Question 1

Which of the following best describes the process by which microorganisms convert sugars to alcohol, a key step in brewing and winemaking?

Accepted Answer

Fermentation

Question 2

Edward Jenner's vaccination process was based on which critical finding?

Accepted Answer

Exposure to cowpox provided immunity to smallpox

Question 3

A bacterial cell is placed in a solution containing 5% NaCl. What is most likely to happen to the cell?

Accepted Answer

Water will leave the cell, causing plasmolysis

Question 4

Which structure protects bacteria from phagocytosis by host immune cells?

Accepted Answer

Capsule (a type of glycocalyx)

Question 5

Which of the following statements about normal microbiota is correct?

Accepted Answer

They provide protection and produce essential vitamins for the host

Question 6

Which chemical compound would most likely be used to remove the cell wall from gram-positive bacterial cells prior to nucleic acid isolation?

Accepted Answer

Lysozyme

Question 7

Which of the following is a typical characteristic of most bacterial plasma membranes?

Accepted Answer

They are composed of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins

Question 8

Which group would you place a photosynthetic cell that lacks a nucleus?

Accepted Answer

Domain Bacteria

Question 9

Which of the following statements best describes the difference between Bacteria and Archaea?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a function of the glycocalyx in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Energy production

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the chemical composition of bacterial cell walls?

Accepted Answer

Peptidoglycan

Question 12

Why can oxygen ($\mathrm{O}_2$) cross the plasma membrane by simple diffusion, but glucose must be transported by facilitated diffusion?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen is small and nonpolar, while glucose is large and polar

Question 13

Which of the following statements about gram-positive cell walls is correct?

Accepted Answer

They contain a thick layer of peptidoglycan

Question 14

Which of the following statements about gram-negative cell walls is correct?

Accepted Answer

They contain an outer membrane with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)

Question 15

Which of the following best characterizes the members of the Domain Bacteria?

Accepted Answer

They have 70S ribosomes and peptidoglycan cell walls

Question 16

The first antibiotic was discovered following an accident. Which scientist made this discovery and what was the antibiotic?

Accepted Answer

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT true about emerging infectious diseases?

Accepted Answer

They are almost totally eradicated worldwide

Question 18

Which of the following is a major food producer for other living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthetic microbes

Question 19

Which of the following statements about prokaryotic cells is correct?

Accepted Answer

They may possess flagella, plasmids, and a cell wall

Question 20

Which group would you place a unicellular organism that has 70S ribosomes and a peptidoglycan cell wall?

Accepted Answer

Domain Bacteria

MCB 2010 Microbiology Study Guide – Step-by-Step Guidance

Study Guide - Practice Questions