BIOL 2230 Exam 1 Questions and
Answers
Who was the first to see microorganisms? How? When? - Anton Leeuwenhoek, with the
lens he grinded, 1674
Who developed the germ theory of disease? - Pasteur & Kock
What are the various types of microorganisms? - Bacteria, Eukarya, and Archaea
What are prokaryotes and eukaryotes? - Prokaryotes - no nucleus or internal
membranes Eukaryotes - have nucleus and internal membranes
What are bacteria and archaeans? - Bacteria - domain of prokaryotic organisms,
characterized by peptidoglycan cell walls Archaeans - domain of prokaryotic cells
lacking peptidoglycan; one of the three domains
What are viruses, viroids, and prions? - Viruses - a submicroscopic, parasitic, filterable
agent consisting of a nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat Viroids - infectious RNA
Prions - an infectious agent consisting of a self-replicating protein, with no detectable
nucleic acid
How are microorganisms named and classified? - Binomial Naming System
What roles do microorganisms play in the environment, food production, and
biotechnology? - Environment - oxygen production via photosynthesis, decomposition
Food Production - fermentation and pasteurization, beer, wine, cheese, yogurt, bread
Biotechnology - genetic engineering
What impacts have microorganisms had on history? - The Plague, Cortez Conquers the
Aztecs (Spaniards brought smallpox over to the new world and killed all of the Aztecs
with infection), Civil War (infection)
When was the "Golden Age of Microbiology"? - 1857-1914, 50 year period (mid 1800's
to early 1900's)
What questions did scientists attempt to answer? - 1) Does life arise spontaneously? 2)
What causes fermentation? 3) What causes disease? 4) How can disease be
treated/prevented?
What is the theory of spontaneous generation? - The idea that life could arise from
nothing. The idea that toads, snakes, and mice could be born of moist soil; that flies
could emerge from manure; and that maggots could arise from decaying corpse.
, Who contributed to disproving spontaneous generation? - Redi, Spallanzani, and
Pasteur
What is fermentation? - The enzymatic degradation of carbohydrates in which the final
electron acceptor is an organic molecule, ATP is synthesized by substrate-level
phosphorylation, and O2 is not required, the process by which sugar is turned into
alcohol
What did Pasteur learn about fermentation? - He found that yeast converts the sugars
into alcohol in the absence of air
What was Buchner's contribution? - He repeated Pasteur's experiments and used yeast,
discovered enzymes
What were historically thought to be causes of disease? - God's wrath for sin, Satan and
evil spirits, foul vapors, and imbalance of fluids
Who developed the germ theory of disease? - Louis Pasteur
What contributions did Koch make to microbiology? - He discovered the cause of
anthrax
How did humans begin to combat microorganisms? - Handwashing, general
cleanliness, sterile surgery, antibiotics, and vaccines
What roles were played by Lister, Nightingale, Semmelweis, Jenner, and Fleming? -
Lister - Germicides and sterile surgery Nightingale - general cleanliness Semmelweis -
handwashing Jenner - vaccines Flemming - discovered antibiotics (Penicillin)
What are the distinguishing features of prokaryotic cells? - 1) Typically their DNA is not
enclosed within a membrane and is usually singular, circularly arranged chromosome 2)
Their DNA is not associated with histones (special chromosomal protiens found in
eukaryotes); other proteins are associated with DNA 3) They generally lack organelles
4) Their cell walls almost always contain the complex polysaccharide peptidoglycan 5)
They usually divide by binary fission, DNA is copied and cells split into two
How small are prokaryotic cells? - 1-10 micrometers
What are the primary shapes and arrangements of prokaryotic cells? - Bacilli - single
rod Vibrio - bent rod Spirillum - corkscrew shape Spirochete - spirals which use
propeller-like external appendages called flagella to move Cocci - spherical like berries
Single - one Strepto - chain Staphlyo - cluster Diplo - chain of two
What is a glycocalyx? - Outer covering composed of carbohydrates used for attachment
and to avoid white blood cells
Answers
Who was the first to see microorganisms? How? When? - Anton Leeuwenhoek, with the
lens he grinded, 1674
Who developed the germ theory of disease? - Pasteur & Kock
What are the various types of microorganisms? - Bacteria, Eukarya, and Archaea
What are prokaryotes and eukaryotes? - Prokaryotes - no nucleus or internal
membranes Eukaryotes - have nucleus and internal membranes
What are bacteria and archaeans? - Bacteria - domain of prokaryotic organisms,
characterized by peptidoglycan cell walls Archaeans - domain of prokaryotic cells
lacking peptidoglycan; one of the three domains
What are viruses, viroids, and prions? - Viruses - a submicroscopic, parasitic, filterable
agent consisting of a nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat Viroids - infectious RNA
Prions - an infectious agent consisting of a self-replicating protein, with no detectable
nucleic acid
How are microorganisms named and classified? - Binomial Naming System
What roles do microorganisms play in the environment, food production, and
biotechnology? - Environment - oxygen production via photosynthesis, decomposition
Food Production - fermentation and pasteurization, beer, wine, cheese, yogurt, bread
Biotechnology - genetic engineering
What impacts have microorganisms had on history? - The Plague, Cortez Conquers the
Aztecs (Spaniards brought smallpox over to the new world and killed all of the Aztecs
with infection), Civil War (infection)
When was the "Golden Age of Microbiology"? - 1857-1914, 50 year period (mid 1800's
to early 1900's)
What questions did scientists attempt to answer? - 1) Does life arise spontaneously? 2)
What causes fermentation? 3) What causes disease? 4) How can disease be
treated/prevented?
What is the theory of spontaneous generation? - The idea that life could arise from
nothing. The idea that toads, snakes, and mice could be born of moist soil; that flies
could emerge from manure; and that maggots could arise from decaying corpse.
, Who contributed to disproving spontaneous generation? - Redi, Spallanzani, and
Pasteur
What is fermentation? - The enzymatic degradation of carbohydrates in which the final
electron acceptor is an organic molecule, ATP is synthesized by substrate-level
phosphorylation, and O2 is not required, the process by which sugar is turned into
alcohol
What did Pasteur learn about fermentation? - He found that yeast converts the sugars
into alcohol in the absence of air
What was Buchner's contribution? - He repeated Pasteur's experiments and used yeast,
discovered enzymes
What were historically thought to be causes of disease? - God's wrath for sin, Satan and
evil spirits, foul vapors, and imbalance of fluids
Who developed the germ theory of disease? - Louis Pasteur
What contributions did Koch make to microbiology? - He discovered the cause of
anthrax
How did humans begin to combat microorganisms? - Handwashing, general
cleanliness, sterile surgery, antibiotics, and vaccines
What roles were played by Lister, Nightingale, Semmelweis, Jenner, and Fleming? -
Lister - Germicides and sterile surgery Nightingale - general cleanliness Semmelweis -
handwashing Jenner - vaccines Flemming - discovered antibiotics (Penicillin)
What are the distinguishing features of prokaryotic cells? - 1) Typically their DNA is not
enclosed within a membrane and is usually singular, circularly arranged chromosome 2)
Their DNA is not associated with histones (special chromosomal protiens found in
eukaryotes); other proteins are associated with DNA 3) They generally lack organelles
4) Their cell walls almost always contain the complex polysaccharide peptidoglycan 5)
They usually divide by binary fission, DNA is copied and cells split into two
How small are prokaryotic cells? - 1-10 micrometers
What are the primary shapes and arrangements of prokaryotic cells? - Bacilli - single
rod Vibrio - bent rod Spirillum - corkscrew shape Spirochete - spirals which use
propeller-like external appendages called flagella to move Cocci - spherical like berries
Single - one Strepto - chain Staphlyo - cluster Diplo - chain of two
What is a glycocalyx? - Outer covering composed of carbohydrates used for attachment
and to avoid white blood cells
