MICROBIOLOGY EXAM 1 STUDY
GUIDE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What is the definition of microbiology? - ANSWERis the study of microorganisms and
their activities. In addition, it also is the study of small living things.
Microorganisms - ANSWERare those organisms that are too small to see with the
naked eye and include things like bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
What kinds of organisms do microbiologists study? - ANSWERMicrobiologists study
microorganisms. Microbiologists may specialize in the study of different groups of
microorganisms.
The kinds of organisms microbiologists study include: - ANSWERBacteria
Fungi
Protists
Viruses
Bacteriology - ANSWERthe study of bacteria often broadly designated as Microbiology
Mycology - ANSWERthe study of fungi
Protozoology - ANSWERstudy of protozoa
Virology - ANSWERstudy of viruses
What are three properties of all microbial cells? - ANSWERMetabolism
Growth
Evolution
Evolution - ANSWERCells evolve to display new properties. Phylogenetic trees capture
evolutionary relationships.
Growth - ANSWERNutrients from the environment are converted into new cell materials
to form new cells.
Metabolism - ANSWERCells take up nutrients, transform them, and expel wastes.
chemical transformation of nutrients.
, the sum of all chemical reactions that occur in a cell.
What are four properties of some microbial cells that we discussed in lecture? -
ANSWERDifferentiation
Communication
Genetic Exchange
Motility
Genetic exchange - ANSWERCells can exchange genes by several mechanisms.
Communication - ANSWERCells interact with each other by chemical messengers.
Differentiation - ANSWERSome cells can form new cell structures such as a spore.
Motility - ANSWERSelf-movement
Some cells are capable of self-propulsion.
What is the 3-domain system? - ANSWERThe 3-domain system is a system for
classifying biological organisms and they include:
Bacteria (prokaryotic)
Archaea (prokaryotic)
Eukarya (eukaryotic)
Domains: - ANSWERthree distinct lineages of microbial cells
Who is the scientist responsible for developing the 3- domain system? - ANSWERCarl
Woese
Why is this gene useful for developing a phylogenetic tree of life? -
ANSWERPhylogenetic tree: depicts phylogeny (evolutionary history) of all cells
•clearly shows three domains
•Root is LUCA.
•evolution along two paths to form Bacteria and Archaea
•Archaea diverged to distinguish Eukarya.
GUIDE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What is the definition of microbiology? - ANSWERis the study of microorganisms and
their activities. In addition, it also is the study of small living things.
Microorganisms - ANSWERare those organisms that are too small to see with the
naked eye and include things like bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
What kinds of organisms do microbiologists study? - ANSWERMicrobiologists study
microorganisms. Microbiologists may specialize in the study of different groups of
microorganisms.
The kinds of organisms microbiologists study include: - ANSWERBacteria
Fungi
Protists
Viruses
Bacteriology - ANSWERthe study of bacteria often broadly designated as Microbiology
Mycology - ANSWERthe study of fungi
Protozoology - ANSWERstudy of protozoa
Virology - ANSWERstudy of viruses
What are three properties of all microbial cells? - ANSWERMetabolism
Growth
Evolution
Evolution - ANSWERCells evolve to display new properties. Phylogenetic trees capture
evolutionary relationships.
Growth - ANSWERNutrients from the environment are converted into new cell materials
to form new cells.
Metabolism - ANSWERCells take up nutrients, transform them, and expel wastes.
chemical transformation of nutrients.
, the sum of all chemical reactions that occur in a cell.
What are four properties of some microbial cells that we discussed in lecture? -
ANSWERDifferentiation
Communication
Genetic Exchange
Motility
Genetic exchange - ANSWERCells can exchange genes by several mechanisms.
Communication - ANSWERCells interact with each other by chemical messengers.
Differentiation - ANSWERSome cells can form new cell structures such as a spore.
Motility - ANSWERSelf-movement
Some cells are capable of self-propulsion.
What is the 3-domain system? - ANSWERThe 3-domain system is a system for
classifying biological organisms and they include:
Bacteria (prokaryotic)
Archaea (prokaryotic)
Eukarya (eukaryotic)
Domains: - ANSWERthree distinct lineages of microbial cells
Who is the scientist responsible for developing the 3- domain system? - ANSWERCarl
Woese
Why is this gene useful for developing a phylogenetic tree of life? -
ANSWERPhylogenetic tree: depicts phylogeny (evolutionary history) of all cells
•clearly shows three domains
•Root is LUCA.
•evolution along two paths to form Bacteria and Archaea
•Archaea diverged to distinguish Eukarya.
