Microbiology and Immunology: Key Concepts and
Techniques Questions With Complete Solutions
Are bacterial smear cells alive or dead? Correct Answers Dead
(dried and heat-fixed).
Are wet mounts usually stained? Correct Answers No.
As what intermediate does glycerol enter glycolysis? Correct
Answers Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P).
Can a medium be both enriched and differential? Correct
Answers Yes, for example, blood agar.
Can a medium be both general purpose and
selective/differential/enriched? Correct Answers No, they are
mutually exclusive categories.
Can a medium be both selective and differential? Correct
Answers Yes, for example, MacConkey, EMB, Mannitol Salt.
Can transcription and translation occur simultaneously in
bacteria? Correct Answers Yes, they can occur simultaneously
in cytoplasm.
Define 'endemic.' Correct Answers Low, constant rate in a
region/population.
Define 'pandemic.' Correct Answers Epidemic involving
multiple continents/worldwide with transmission.
,Describe Gram-negative bacteria. Correct Answers Thin
peptidoglycan and outer membrane.
Describe Gram-positive bacteria. Correct Answers Thick
peptidoglycan cell wall, no outer membrane.
Do cyclic photosystems produce oxygen? Correct Answers No.
Does pasteurization achieve sterility? Correct Answers No.
Endotoxin is associated with which structure? Correct Answers
LPS lipid A (Gram− outer membrane component).
How are eukaryotic chromosomes structured? Correct Answers
Multiple linear chromosomes; replicated in nucleus; wrapped
around histones; telomeres protect ends.
How are protozoans classified by locomotion? Correct Answers
Apicomplexans (immotile), flagellates, ciliates, amoebas
(pseudopods).
How can contrast be improved? Correct Answers Primarily by
staining; also proper condenser setup; sometimes
focusing/dimming light at low magnification.
How can resistance be acquired? Correct Answers Genetic or
non-genetic mechanisms.
How can resistance be minimized? Correct Answers Finish full
course; use antibiotics only when necessary.
,How can resolution be improved? Correct Answers Improve
focus; use a shorter wavelength of light (e.g., blue); use higher-
resolution microscopy (e.g., electron).
How do algae usually cause disease? Correct Answers By
intoxications (toxins), not infections.
How do amoebazoa move? Correct Answers Using
pseudopods; they reproduce asexually by fission.
How do buffers help resist pH changes? Correct Answers By
donating or accepting protons as needed.
How do eukaryotic flagella move? Correct Answers In a whip-
like motion (not rotation).
How do flagellates (mastigophorans) move? Correct Answers
By flagella; they can reproduce sexually by syngamy and
asexually by fission.
How do fungi obtain nutrition? Correct Answers Usually
saprobes (digest dead organic matter by secreting enzymes).
How do noncyclic photosystems produce oxygen? Correct
Answers Photolysis of water to replace electrons, releasing
oxygen.
How do prokaryotes reproduce? Correct Answers Binary
fission.
, How does anaerobic respiration differ? Correct Answers Uses
inorganic acceptors other than oxygen (e.g., nitrate, sulfate, iron)
and yields less ATP than aerobic.
How is MR-VP read? Correct Answers After incubation, split
the broth and add MR reagent to one and VP reagents to the
other.
How is the genus written? Correct Answers Capitalized and
italicized.
How is the lagging strand synthesized? Correct Answers
Discontinuous Okazaki fragments.
How is the leading strand synthesized? Correct Answers
Continuous synthesis following helicase.
How is the species written? Correct Answers Lowercase and
italicized.
How is TSI inoculated? Correct Answers Stab into the butt
(anaerobic) with a needle and streak the slant (aerobic).
How many resistance genes can R-plasmids carry? Correct
Answers About 6-7 genes.
If oxidase is positive, what does it suggest about oxygen use?
Correct Answers The microbe is an aerobe (uses oxygen in
respiration).
Techniques Questions With Complete Solutions
Are bacterial smear cells alive or dead? Correct Answers Dead
(dried and heat-fixed).
Are wet mounts usually stained? Correct Answers No.
As what intermediate does glycerol enter glycolysis? Correct
Answers Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P).
Can a medium be both enriched and differential? Correct
Answers Yes, for example, blood agar.
Can a medium be both general purpose and
selective/differential/enriched? Correct Answers No, they are
mutually exclusive categories.
Can a medium be both selective and differential? Correct
Answers Yes, for example, MacConkey, EMB, Mannitol Salt.
Can transcription and translation occur simultaneously in
bacteria? Correct Answers Yes, they can occur simultaneously
in cytoplasm.
Define 'endemic.' Correct Answers Low, constant rate in a
region/population.
Define 'pandemic.' Correct Answers Epidemic involving
multiple continents/worldwide with transmission.
,Describe Gram-negative bacteria. Correct Answers Thin
peptidoglycan and outer membrane.
Describe Gram-positive bacteria. Correct Answers Thick
peptidoglycan cell wall, no outer membrane.
Do cyclic photosystems produce oxygen? Correct Answers No.
Does pasteurization achieve sterility? Correct Answers No.
Endotoxin is associated with which structure? Correct Answers
LPS lipid A (Gram− outer membrane component).
How are eukaryotic chromosomes structured? Correct Answers
Multiple linear chromosomes; replicated in nucleus; wrapped
around histones; telomeres protect ends.
How are protozoans classified by locomotion? Correct Answers
Apicomplexans (immotile), flagellates, ciliates, amoebas
(pseudopods).
How can contrast be improved? Correct Answers Primarily by
staining; also proper condenser setup; sometimes
focusing/dimming light at low magnification.
How can resistance be acquired? Correct Answers Genetic or
non-genetic mechanisms.
How can resistance be minimized? Correct Answers Finish full
course; use antibiotics only when necessary.
,How can resolution be improved? Correct Answers Improve
focus; use a shorter wavelength of light (e.g., blue); use higher-
resolution microscopy (e.g., electron).
How do algae usually cause disease? Correct Answers By
intoxications (toxins), not infections.
How do amoebazoa move? Correct Answers Using
pseudopods; they reproduce asexually by fission.
How do buffers help resist pH changes? Correct Answers By
donating or accepting protons as needed.
How do eukaryotic flagella move? Correct Answers In a whip-
like motion (not rotation).
How do flagellates (mastigophorans) move? Correct Answers
By flagella; they can reproduce sexually by syngamy and
asexually by fission.
How do fungi obtain nutrition? Correct Answers Usually
saprobes (digest dead organic matter by secreting enzymes).
How do noncyclic photosystems produce oxygen? Correct
Answers Photolysis of water to replace electrons, releasing
oxygen.
How do prokaryotes reproduce? Correct Answers Binary
fission.
, How does anaerobic respiration differ? Correct Answers Uses
inorganic acceptors other than oxygen (e.g., nitrate, sulfate, iron)
and yields less ATP than aerobic.
How is MR-VP read? Correct Answers After incubation, split
the broth and add MR reagent to one and VP reagents to the
other.
How is the genus written? Correct Answers Capitalized and
italicized.
How is the lagging strand synthesized? Correct Answers
Discontinuous Okazaki fragments.
How is the leading strand synthesized? Correct Answers
Continuous synthesis following helicase.
How is the species written? Correct Answers Lowercase and
italicized.
How is TSI inoculated? Correct Answers Stab into the butt
(anaerobic) with a needle and streak the slant (aerobic).
How many resistance genes can R-plasmids carry? Correct
Answers About 6-7 genes.
If oxidase is positive, what does it suggest about oxygen use?
Correct Answers The microbe is an aerobe (uses oxygen in
respiration).
