Question 1

Which of the following best describes the role of ATP in cellular metabolism?

Accepted Answer

ATP serves as a universal energy currency, coupling exergonic and endergonic reactions in the cell.

Question 2

During glycolysis, what is the net gain of ATP and NADH molecules per molecule of glucose under the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway?

Accepted Answer

$2$ ATP and $2$ NADH

Question 3

A bacterium is found to use light as its energy source and CO$_2$ as its carbon source. Which metabolic class does it belong to?

Accepted Answer

Photoautotroph

Question 4

Which of the following statements about DNA replication in bacteria is correct?

Accepted Answer

DNA replication is semiconservative and proceeds in the 5' to 3' direction.

Question 5

Which of the following best explains why ATP is considered a 'high-energy' molecule?

Accepted Answer

ATP has two phosphoanhydride bonds that release large amounts of free energy upon hydrolysis.

Question 6

In the electron transport chain (ETC) of bacteria, which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Electrons flow from carriers with lower reduction potential to those with higher reduction potential.

Question 7

Which of the following is a correct description of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

HGT involves the movement of DNA between cells that are not in a parent-offspring relationship.

Question 8

A mutation in the gene encoding DNA gyrase in bacteria would most likely affect which process?

Accepted Answer

Supercoiling and relaxation of DNA during replication

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the function of tRNA during translation?

Accepted Answer

tRNA carries amino acids to the ribosome and matches them to the mRNA codon via its anticodon.

Question 10

Which of the following is a key difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA?

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotic DNA is circular and lacks nucleosomes.

Question 11

During the Calvin cycle, how many ATP molecules are required to fix one molecule of CO$_2$?

Accepted Answer

$3$ ATP

Question 12

Which of the following statements about the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is correct?

Accepted Answer

PCR amplifies DNA by cycling through denaturation, annealing, and extension steps at different temperatures.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Binary fission

Question 14

A bacterium is able to grow using nitrate (NO$_3^-$) as a terminal electron acceptor in the absence of oxygen. This process is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Anaerobic respiration

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why NAD$^+$/NADH is important in cellular metabolism?

Accepted Answer

NAD$^+$/NADH serves as an electron carrier, shuttling electrons between metabolic reactions.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about the genetic code is correct?

Accepted Answer

The genetic code is degenerate, meaning multiple codons can code for the same amino acid.

Question 17

A patient is infected with a bacterium that has acquired antibiotic resistance through a plasmid. Which mechanism of horizontal gene transfer most likely contributed to this?

Accepted Answer

Conjugation

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the function of the promoter region in bacterial transcription?

Accepted Answer

It is the binding site for RNA polymerase to initiate transcription.

Question 19

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the flow of genetic information in the central dogma of molecular biology?

Accepted Answer

Information flows from DNA to RNA to protein.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about oxidative phosphorylation is correct?

Accepted Answer

It uses the proton motive force generated by the electron transport chain to synthesize ATP.

Microbiology Exam Study Guide: Metabolism, Genetics, and Gene Transfer

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