Question 1

Which of the following statements best distinguishes prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotic cells have a single circular chromosome not enclosed in a membrane.

Question 2

A bacterial cell is placed in a hypertonic solution. What is the most likely outcome for the cell?

Accepted Answer

Water will move out of the cell, causing it to shrink (plasmolysis).

Question 3

Which component of the Gram-negative bacterial cell wall is responsible for its toxicity in humans?

Accepted Answer

Lipid A of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)

Question 4

A microbiologist is studying a bacterium that is resistant to penicillin and not disrupted by lysozyme. Which cell wall structure is most likely present?

Accepted Answer

Thin peptidoglycan with an outer membrane

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the function of bacterial capsules?

Accepted Answer

They contribute to virulence by preventing phagocytosis.

Question 6

Which arrangement of bacterial flagella would you expect to find on a bacterium that is highly motile and can move in multiple directions?

Accepted Answer

Peritrichous

Question 7

A patient is diagnosed with pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The strain isolated from the patient lacks a capsule. What is the most likely consequence?

Accepted Answer

The bacterium will be non-pathogenic due to increased susceptibility to phagocytosis.

Question 8

Which of the following is a function of the bacterial plasma membrane?

Accepted Answer

It regulates the movement of substances into and out of the cell.

Question 9

Which process requires both a transporter protein and ATP to move substances across the plasma membrane against their concentration gradient?

Accepted Answer

Active transport

Question 10

A bacterium is observed to have a corkscrew-like movement. Which structure is most likely responsible for this type of motility?

Accepted Answer

Axial filaments (endoflagella)

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

They possess an outer membrane that restricts entry of many antibiotics.

Question 12

Which of the following is a unique feature of eukaryotic cells compared to prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Presence of membrane-bound organelles

Question 13

A scientist is studying a microorganism with a cell wall containing mycolic acid. Which staining technique should be used to identify this organism?

Accepted Answer

Carbolfuchsin (acid-fast) stain

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the arrangement of cocci in a staphylococci configuration?

Accepted Answer

Clusters resembling grapes

Question 15

Which of the following is a function of the bacterial glycocalyx?

Accepted Answer

Attachment to surfaces and protection from desiccation

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the composition of peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls?

Accepted Answer

Repeating units of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM) linked by polypeptides

Question 17

A bacterial cell is placed in a hypotonic solution. What is the most likely effect on the cell?

Accepted Answer

Water will move into the cell, possibly causing it to burst if the cell wall is weak.

Question 18

Which of the following is true regarding the ribosomes found in prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

They are 70S ribosomes composed of 50S and 30S subunits.

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why Mycoplasma species are resistant to antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis?

Accepted Answer

They lack a cell wall and have sterols in their plasma membrane.

Question 20

Which of the following processes is used by eukaryotic cells to engulf large particles or microorganisms?

Accepted Answer

Phagocytosis

Functional Anatomy of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells: Study Notes

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