Question 1

Why is ribosomal RNA especially useful for the study of phylogenetic relationships?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is only found in some species, helping to distinguish them from others. 
B)  It is highly conserved. 
C)  It is highly variable. 
D)  It is extremely short. 
A)  It is only found in some species, helping to distinguish them from others. 
B)  It is highly conserved. 
C)  It is highly variable. 
D)  It is extremely short.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Microorganisms are significant contributors to the total biomass on Earth. 
B)  Microorganisms represent a much smaller amount of Earth's biomass than plants. 
C)  Microorganisms represent a much smaller amount of Earth's biomass than animals. 
D)  Microorganisms are significant in number, but not in overall biomass. 
A)  Microorganisms are significant contributors to the total biomass on Earth. 
B)  Microorganisms represent a much smaller amount of Earth's biomass than plants. 
C)  Microorganisms represent a much smaller amount of Earth's biomass than animals. 
D)  Microorganisms are significant in number, but not in overall biomass.

Question 3

Why is it important to use cultivation-independent methods to help understand microbial diversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  It allows researchers to identify species that cannot be grown in culture. 
B)  It is the only way that phylogenetic trees can be constructed. 
C)  It must be used after bacteria are cultured to more fully sequence their DNA. 
D)  It is necessary to be able to examine ribosomal RNA. 
A)  It allows researchers to identify species that cannot be grown in culture. 
B)  It is the only way that phylogenetic trees can be constructed. 
C)  It must be used after bacteria are cultured to more fully sequence their DNA. 
D)  It is necessary to be able to examine ribosomal RNA.

Question 4

The discovery of antibiotics and other important chemicals led to the field of

Accepted Answer

A)  industrial microbiology. 
B)  agricultural microbiology. 
C)  marine microbiology. 
D)  aquatic microbiology. 
A)  industrial microbiology. 
B)  agricultural microbiology. 
C)  marine microbiology. 
D)  aquatic microbiology.

Question 5

Provide evidence supporting the statement that an "ecosystem is controlled by microbial activities."

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary, but one exa

Question 6

Differentiation occurs only in multicellular organisms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Martinus Beijerinck was the first to isolate

Accepted Answer

A)  green algae. 
B)  certain nitrogen-fixing root nodule bacteria. 
C)  certain sulfate-reducing bacteria. 
D)  green algae, certain nitrogen-fixing root nodule bacteria, and certain sulfate-reducing bacteria. 
A)  green algae. 
B)  certain nitrogen-fixing root nodule bacteria. 
C)  certain sulfate-reducing bacteria. 
D)  green algae, certain nitrogen-fixing root nodule bacteria, and certain sulfate-reducing bacteria.

Question 8

Developments in the fields of immunology and medical microbiology were practical extensions of the work of

Accepted Answer

A)  Sergei Winogradsky. 
B)  Antoni van Leeuwenhoek. 
C)  Joseph Lister. 
D)  Robert Koch. 
A)  Sergei Winogradsky. 
B)  Antoni van Leeuwenhoek. 
C)  Joseph Lister. 
D)  Robert Koch.

Question 9

Describe two capabilities of microbes that exemplify their dynamic nature in interacting with their environment.

Accepted Answer

Answers could possibly include

Question 10

Which of the following types of microscopy is especially effective for viewing details of internal structures within live cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  phase-contrast microscopy 
B)  transmission electron microscopy 
C)  bright-field microscopy 
D)  scanning electron microscopy 
A)  phase-contrast microscopy 
B)  transmission electron microscopy 
C)  bright-field microscopy 
D)  scanning electron microscopy

Question 11

Walther Hesse and ________ pioneered the use of agar as a solidifying agent.

Accepted Answer

A)  Louis Pasteur 
B)  Ferdinand Cohn 
C)  Robert Koch 
D)  Sergei Winogradsky 
A)  Louis Pasteur 
B)  Ferdinand Cohn 
C)  Robert Koch 
D)  Sergei Winogradsky

Question 12

Microbial cells first evolved on Earth approximately ________ billion years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)  1.6 to 1.8 
B)  3.8 to 4.3 
C)  5.4 to 5.6 
D)  7.0 to 7.2 
A)  1.6 to 1.8 
B)  3.8 to 4.3 
C)  5.4 to 5.6 
D)  7.0 to 7.2

Question 13

Today, the enrichment culture technique developed over a century ago by Martinus Beijerinck remains a feasible approach to discovering bacteria capable of degrading pollutants.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The explosive chemical trinitrotoluene (TNT) can remain in soils after use and is hazardous to humans. Propose an experiment in which TNT-degrading microorganisms could be isolated for purposes of bioremediation. Also indicate what experimental evidence would be useful to isolate TNT-degrading microorganisms.

Accepted Answer

Experimental designs will vary, but one

Question 15

Using specific examples, explain why it is sometimes impossible to satisfy Robert Koch's postulates.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary, but one issue is the

Question 16

Regarding early life on Earth

Accepted Answer

A)  microbial life existed for billions of years before plant and animal life. 
B)  microbial life existed long before animals but has been around for about the same amount of time as plants. 
C)  microbial life, plant life, and animal life all appeared at about the same time. 
D)  it is impossible to determine which type of life first appeared. 
A)  microbial life existed for billions of years before plant and animal life. 
B)  microbial life existed long before animals but has been around for about the same amount of time as plants. 
C)  microbial life, plant life, and animal life all appeared at about the same time. 
D)  it is impossible to determine which type of life first appeared.

Question 17

Electron microscopy has greater ________ than light microscopy, because the wavelength of visible light is much larger than the wavelength of electrons.

Accepted Answer

A)  contrast 
B)  magnification 
C)  resolution 
D)  penetration 
A)  contrast 
B)  magnification 
C)  resolution 
D)  penetration

Question 18

What type of microscope would you use to visualize the internal structures of a chloroplast?
Support your answer with evidence based on the size of the structures you want to see and the resolution and magnification power of different types of microscopes.

Accepted Answer

Transmission electron microscopy would b

Question 19

Compare and contrast the works of Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch in terms of both applied techniques and basic science.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary, but should highlight

Question 20

The production of human proteins (e.g., insulin) by genetically engineered microorganisms is an example of ________, a subdiscipline of microbiology.

Accepted Answer

A)  applied microbiology 
B)  biotechnology 
C)  industrial microbiology 
D)  molecular microbiology 
A)  applied microbiology 
B)  biotechnology 
C)  industrial microbiology 
D)  molecular microbiology

Exam 1: The Microbial World

Why is ribosomal RNA especially useful for the study of phylogenetic relationships?

Which of the following statements is correct?

Why is it important to use cultivation-independent methods to help understand microbial diversity?

The discovery of antibiotics and other important chemicals led to the field of

Provide evidence supporting the statement that an "ecosystem is controlled by microbial activities."

Differentiation occurs only in multicellular organisms.

Martinus Beijerinck was the first to isolate

Developments in the fields of immunology and medical microbiology were practical extensions of the work of

Describe two capabilities of microbes that exemplify their dynamic nature in interacting with their environment.

Which of the following types of microscopy is especially effective for viewing details of internal structures within live cells?

Walther Hesse and ________ pioneered the use of agar as a solidifying agent.

Microbial cells first evolved on Earth approximately ________ billion years ago.

Today, the enrichment culture technique developed over a century ago by Martinus Beijerinck remains a feasible approach to discovering bacteria capable of degrading pollutants.

Using specific examples, explain why it is sometimes impossible to satisfy Robert Koch's postulates.

Regarding early life on Earth

Electron microscopy has greater ________ than light microscopy, because the wavelength of visible light is much larger than the wavelength of electrons.

What type of microscope would you use to visualize the internal structures of a chloroplast? Support your answer with evidence based on the size of the structures you want to see and the resolution and magnification power of different types of microscopes.

Compare and contrast the works of Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch in terms of both applied techniques and basic science.

The production of human proteins (e.g., insulin) by genetically engineered microorganisms is an example of ________, a subdiscipline of microbiology.

Microbial Cell Structure and Function

Microbial Metabolism

Molecular Information Flow and Protein Processing

Microbial Growth and Its Control

Microbial Regulatory Systems

Molecular Biology of Microbial Growth

Viruses and Their Replication

Microbial Systems Biology

Viral Genomics, Diversity, and Ecology

Genetics of Bacteria and Archaea

Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology

Microbial Evolution and Systematics

Metabolic Diversity of Microorganisms

Functional Diversity of Microorganisms

Diversity of Bacteria

Diversity of Archaea

Diversity of Microbial Eukarya

Taking the Measure of Microbial Systems

Microbial Ecosystems

Nutrient Cycles

Microbiology of the Built Environment

Microbial Symbioses

Microbial Symbioses with Humans

Microbial Infection and Pathogenesis

Innate Immunity: Broadly Specific Host Defenses

Adaptive Immunity: Highly Specific Host Defenses

Clinical Microbiology and Immunology

Epidemiology

Person-to-Person Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Vectorborne and Soilborne Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Waterborne and Foodborne Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Eukaryotic Pathogens: Fungi, Protozoans, and Helminths

Filters