VBS 2032 Exam 1 QuEStionS and anSwErS PracticE
QuEStionS with SolutionS nEwESt 2026/2027|
alrEady GradEd a+
What does the term "ubiquity" mean? - ANSWER-Found everywhere on the planet
What are some surprising places microbes are found? - ANSWER-Found in hot springs
and nutrient poor environments beneath glaciers
How can microbes travel - ANSWER-Air, skin to skin
We do not yet know the extent of microbial diversity. Why not? - ANSWER-Still
developing new techniques for sequencing the DNA and RNA from environmental
samples
What are three ways in which microbial activity is essential for life on this planet? -
ANSWER-Nitrogen fixation, recycling, and O2 production
Where are several places microbial biofilms can be found in daily life? - ANSWER-On
teeth, on toilet bowls, in kitchen drains
What are two ways microbes have changed that impact healthcare? - ANSWER-
Microbes have become antibiotic and disinfectant resistant, they can help boost your
immune system
Most microbes are not harmful. What are some reasons for this? - ANSWER-They
would have to be able to avoid our immune system, grow at body temperature, and
extract nutrients from tissues. This is difficult to do.
Your friend recently ate a salad containing a brand of spinach that was recalled for
contamination with E. coli. Can you explain to her the factors that will influence whether
or not she becomes ill? - ANSWER-Number of microbes- how many she consumed
,Virulence of microbe- how well the microbes can evade her immune system
Host immunity- is she immune of immunocompromised?
What are some ways that the Chain of Infection can be broken? - ANSWER-Isolate and
treat patient, wash hands and disinfect surfaces, vaccinate
Describe three ways our changing relationship with wildlife affects the emergence of
new infectious diseases. - ANSWER-Habitat destruction, the dilution effect, and the
wildlife trade
What can we do to avoid the next pandemic? - ANSWER-Find out what viruses there
are in wildlife and work with the communities that are on the front line
An increase in the ___________will decrease the likelihood of infection. - ANSWER-Host
immunity
Nitrogen fixation is an essential process carried out by: - ANSWER-Algae and bacteria
What two scientists are credited with discovering microorganisms? - ANSWER-Robert
Hooke and Antoni van Leewenhoek
Is a virus considered a microorganism? Why or why not? - ANSWER-No because they
are acellular and are not alive
What are some basic differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? -
ANSWER-Eukaryotes have a nucleus and membrane bound organelles whereas a
prokaryote does not
What are the relative sizes of a human cell, a protein, a virus and most bacteria? -
ANSWER-Human cell: 10-100 microm, protein: 10 nm, virus: 100 nm, bacteria 1-10
microm
, How are microorganisms named? - ANSWER-Genus (name or shape) first then
species
Why did some scientists have difficulty achieving the same result as Pasteur with the
swan-necked flask? - ANSWER-Since Pasteur used a yeast extract and sugar broth
there were no heat resistant microbes in his broth
What two scientists helped explain the conflicting data? - ANSWER-Tyndall and Cohn
Can you explain how the swan-necked flask experiment helped disprove the idea of
spontaneous generation? - ANSWER-When the broth was boiled the microbes got
trapped in the curve of the neck, the broth did not become cloudy until the flask was
tipped and the microbes were reintroduced to the broth
How could the potato salad have been prepared safely? (Why did people become ill?). -
ANSWER-If the potato salad was used with canned potatoes using the pressure cooker
method the high temperature would have killed the endospores.
Why was there only one fatality? - ANSWER-There are many factors that contribute to
whether or not someone will die from an illness
The scientific name of an organism includes its - ANSWER-Genus and species
The idea of spontaneous generation postulated that: - ANSWER-living organisms
could spontaneously arise from non-living material
What is a virulence factor? - ANSWER-Traits of a microbe that promote pathogenicity
What parts of the cell can act as virulence factors? - ANSWER-(different agents used
by the pathogen to sneak a disease into our system)
· Flagella: composed of the protein flagellin, function in motility
· Pili (Fimbriae): DNA exchange, adherence, motility
QuEStionS with SolutionS nEwESt 2026/2027|
alrEady GradEd a+
What does the term "ubiquity" mean? - ANSWER-Found everywhere on the planet
What are some surprising places microbes are found? - ANSWER-Found in hot springs
and nutrient poor environments beneath glaciers
How can microbes travel - ANSWER-Air, skin to skin
We do not yet know the extent of microbial diversity. Why not? - ANSWER-Still
developing new techniques for sequencing the DNA and RNA from environmental
samples
What are three ways in which microbial activity is essential for life on this planet? -
ANSWER-Nitrogen fixation, recycling, and O2 production
Where are several places microbial biofilms can be found in daily life? - ANSWER-On
teeth, on toilet bowls, in kitchen drains
What are two ways microbes have changed that impact healthcare? - ANSWER-
Microbes have become antibiotic and disinfectant resistant, they can help boost your
immune system
Most microbes are not harmful. What are some reasons for this? - ANSWER-They
would have to be able to avoid our immune system, grow at body temperature, and
extract nutrients from tissues. This is difficult to do.
Your friend recently ate a salad containing a brand of spinach that was recalled for
contamination with E. coli. Can you explain to her the factors that will influence whether
or not she becomes ill? - ANSWER-Number of microbes- how many she consumed
,Virulence of microbe- how well the microbes can evade her immune system
Host immunity- is she immune of immunocompromised?
What are some ways that the Chain of Infection can be broken? - ANSWER-Isolate and
treat patient, wash hands and disinfect surfaces, vaccinate
Describe three ways our changing relationship with wildlife affects the emergence of
new infectious diseases. - ANSWER-Habitat destruction, the dilution effect, and the
wildlife trade
What can we do to avoid the next pandemic? - ANSWER-Find out what viruses there
are in wildlife and work with the communities that are on the front line
An increase in the ___________will decrease the likelihood of infection. - ANSWER-Host
immunity
Nitrogen fixation is an essential process carried out by: - ANSWER-Algae and bacteria
What two scientists are credited with discovering microorganisms? - ANSWER-Robert
Hooke and Antoni van Leewenhoek
Is a virus considered a microorganism? Why or why not? - ANSWER-No because they
are acellular and are not alive
What are some basic differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? -
ANSWER-Eukaryotes have a nucleus and membrane bound organelles whereas a
prokaryote does not
What are the relative sizes of a human cell, a protein, a virus and most bacteria? -
ANSWER-Human cell: 10-100 microm, protein: 10 nm, virus: 100 nm, bacteria 1-10
microm
, How are microorganisms named? - ANSWER-Genus (name or shape) first then
species
Why did some scientists have difficulty achieving the same result as Pasteur with the
swan-necked flask? - ANSWER-Since Pasteur used a yeast extract and sugar broth
there were no heat resistant microbes in his broth
What two scientists helped explain the conflicting data? - ANSWER-Tyndall and Cohn
Can you explain how the swan-necked flask experiment helped disprove the idea of
spontaneous generation? - ANSWER-When the broth was boiled the microbes got
trapped in the curve of the neck, the broth did not become cloudy until the flask was
tipped and the microbes were reintroduced to the broth
How could the potato salad have been prepared safely? (Why did people become ill?). -
ANSWER-If the potato salad was used with canned potatoes using the pressure cooker
method the high temperature would have killed the endospores.
Why was there only one fatality? - ANSWER-There are many factors that contribute to
whether or not someone will die from an illness
The scientific name of an organism includes its - ANSWER-Genus and species
The idea of spontaneous generation postulated that: - ANSWER-living organisms
could spontaneously arise from non-living material
What is a virulence factor? - ANSWER-Traits of a microbe that promote pathogenicity
What parts of the cell can act as virulence factors? - ANSWER-(different agents used
by the pathogen to sneak a disease into our system)
· Flagella: composed of the protein flagellin, function in motility
· Pili (Fimbriae): DNA exchange, adherence, motility
