MICROBIOLOGY EXAM REVISION
QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS
In the early years of microbiology, microorganisms were
referred to as
animalcules.
Which of the following is NOT a form of locomotion used by
protozoa?
budding
________ contain a nucleus composed of genetic material
surrounded by a membrane.
Eukaryotes
The specific microbe that causes disease is called a(n)
pathogen
The study of how our body fights infection from pathogenic
microbes is called
immunology.
In the 1700s, a system was developed for naming plants and
animals and grouping similar organisms together. What is such
a system called?
a taxonomic system.
,In the context of a scientific experiment, what is a control
group?
a group that is treated the same as other groups except for the
variable being tested.
Which of the following describes a difference between
prokaryotes and archaea?
Prokaryotes have cell walls composed of peptidoglycan,
whereas archaea do not.
Who is responsible for building the first simple microscope?
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek.
What is the process that uses living microorganisms to
detoxify polluted environments?
bioremediation.
The various forms of radiation differ in their
wavelength
What do you call a microscope's ability to distinguish two
objects that are close together?
resolution
With regard to microscopy, contrast is best described as
the differences in intensity between an object and its
background.
Which unit is most appropriate to measure the size of cells?
,micrometer
Why are some bacteria, such as those of the genera
Mycobacterium and Nocardia, NOT effectively stained with
the Gram stain?
because they have large amounts of waxy lipid in their cell walls
What is the basis for assigning organisms into domains?
ribosomal nucleotide sequences
Carolus Linnaeus grouped similar organisms that can
successfully interbreed into categories called
species
Oil immersion lenses increase both ________ and ________.
magnification; resolution
What is one way in which microbiologists can distinguish
different bacteria that are similar in morphology and staining
characteristics?
biochemical testing
Why is a negative stain called such?
The background is stained, leaving the cell colorless.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of all living
things?
movement
Which of the following is NOT part of bacterial flagella?
, fimbria
Cells use ________ to transfer DNA from one cell to another
via conjugation.
pili
What are the two types of prokaryotic organisms?
bacteria and archaea
Where can lipopolysaccharide be found?
A. in the flagella of bacterial cells
B. in the peptidoglycan layer of Gram-positive bacterial cells
C. in the outer membrane of Gram-positive bacterial cells
D. in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacterial cells
in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacterial cells
Which of the following BEST describes one of the functions of
the bacterial cell wall?
protection from osmotic forces
Which of the following statements about endospores is TRUE?
Endospores form in response to harsh environmental
conditions.
What is the typical size range for eukaryotic cells?
10-100 µm
Sometimes prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a gelatinous,
sticky substance. What is this structure called?
QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS
In the early years of microbiology, microorganisms were
referred to as
animalcules.
Which of the following is NOT a form of locomotion used by
protozoa?
budding
________ contain a nucleus composed of genetic material
surrounded by a membrane.
Eukaryotes
The specific microbe that causes disease is called a(n)
pathogen
The study of how our body fights infection from pathogenic
microbes is called
immunology.
In the 1700s, a system was developed for naming plants and
animals and grouping similar organisms together. What is such
a system called?
a taxonomic system.
,In the context of a scientific experiment, what is a control
group?
a group that is treated the same as other groups except for the
variable being tested.
Which of the following describes a difference between
prokaryotes and archaea?
Prokaryotes have cell walls composed of peptidoglycan,
whereas archaea do not.
Who is responsible for building the first simple microscope?
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek.
What is the process that uses living microorganisms to
detoxify polluted environments?
bioremediation.
The various forms of radiation differ in their
wavelength
What do you call a microscope's ability to distinguish two
objects that are close together?
resolution
With regard to microscopy, contrast is best described as
the differences in intensity between an object and its
background.
Which unit is most appropriate to measure the size of cells?
,micrometer
Why are some bacteria, such as those of the genera
Mycobacterium and Nocardia, NOT effectively stained with
the Gram stain?
because they have large amounts of waxy lipid in their cell walls
What is the basis for assigning organisms into domains?
ribosomal nucleotide sequences
Carolus Linnaeus grouped similar organisms that can
successfully interbreed into categories called
species
Oil immersion lenses increase both ________ and ________.
magnification; resolution
What is one way in which microbiologists can distinguish
different bacteria that are similar in morphology and staining
characteristics?
biochemical testing
Why is a negative stain called such?
The background is stained, leaving the cell colorless.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of all living
things?
movement
Which of the following is NOT part of bacterial flagella?
, fimbria
Cells use ________ to transfer DNA from one cell to another
via conjugation.
pili
What are the two types of prokaryotic organisms?
bacteria and archaea
Where can lipopolysaccharide be found?
A. in the flagella of bacterial cells
B. in the peptidoglycan layer of Gram-positive bacterial cells
C. in the outer membrane of Gram-positive bacterial cells
D. in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacterial cells
in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacterial cells
Which of the following BEST describes one of the functions of
the bacterial cell wall?
protection from osmotic forces
Which of the following statements about endospores is TRUE?
Endospores form in response to harsh environmental
conditions.
What is the typical size range for eukaryotic cells?
10-100 µm
Sometimes prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a gelatinous,
sticky substance. What is this structure called?
