Question 1

Which of the following best describes the genetic material found in most viruses?

Accepted Answer

Either double or single-stranded DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat

Question 2

A retrovirus, such as HIV, uses which enzyme to convert its RNA genome into DNA within a host cell?

Accepted Answer

Reverse transcriptase

Question 3

Which of the following best explains why gram-negative bacteria are generally more resistant to antibiotics than gram-positive bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Gram-negative bacteria have an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides

Question 4

During the lysogenic cycle of a temperate bacteriophage, what happens to the viral DNA?

Accepted Answer

It is incorporated into the host genome as a prophage

Question 5

Which of the following is a plausible explanation for the origin of viruses?

Accepted Answer

Viruses evolved from plasmids or transposons

Question 6

Which of the following equations represents Hamilton’s rule for kin selection?

Accepted Answer

$$rB \u003e C$$

Question 7

A prion is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A misfolded protein that can induce other proteins to misfold

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a mechanism by which bacteria increase genetic diversity?

Accepted Answer

Binary fission

Question 9

Which structure allows bacteria to exchange plasmids during conjugation?

Accepted Answer

Pili

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the difference between paralogous and orthologous genes?

Accepted Answer

Paralogous genes arise from gene duplication within a species; orthologous genes arise from speciation events

Question 11

Which of the following is a real-world example of horizontal gene transfer?

Accepted Answer

A bacterium acquiring antibiotic resistance genes from another bacterium via conjugation

Question 12

Which of the following is a correct application of the maximum parsimony principle in phylogenetics?

Accepted Answer

Choosing the tree with the least evolutionary changes

Question 13

Which of the following is a function of restriction enzymes in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Cutting up viral DNA segments to defend against bacteriophages

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the host range of a virus?

Accepted Answer

The number of species a virus can infect, determined by viral structure

Question 15

Which of the following is a characteristic of emerging viruses?

Accepted Answer

They can arise from mutation, spread from isolated populations, or transmission from animals to humans

Question 16

Which of the following is a real-life example of a virus causing a pandemic?

Accepted Answer

Swine flu spreading globally

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the function of a viral envelope in animal viruses?

Accepted Answer

It is composed of glycoproteins that match host cell membranes, aiding in infection

Question 18

Which of the following is a plausible distractor for the question: 'What is a plasmid?'

Accepted Answer

A circular DNA segment in bacteria that can be transferred between cells

Question 19

Which of the following best describes a temperate phage?

Accepted Answer

A bacteriophage that uses both the lytic and lysogenic cycles

Question 20

Which of the following is a real-world consequence of prion aggregation in the brain?

Accepted Answer

Formation of plaques associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's

BIO 112 Final Exam Review: Viruses, Phylogeny, Bacteria & Archaea

Study Guide - Practice Questions