General Microbiology Exam 1 Study Guide Questions with
Correct Answers 2026 Update
Microbes - CORRECT ANSWER -bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microscopic algae, and viruses
microorganisms - CORRECT ANSWER -Living creatures that are too small to see with the naked
eye
pathogenic - CORRECT ANSWER -disease producing
Knowledge of microorganisms allows humans to - CORRECT ANSWER -1. prevent food spoilage
(4-5 degrees C; body temp is 37 degrees C)
2. prevent disease
3. understand causes and transmission of disease to prevent epidemics
What is microbiology? - CORRECT ANSWER -The study of microorganisms too small to be seen
with the naked eye
MEN - CORRECT ANSWER -"houses with a higher ration of men to women recorder higher levels
of Corynebacterium, a group of bacteria more abundant on the skin of men than the skin of
women"
Scientific method in order - CORRECT ANSWER -observation, hypothesis, prediction, obtain
consistency, theory
5 branches - CORRECT ANSWER -Mycology (fungi), bacteriology (bacteria), virology (viruses),
algology (algae), protozoology (protozoa;animal-like)
Golden Era of Microbiology- 1867 - CORRECT ANSWER -cheese, bread, vinegar
, Father of Microbiology - CORRECT ANSWER -Louis Pasteur (french scientists; pasteurization)
cell theory - CORRECT ANSWER -Robert Hooke; everything's made up of cells
Fermentation - CORRECT ANSWER -the conversion of sugar to alcohol
Pasteurization - CORRECT ANSWER -treating a substance with heat to kill or slow the growth of
pathogens
Joseph Lister - CORRECT ANSWER -English surgeon who was the first to use antiseptics (1827-
1912)
spontaneous generation - CORRECT ANSWER -Hypothesis stating that life could arise from
nonliving matter.
Biogenesis - CORRECT ANSWER -the production of living organisms from other living organisms
Exceptions to Koch's Postulates - CORRECT ANSWER -1. Viruses, many rickettsias, Treponema
pallidum (syphilis), and Mycobacterium leprae (leprosy) do not grow on artificial media.
2. Humans as the only test host, ethical issues, ex. HIV
Edward Jenner - CORRECT ANSWER -Developed a vaccine for smallpox in 1796
Alexander Fleming - CORRECT ANSWER -Discovered penicillin in 1928
microbial genetics - CORRECT ANSWER -the study of how microbes inherit traits
Correct Answers 2026 Update
Microbes - CORRECT ANSWER -bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microscopic algae, and viruses
microorganisms - CORRECT ANSWER -Living creatures that are too small to see with the naked
eye
pathogenic - CORRECT ANSWER -disease producing
Knowledge of microorganisms allows humans to - CORRECT ANSWER -1. prevent food spoilage
(4-5 degrees C; body temp is 37 degrees C)
2. prevent disease
3. understand causes and transmission of disease to prevent epidemics
What is microbiology? - CORRECT ANSWER -The study of microorganisms too small to be seen
with the naked eye
MEN - CORRECT ANSWER -"houses with a higher ration of men to women recorder higher levels
of Corynebacterium, a group of bacteria more abundant on the skin of men than the skin of
women"
Scientific method in order - CORRECT ANSWER -observation, hypothesis, prediction, obtain
consistency, theory
5 branches - CORRECT ANSWER -Mycology (fungi), bacteriology (bacteria), virology (viruses),
algology (algae), protozoology (protozoa;animal-like)
Golden Era of Microbiology- 1867 - CORRECT ANSWER -cheese, bread, vinegar
, Father of Microbiology - CORRECT ANSWER -Louis Pasteur (french scientists; pasteurization)
cell theory - CORRECT ANSWER -Robert Hooke; everything's made up of cells
Fermentation - CORRECT ANSWER -the conversion of sugar to alcohol
Pasteurization - CORRECT ANSWER -treating a substance with heat to kill or slow the growth of
pathogens
Joseph Lister - CORRECT ANSWER -English surgeon who was the first to use antiseptics (1827-
1912)
spontaneous generation - CORRECT ANSWER -Hypothesis stating that life could arise from
nonliving matter.
Biogenesis - CORRECT ANSWER -the production of living organisms from other living organisms
Exceptions to Koch's Postulates - CORRECT ANSWER -1. Viruses, many rickettsias, Treponema
pallidum (syphilis), and Mycobacterium leprae (leprosy) do not grow on artificial media.
2. Humans as the only test host, ethical issues, ex. HIV
Edward Jenner - CORRECT ANSWER -Developed a vaccine for smallpox in 1796
Alexander Fleming - CORRECT ANSWER -Discovered penicillin in 1928
microbial genetics - CORRECT ANSWER -the study of how microbes inherit traits
