Question 1

Which of the following best describes a chemoheterotroph?

Accepted Answer

An organism that uses organic compounds as both an energy and carbon source.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

The cell will lose water and undergo plasmolysis.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about biofilms is correct?

Accepted Answer

Biofilms are communities of microorganisms attached to a surface and embedded in a self-produced matrix.

Question 4

During which phase of the bacterial growth curve does the population size remain constant as the rate of cell division equals the rate of cell death?

Accepted Answer

Stationary phase

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of selective media?

Accepted Answer

MacConkey agar

Question 6

A microbiologist wants to sterilize a heat-sensitive plastic instrument. Which method is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Ethylene oxide gas exposure

Question 7

Which of the following statements about penicillin is correct?

Accepted Answer

Penicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic that inhibits cell wall synthesis.

Question 8

A culture is treated with increasing concentrations of an antibiotic. Growth is observed at 2 $$\mug/mL$$, but not at 4 $$\mug/mL. $$What is the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)?

Accepted Answer

$$4\ \mu\mathrm{g}/\mathrm{mL}$$

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the function of DNA polymerase during replication?

Accepted Answer

Synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to a template strand.

Question 10

A bacterial cell acquires a gene for antibiotic resistance from a virus that previously infected another bacterium. This process is called:

Accepted Answer

Transduction

Question 11

Which of the following is a characteristic of fungi?

Accepted Answer

They have chitin in their cell walls.

Question 12

Which of the following is a beneficial effect of algae?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen production through photosynthesis

Question 13

Which of the following statements about viruses is correct?

Accepted Answer

Viral surface proteins (spikes) are important for host cell recognition and attachment.

Question 14

A patient is infected with a retrovirus. Which enzyme is essential for the virus to replicate its genome inside the host cell?

Accepted Answer

Reverse transcriptase

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the difference between defined and complex media?

Accepted Answer

Defined media contains exact chemical composition, while complex media contains ingredients of unknown composition.

Question 16

Which of the following is the most resistant to physical and chemical control methods?

Accepted Answer

Bacterial endospores

Question 17

A scientist uses a disk diffusion test to evaluate the effectiveness of several antibiotics. What does a large zone of inhibition around a disk indicate?

Accepted Answer

The antibiotic is effective at inhibiting bacterial growth.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the role of the fungus in a lichen?

Accepted Answer

Provides structure and protection for the alga.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about conjugation in bacteria is correct?

Accepted Answer

Conjugation requires direct cell-to-cell contact and transfer of plasmid DNA.

Question 20

A mutation that results from exposure to a chemical mutagen is best described as:

Accepted Answer

An induced mutation

Microbiology Study Guide: Nutrition, Growth, Control, Genetics, Eukaryotes, Viruses, and Antimicrobial Drugs

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