BIOD 171 FINAL EXAM STUDY
Microbiology is the study of what? - Answer Microbiology is the study of microbes
(microorganisms and viruses) and their biological processes.
What is the smallest biological unit of life - Answer cell
What is a macromolecule? - Answer A macromolecule is classified as a complex
molecule that is composed from smaller subunits.
What are the four main types of macromolecules? - Answer Proteins, nucleic acids,
lipids and carbohydrates
What various functions do proteins have in a cell - Answer 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? - Answer 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? - Answer The plasma
membrane serves the cell as a surrounding barrier that separates the inside of the cell
from the outside surrounding environment. The plasma membrane also restricts the
movement of materials (water, nutrients, etc) either in or out of the cell, thus allowing a
cells to absorb and keep what is needed (influx) while also preventing the escape (out
flux) of essential nutrients. The plasma membrane is composed of lipids (hydrophobic
hydrocarbons).
What are the three main components of carbohydrates? - Answer Carbohydrates are
composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Examples would include, C6H12O6
(glucose) C12H22O11 (sucrose) and C6H10O5 (cellulose).
What is the primary difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? - Answer
Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus, a membrane enclosed region within the cell that
contains the genetic material. Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus and can be
further classified as either Bacteria or Archaea.
What are the main morphologies of bacteria? - Answer Bacteria can be described as
coccus (round/spherical), bacillus (rod), vibrio (curved rod) or spirillum
(spiral/corkscrew).
, Which group (classification) of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under harsh
conditions? - Answer Archaea. They are able to survive in extremely harsh
environmental conditions such as high salt levels, acid conditions, high temperatures
and oxygen-poor conditions.
What are the four main classifications of Eukarya? - Answer Eukaryotic microorganisms
are classified as either belonging to Animalia, Plantae, Fungi or Protista.
Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic? - Answer No. Viruses are
considered neither prokaryotic nor eukaryotic. Viruses are not considered living and do
not replicate on their own, meaning they must replicate within a host.
The lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane is composed of what? - Answer The cell
membrane is a bilayer composed primarily of amphipathic phospholipids, meaning they
contain a polar hydrophilic (water loving) head group and a non-polar hydrophobic
(water fearing) tail region. The lipid bilayer is situated in such a way where the non-polar
tail groups face inward thus orienting the polar head groups to interact with water both
outside and inside of the cell.
What are the primary cellular organelles described in this module? Be sure to know the
roles of each. - Answer Ribosomes (protein synthesis), ER (site of protein synthesis),
Golgi (protein modification and distribution), lysosomes (waste disposal), mitochondria
(ATP generation) and chloroplasts (plants only; site of photosynthesis).
What is cellular metabolism? - Answer Metabolism is a controlled set of biochemical
reactions that occur in living organisms in order to maintain life.
What is the primary function of enzymes, and how are they regulated? - Answer
Enzymes speed up chemical reactions. Most notably, the enzyme is not consumed
during the reaction and can be used repeatedly by the cell. Enzymes can also be
regulated by a cofactor such that in the absence of the proper cofactor, enzymes are
inactive while in its presence enzymes are active.
What is the difference between catabolism and anabolism? - Answer Catabolism is the
process of breaking down larger molecules into useful energy sources whereas
anabolism is the building up or biosynthesis of macromolecules from smaller molecular
units into larger complexes, most often associated with cellular growth and repair.
ATP has the energy to ,BLANK while ADP has the capacity to BLANK energy. - Answer
donate; accept
Chemotrophs can be subdivided into what two additional subgroups? - Answer
Chemotrophs, which acquire energy from preformed chemicals found in the
environment, can be divided into either organotrophs (removing electrons from organic
Microbiology is the study of what? - Answer Microbiology is the study of microbes
(microorganisms and viruses) and their biological processes.
What is the smallest biological unit of life - Answer cell
What is a macromolecule? - Answer A macromolecule is classified as a complex
molecule that is composed from smaller subunits.
What are the four main types of macromolecules? - Answer Proteins, nucleic acids,
lipids and carbohydrates
What various functions do proteins have in a cell - Answer 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? - Answer 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? - Answer The plasma
membrane serves the cell as a surrounding barrier that separates the inside of the cell
from the outside surrounding environment. The plasma membrane also restricts the
movement of materials (water, nutrients, etc) either in or out of the cell, thus allowing a
cells to absorb and keep what is needed (influx) while also preventing the escape (out
flux) of essential nutrients. The plasma membrane is composed of lipids (hydrophobic
hydrocarbons).
What are the three main components of carbohydrates? - Answer Carbohydrates are
composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Examples would include, C6H12O6
(glucose) C12H22O11 (sucrose) and C6H10O5 (cellulose).
What is the primary difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? - Answer
Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus, a membrane enclosed region within the cell that
contains the genetic material. Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus and can be
further classified as either Bacteria or Archaea.
What are the main morphologies of bacteria? - Answer Bacteria can be described as
coccus (round/spherical), bacillus (rod), vibrio (curved rod) or spirillum
(spiral/corkscrew).
, Which group (classification) of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under harsh
conditions? - Answer Archaea. They are able to survive in extremely harsh
environmental conditions such as high salt levels, acid conditions, high temperatures
and oxygen-poor conditions.
What are the four main classifications of Eukarya? - Answer Eukaryotic microorganisms
are classified as either belonging to Animalia, Plantae, Fungi or Protista.
Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic? - Answer No. Viruses are
considered neither prokaryotic nor eukaryotic. Viruses are not considered living and do
not replicate on their own, meaning they must replicate within a host.
The lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane is composed of what? - Answer The cell
membrane is a bilayer composed primarily of amphipathic phospholipids, meaning they
contain a polar hydrophilic (water loving) head group and a non-polar hydrophobic
(water fearing) tail region. The lipid bilayer is situated in such a way where the non-polar
tail groups face inward thus orienting the polar head groups to interact with water both
outside and inside of the cell.
What are the primary cellular organelles described in this module? Be sure to know the
roles of each. - Answer Ribosomes (protein synthesis), ER (site of protein synthesis),
Golgi (protein modification and distribution), lysosomes (waste disposal), mitochondria
(ATP generation) and chloroplasts (plants only; site of photosynthesis).
What is cellular metabolism? - Answer Metabolism is a controlled set of biochemical
reactions that occur in living organisms in order to maintain life.
What is the primary function of enzymes, and how are they regulated? - Answer
Enzymes speed up chemical reactions. Most notably, the enzyme is not consumed
during the reaction and can be used repeatedly by the cell. Enzymes can also be
regulated by a cofactor such that in the absence of the proper cofactor, enzymes are
inactive while in its presence enzymes are active.
What is the difference between catabolism and anabolism? - Answer Catabolism is the
process of breaking down larger molecules into useful energy sources whereas
anabolism is the building up or biosynthesis of macromolecules from smaller molecular
units into larger complexes, most often associated with cellular growth and repair.
ATP has the energy to ,BLANK while ADP has the capacity to BLANK energy. - Answer
donate; accept
Chemotrophs can be subdivided into what two additional subgroups? - Answer
Chemotrophs, which acquire energy from preformed chemicals found in the
environment, can be divided into either organotrophs (removing electrons from organic
