make copies of it, sequence the DNA, analyze and
identify - ANS What are the four basic steps involved in this bacterial identification lab?
The piece of DNA used for identifying bacteria; The identification relies on matching the
sequence from your sample against a database of all known 16S rDNA sequences - ANS What
is "16S rDNA," and how is it used to identify species of bacteria?
to identify a bacterial sample received from a clinician. - ANS As the pathology lab technician,
what is your task in this virtual lab?
dissolving the cell wall with a digestive buffer (in the white-capped bottle) available as a
commercial kit - ANS Extracting DNA involves which initial step?
- ANS What is the wire ring used for?
The buffer contains proteolytic enzymes that eat the cell wall. - ANS Why are the proteolytic
enzymes necessary?
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Since we will be using other enzymes in the next step, we need to get rid of the proteolytic
enzymes. - ANS Why do you then need to inactivate the proteolytic enzymes and how do you
do it?
DNA is lighter than the cellular debris floating around from the step that destroyed the cellular
wall. The centrifuge allows us to safely remove the DNA from the microcentrifuge tube. -
ANS After removing the enzymes, why do you spin the sample in the centrifuge?
a solid deposit of cellular debris - ANS What is the pellet?
the liquid - ANS What is the supernatant?
the DNA is contained in the supernatant - ANS Where is the DNA?
Polymerase Chain Reactant; makes copies of DNA - ANS What does "PCR" stand for and what
is the purpose of PCR?
- ANS Summarize the process of PCR in a diagram. Include all the steps, labeled and in the
right order.
water, a buffer to maintain pH, nitrogenous bases - ANS What does the Master Mix contain?
small pieces of DNA that bind to specific sequences - ANS What are primers? Why is a primer
added?
The hotness is then elevated once again to 72 degrees Celsius. - ANS Once the primers bind,
what occurs next?
Extremely similar among different species - ANS What does "highly conserved" mean?
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
