Question 1

Which of the following correctly distinguishes a major structural difference between Bacteria and Archaea cell membranes?

Accepted Answer

Bacteria have peptidoglycan in their cell walls, while Archaea lack peptidoglycan.

Question 2

A scientist discovers a microorganism living in a hypersaline lake. Which domain is this organism most likely to belong to?

Accepted Answer

Archaea

Question 3

Which process allows prokaryotes to rapidly increase genetic diversity despite reproducing asexually?

Accepted Answer

Horizontal gene transfer

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a method of horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotes?

Accepted Answer

Binary fission

Question 5

Gram-negative bacteria are generally more resistant to antibiotics than Gram-positive bacteria. What structural feature is responsible for this?

Accepted Answer

Presence of an outer membrane

Question 6

Which metabolic process is unique to certain prokaryotes and is essential for making atmospheric nitrogen available to living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Nitrogen fixation

Question 7

A bacterium is found to survive only in the absence of oxygen and dies when exposed to it. What term best describes this organism?

Accepted Answer

Obligate anaerobe

Question 8

Which of the following best explains why prokaryotes can evolve rapidly?

Accepted Answer

They have high mutation rates and short generation times.

Question 9

A researcher isolates a microbe from a patient with a new disease. According to Koch's postulates, what is the next step to confirm the microbe causes the disease?

Accepted Answer

Grow the microbe in pure culture away from the host.

Question 10

Which equation best represents the exponential growth of a bacterial population under ideal conditions?

Accepted Answer

$N_t = N_0 e^{rt}$

Question 11

Which of the following is a real-world example of beneficial prokaryotes in the environment?

Accepted Answer

Methanogens producing methane in the digestive tracts of ruminants

Question 12

Which feature is shared by both Bacteria and Archaea but NOT Eukarya?

Accepted Answer

Circular chromosome

Question 13

A prokaryote is found to use light as an energy source and carbon dioxide as its carbon source. What is its nutritional classification?

Accepted Answer

Photoautotroph

Question 14

Which of the following statements about plasmids is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Plasmids are small rings of DNA that can carry antibiotic resistance genes.

Question 15

Which of the following is a correct application of Koch's postulates in identifying the cause of a disease?

Accepted Answer

The suspected microbe must be present in all cases of the disease and absent from healthy individuals.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the role of prokaryotes in bioremediation?

Accepted Answer

They degrade environmental pollutants such as oil spills.

Question 17

Which of the following is a plausible reason why Gram-positive bacteria are more susceptible to penicillin than Gram-negative bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer that is targeted by penicillin.

Question 18

Which of the following metabolic types would you expect to find in bacteria living near deep-sea hydrothermal vents, where sunlight is absent?

Accepted Answer

Chemoautotrophs

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why Archaea are important for understanding the origins of life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

They thrive in extreme environments similar to early Earth conditions.

Question 20

A bacterium is able to move toward nutrients using its flagella. What is this behavior called?

Accepted Answer

Chemotaxis

Bacteria and Archaea: Diversity, Structure, and Roles in Biology

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