JMU BIO 245| 213 QUESTIONS| WITH
WELL EXPLAINED ANSWERS
How did the idea of spontaneous generation come about? Correct Answer: Came about when
people would see flies coming out of manure, maggots coming out of dead animals, and
microorganisms appearing in liquids after a day or 2.
Knowledge of microorganisms allow humans to do what? Correct Answer: Prevent food
spoilage and disease, and understand causes and transmission of disease to prevent epidemics
What are some of the functions of microorganisms? Correct Answer: decompose organic waste,
generate oxygen by photosynthesis, produce chemical products such as ethanol, acetone, and
vitamins, produce fermented foods such as vinegar, cheese, and brea, produce products used in
manufacturing and in disease treatment, digestion aide and synthesis of some vitamins
What did Carolus Linnaeus establish? Correct Answer: system of scientific nomenclature (genus
and specific epithet); 1735
What are some bacterial traits? Correct Answer: prokaryotes, single-celled, peptidoglycan cell
walls, divide via binary fission, derive nutrition from organic or inorganic
chemicals/photosynthesis
What are some traits of archaea? Correct Answer: prokaryotes, lack peptidoglycan cell walls
(may/may not have cell wall), often live in extreme environments - methanogens, halophiles,
thermophiles
What are some fungal traits? Correct Answer: eukaryotes, chitin cell walls, absorb organic
chemicals for energy, exist as multicellular (molds/mushrooms) and unicellular (yeast),
reproduce sexually or asexually
What are some protozoan traits? Correct Answer: Eukaryotes, may be motile via pseudopods,
flagella, or cilia, absorb/ingest organic chemicals, can be free-living or parasitic, some are
photosynthetic, can reproduce asexually or sexually
What are some traits of algae? Correct Answer: Eukaryotes, cellulose for cell walls, found in
freshwater, saltwater, or soil, use photosynthesis for energy, produce oxygen and carbohydrates
What are some traits of viruses? Correct Answer: very small, consist of RNA or DNA core, core
is surrounded by a protein coat and that coat may be enclosed in a lipid envelope, acellular,
replicate only when living in a host cell, inert outside living host cell
What are some traits of helminths? Correct Answer: multicellular animals, eukaryotes, not
strictly microorganisms, parasitic flatworms and round worms (some microscopic stages in their
life cycle)
,What did Robert Hooke do in 1665? Correct Answer: reported that living things are composed
of cells, this marked the beginning of the cell theory
Who observed the first microbes? Correct Answer: Anton van Leeuwenhoek was the first to
view microbes through the magnifying lenses. Between 1673-1723 he wrote about the
animalcules he saw through his single lens microscope
Who set out in 1668 to demonstrate that maggots did not generate spontaneously? How did he
conduct his experiment? Did he support biogenesis or spontaneous generation? Correct Answer:
Franscesco Redi- filled jars with decaying meat; one jar was unsealed which resulted in flies
laying eggs on the meat, the second jar was sealed and no maggots, and the 3rd was covered with
a fine net and resulted in no maggots. The maggots came from fly larvae. The purpose of the
sealed jars was to show that life cannot arise from nonlife. This supported biogenesis.
How did John Needham strengthen the case of spontaneous generation in 1745? Correct Answer:
Put boiled nutrient broth into covered flasks, then the nutrient broth was heated, then placed in
covered flask which led to microbial growth.
How did Lazzaro Spinalli counteract Needham's experiment? Correct Answer: In 1765 he
suggested that Needham failed to heat vials sufficiently to kill all microbes and that he had not
sealed vials tight enough. Suggested that microorganisms exist in air
What did Rudolf Virchow do? Correct Answer: biogenesis
Who demonstrated that microorganisms are present in the air, and how? Correct Answer: Louis
Pasteur- s-shaped flasks
showed that microorganisms can be present in non-living matter; on solids, liquids, and in the
air. also demonstrated that microbial life can be destroyed by heat
When and what was the Golden Age of Microbiology? Correct Answer: 1857-1914; many rapid
advances were made and major events occurred; discoveries included the relationship between
microbes and disease, immunity, and antimicrobial drugs
Who discovered and what is fermentation and pasteurization? Correct Answer: Louis Pasteur
discovered that microbes were responsible for fermentation (microbial conversion of alcohol in
the absence of air). this was one of the key steps that established the relationship between
microorganisms and disease. microbial growth is also responsible for spoilage of food/beverages.
Pasteur also demonstrated that these spoilage bacteria could be killed by heat that was not hot
enough to evaporate the alcohol in wine aka pasteurization
The Germ Theory Disease Correct Answer: the idea that microorganism may cause disease
Joseph Lister Correct Answer: english surgeon who applied the germ theory to medical
procedures using a chemical antiseptic (phenol) to prevent surgical wound infections
, Robert Koch Correct Answer: discovered that a bacterium causes anthrax (bacillus antracis) and
provided the experimental steps, Koch's postulates, to demonstrate that a specific microbe causes
a specific disease (however, cant always be satisfied in the case of a virus)
Edward Jenner Correct Answer: 1796- first vaccine; innoculated a person with cowpox virus;
years later Pasteur figured out how vaccines work
How did Pasteur figure out how vaccines work? Correct Answer: microorganisms with
decreased virulence were able to induce immunity against subsequent infections by its virulent
counterparts.
Who developed the first synthetic drug? Correct Answer: Paul Ehrlich - developed a "magic
bullet" that could destroy the pathogen without harming the host ; he found a chemotherapeutic
agent called salvarsan, an arsenic derivative effective against syphyllis
Who developed the first antibiotic? Correct Answer: Alexander Flemming accidentally
discovered the first antibiotic when the colony of Penicillium mold accidentally contaminated the
plate and inhibited nearby bacterial growth,
Bacteriology Correct Answer: the study of bacteria
Mycology Correct Answer: the study of fungi
Parasitology Correct Answer: the study of protozoans and parasitic worms
immunology Correct Answer: the study of immunity, ex. studies the symptoms of AIDS
virology Correct Answer: the study of viruses; dmitir iwanowski in 1892 and Wendell Stanley
in 1935 discovered the cause of mosaic disease of tobacco as a virus
Recombinant DNA Technology Correct Answer: fragments of human or animal DNA (genes)
that code for important proteins can be attached to bacterial DNA ; this allows making of large
quantities of a desired protein, ex. insulin; form of microbial genetics and molecular biology
microbial genetics Correct Answer: studies the mechanisms by which microorganisms inherit
traits
molecular biology Correct Answer: looks at how genetic information is carried in molecules of
DNA and how DNA directs the synthesis of proteins
Genomics Correct Answer: the study of an organisms's genes; has provided new tools for
classifying microorgnanisms
Microbial ecology Correct Answer: the study of the relationship between microorganisms and
their environment
WELL EXPLAINED ANSWERS
How did the idea of spontaneous generation come about? Correct Answer: Came about when
people would see flies coming out of manure, maggots coming out of dead animals, and
microorganisms appearing in liquids after a day or 2.
Knowledge of microorganisms allow humans to do what? Correct Answer: Prevent food
spoilage and disease, and understand causes and transmission of disease to prevent epidemics
What are some of the functions of microorganisms? Correct Answer: decompose organic waste,
generate oxygen by photosynthesis, produce chemical products such as ethanol, acetone, and
vitamins, produce fermented foods such as vinegar, cheese, and brea, produce products used in
manufacturing and in disease treatment, digestion aide and synthesis of some vitamins
What did Carolus Linnaeus establish? Correct Answer: system of scientific nomenclature (genus
and specific epithet); 1735
What are some bacterial traits? Correct Answer: prokaryotes, single-celled, peptidoglycan cell
walls, divide via binary fission, derive nutrition from organic or inorganic
chemicals/photosynthesis
What are some traits of archaea? Correct Answer: prokaryotes, lack peptidoglycan cell walls
(may/may not have cell wall), often live in extreme environments - methanogens, halophiles,
thermophiles
What are some fungal traits? Correct Answer: eukaryotes, chitin cell walls, absorb organic
chemicals for energy, exist as multicellular (molds/mushrooms) and unicellular (yeast),
reproduce sexually or asexually
What are some protozoan traits? Correct Answer: Eukaryotes, may be motile via pseudopods,
flagella, or cilia, absorb/ingest organic chemicals, can be free-living or parasitic, some are
photosynthetic, can reproduce asexually or sexually
What are some traits of algae? Correct Answer: Eukaryotes, cellulose for cell walls, found in
freshwater, saltwater, or soil, use photosynthesis for energy, produce oxygen and carbohydrates
What are some traits of viruses? Correct Answer: very small, consist of RNA or DNA core, core
is surrounded by a protein coat and that coat may be enclosed in a lipid envelope, acellular,
replicate only when living in a host cell, inert outside living host cell
What are some traits of helminths? Correct Answer: multicellular animals, eukaryotes, not
strictly microorganisms, parasitic flatworms and round worms (some microscopic stages in their
life cycle)
,What did Robert Hooke do in 1665? Correct Answer: reported that living things are composed
of cells, this marked the beginning of the cell theory
Who observed the first microbes? Correct Answer: Anton van Leeuwenhoek was the first to
view microbes through the magnifying lenses. Between 1673-1723 he wrote about the
animalcules he saw through his single lens microscope
Who set out in 1668 to demonstrate that maggots did not generate spontaneously? How did he
conduct his experiment? Did he support biogenesis or spontaneous generation? Correct Answer:
Franscesco Redi- filled jars with decaying meat; one jar was unsealed which resulted in flies
laying eggs on the meat, the second jar was sealed and no maggots, and the 3rd was covered with
a fine net and resulted in no maggots. The maggots came from fly larvae. The purpose of the
sealed jars was to show that life cannot arise from nonlife. This supported biogenesis.
How did John Needham strengthen the case of spontaneous generation in 1745? Correct Answer:
Put boiled nutrient broth into covered flasks, then the nutrient broth was heated, then placed in
covered flask which led to microbial growth.
How did Lazzaro Spinalli counteract Needham's experiment? Correct Answer: In 1765 he
suggested that Needham failed to heat vials sufficiently to kill all microbes and that he had not
sealed vials tight enough. Suggested that microorganisms exist in air
What did Rudolf Virchow do? Correct Answer: biogenesis
Who demonstrated that microorganisms are present in the air, and how? Correct Answer: Louis
Pasteur- s-shaped flasks
showed that microorganisms can be present in non-living matter; on solids, liquids, and in the
air. also demonstrated that microbial life can be destroyed by heat
When and what was the Golden Age of Microbiology? Correct Answer: 1857-1914; many rapid
advances were made and major events occurred; discoveries included the relationship between
microbes and disease, immunity, and antimicrobial drugs
Who discovered and what is fermentation and pasteurization? Correct Answer: Louis Pasteur
discovered that microbes were responsible for fermentation (microbial conversion of alcohol in
the absence of air). this was one of the key steps that established the relationship between
microorganisms and disease. microbial growth is also responsible for spoilage of food/beverages.
Pasteur also demonstrated that these spoilage bacteria could be killed by heat that was not hot
enough to evaporate the alcohol in wine aka pasteurization
The Germ Theory Disease Correct Answer: the idea that microorganism may cause disease
Joseph Lister Correct Answer: english surgeon who applied the germ theory to medical
procedures using a chemical antiseptic (phenol) to prevent surgical wound infections
, Robert Koch Correct Answer: discovered that a bacterium causes anthrax (bacillus antracis) and
provided the experimental steps, Koch's postulates, to demonstrate that a specific microbe causes
a specific disease (however, cant always be satisfied in the case of a virus)
Edward Jenner Correct Answer: 1796- first vaccine; innoculated a person with cowpox virus;
years later Pasteur figured out how vaccines work
How did Pasteur figure out how vaccines work? Correct Answer: microorganisms with
decreased virulence were able to induce immunity against subsequent infections by its virulent
counterparts.
Who developed the first synthetic drug? Correct Answer: Paul Ehrlich - developed a "magic
bullet" that could destroy the pathogen without harming the host ; he found a chemotherapeutic
agent called salvarsan, an arsenic derivative effective against syphyllis
Who developed the first antibiotic? Correct Answer: Alexander Flemming accidentally
discovered the first antibiotic when the colony of Penicillium mold accidentally contaminated the
plate and inhibited nearby bacterial growth,
Bacteriology Correct Answer: the study of bacteria
Mycology Correct Answer: the study of fungi
Parasitology Correct Answer: the study of protozoans and parasitic worms
immunology Correct Answer: the study of immunity, ex. studies the symptoms of AIDS
virology Correct Answer: the study of viruses; dmitir iwanowski in 1892 and Wendell Stanley
in 1935 discovered the cause of mosaic disease of tobacco as a virus
Recombinant DNA Technology Correct Answer: fragments of human or animal DNA (genes)
that code for important proteins can be attached to bacterial DNA ; this allows making of large
quantities of a desired protein, ex. insulin; form of microbial genetics and molecular biology
microbial genetics Correct Answer: studies the mechanisms by which microorganisms inherit
traits
molecular biology Correct Answer: looks at how genetic information is carried in molecules of
DNA and how DNA directs the synthesis of proteins
Genomics Correct Answer: the study of an organisms's genes; has provided new tools for
classifying microorgnanisms
Microbial ecology Correct Answer: the study of the relationship between microorganisms and
their environment
