Question 1

In Pasteur's famous experiment disproving spontaneous generation, which condition was essential for bacteria to grow in the broth?

Accepted Answer

Only when the flask was in contact with outside air

Question 2

A C-C bond in molecule A undergoes a random charge fluctuation. As a result, molecule A comes close to a C-C bond in molecule B, which has opposite charge. What type of interaction is most likely occurring?

Accepted Answer

Van der Waals interaction

Question 3

Which of the following molecules can serve as a hydrogen bond donor?

Accepted Answer

The N in a NH bond

Question 4

What type of microscope would you use to examine a biofilm that was 2 mm thick?

Accepted Answer

Confocal scanning laser

Question 5

Mycolic acids cause mycobacteria to ________.

Accepted Answer

Be resistant to human macrophages

Question 6

The acid-fast stain is an example of a differential stain. What makes it 'differential'?

Accepted Answer

It distinguishes between cells based on whether they have mycolic acids that will not wash out.

Question 7

In the depiction of a phospholipid membrane, which part represents the fatty acid component?

Accepted Answer

C

Question 8

How does the MFS antiport pump run out of the cell?

Accepted Answer

It uses secondary NOT ATP hydrolysis and proton gradient energy.

Question 9

A competitive inhibitor of an enzyme ________.

Accepted Answer

Binds to the active site and prevents substrate from binding

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the ingredients for a biological medium that is defined and selective?

Accepted Answer

Contains only known chemicals and inhibits growth of some microbes

Question 11

The presence of carbohydrates in a bacterial cell indicates that the cell ________.

Accepted Answer

Contains storage reserves

Question 12

The purpose of an enrichment culture is to ________.

Accepted Answer

Allow faster growth of one type of bacteria than others from an environmental sample

Question 13

Which of the following structures most accurately represents a porin?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 14

The most evolutionary primitive rocket-switch model for transport proteins requires ________.

Accepted Answer

A solute transporter with a preexisting binding protein

Question 15

Which enzyme allows autotrophs to reduce CO$_2$?

Accepted Answer

Rubisco

Question 16

What is the formula for calculating the number of cells after $n$ generations if the initial population is $N_0$?

Accepted Answer

$N = N_0 	imes 2^n$

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a function of capsules or slime layers?

Accepted Answer

Building cell walls

Question 18

Which of the following is a major determinant of whether a bacterium will use the TCA cycle or not?

Accepted Answer

Whether there is excess O$_2$ in the environment

Question 19

Most probable number (MPN) method is used for ________.

Accepted Answer

Estimating bacteria in a diluted sample when the growth is statistically based

Question 20

During bacterial metabolism, most ATP is generated by which process?

Accepted Answer

Oxidative phosphorylation

BIOL 2210 Midterm Exam I: Key Concepts in Microbiology

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