BIOD 171 FINAL EXAM STUDY QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS

Microbiology is the study of what? CORRECT ANSWER Microbiology is the study of microbes (microorganisms and viruses) and their biological processes. What is the smallest biological unit of life CORRECT ANSWER cell What is a macromolecule? CORRECT ANSWER A macromolecule is classified as a complex molecule that is composed from smaller subunits. What are the four main types of macromolecules? CORRECT ANSWER Proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates What various functions do proteins have in a cell CORRECT 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? CORRECT 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? CORRECT 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 hydrocarbon