BIOD 171 FINAL EXAM STUDY guide with correct answers
Microbiology is the study of what? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Microbiology is the study of
microbes (microorganisms and viruses) and their biological processes.
What is the smallest biological unit of life - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔cell
What is a macromolecule? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔A macromolecule is classified as a
complex molecule that is composed from smaller subunits.
What are the four main types of macromolecules? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Proteins, nucleic
acids, lipids and carbohydrates
What various functions do proteins have in a cell - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Proteins may
facilitate the movement of materials in or out of a cell. Some can act as enzymes that catalyze, or
speed up, biochemical processes. Others play a structural role while other proteins, such as
filaments, enable movement.
What are the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔There
are two major types of nucleic acids: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
Nucleic acids are chemical molecules that carry genetic information within the cell. DNA contains a
vast amount of hereditary information and is responsible for the inheritable characteristics of living
organisms. RNA is responsible for deciphering the hereditary information in DNA and using it to
synthesize proteins.
What is the plasma membrane, and what is it made up of? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔The
plasma membrane serves the cell as a surrounding barrier that separates the inside of the cell from
the outside surrounding environment. The plasma membrane also restricts the movement of
materials (water, nutrients, etc) either in or out of the cell, thus allowing a cells to absorb and keep
what is needed (influx) while also preventing the escape (out flux) of essential nutrients. The plasma
membrane is composed of lipids (hydrophobic hydrocarbons).
, What are the three main components of carbohydrates? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS
**✔✔Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Examples would include,
C6H12O6 (glucose) C12H22O11 (sucrose) and C6H10O5 (cellulose).
What is the primary difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS
**✔✔Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus, a membrane enclosed region within the cell that contains
the genetic material. Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus and can be further classified as either
Bacteria or Archaea.
What are the main morphologies of bacteria? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Bacteria can be
described as coccus (round/spherical), bacillus (rod), vibrio (curved rod) or spirillum
(spiral/corkscrew).
Which group (classification) of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under harsh conditions? -
** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Archaea. They are able to survive in extremely harsh environmental
conditions such as high salt levels, acid conditions, high temperatures and oxygen-poor conditions.
What are the four main classifications of Eukarya? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Eukaryotic
microorganisms are classified as either belonging to Animalia, Plantae, Fungi or Protista.
Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔No.
Viruses are considered neither prokaryotic nor eukaryotic. Viruses are not considered living and do
not replicate on their own, meaning they must replicate within a host.
The lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane is composed of what? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS
**✔✔The cell membrane is a bilayer composed primarily of amphipathic phospholipids, meaning
they contain a polar hydrophilic (water loving) head group and a non-polar hydrophobic (water
fearing) tail region. The lipid bilayer is situated in such a way where the non-polar tail groups face
inward thus orienting the polar head groups to interact with water both outside and inside of the
cell.
What are the primary cellular organelles described in this module? Be sure to know the roles of each.
- ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Ribosomes (protein synthesis), ER (site of protein synthesis), Golgi
(protein modification and distribution), lysosomes (waste disposal), mitochondria (ATP generation)
and chloroplasts (plants only; site of photosynthesis).
Microbiology is the study of what? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Microbiology is the study of
microbes (microorganisms and viruses) and their biological processes.
What is the smallest biological unit of life - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔cell
What is a macromolecule? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔A macromolecule is classified as a
complex molecule that is composed from smaller subunits.
What are the four main types of macromolecules? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Proteins, nucleic
acids, lipids and carbohydrates
What various functions do proteins have in a cell - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Proteins may
facilitate the movement of materials in or out of a cell. Some can act as enzymes that catalyze, or
speed up, biochemical processes. Others play a structural role while other proteins, such as
filaments, enable movement.
What are the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔There
are two major types of nucleic acids: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
Nucleic acids are chemical molecules that carry genetic information within the cell. DNA contains a
vast amount of hereditary information and is responsible for the inheritable characteristics of living
organisms. RNA is responsible for deciphering the hereditary information in DNA and using it to
synthesize proteins.
What is the plasma membrane, and what is it made up of? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔The
plasma membrane serves the cell as a surrounding barrier that separates the inside of the cell from
the outside surrounding environment. The plasma membrane also restricts the movement of
materials (water, nutrients, etc) either in or out of the cell, thus allowing a cells to absorb and keep
what is needed (influx) while also preventing the escape (out flux) of essential nutrients. The plasma
membrane is composed of lipids (hydrophobic hydrocarbons).
, What are the three main components of carbohydrates? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS
**✔✔Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Examples would include,
C6H12O6 (glucose) C12H22O11 (sucrose) and C6H10O5 (cellulose).
What is the primary difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS
**✔✔Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus, a membrane enclosed region within the cell that contains
the genetic material. Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus and can be further classified as either
Bacteria or Archaea.
What are the main morphologies of bacteria? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Bacteria can be
described as coccus (round/spherical), bacillus (rod), vibrio (curved rod) or spirillum
(spiral/corkscrew).
Which group (classification) of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under harsh conditions? -
** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Archaea. They are able to survive in extremely harsh environmental
conditions such as high salt levels, acid conditions, high temperatures and oxygen-poor conditions.
What are the four main classifications of Eukarya? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Eukaryotic
microorganisms are classified as either belonging to Animalia, Plantae, Fungi or Protista.
Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔No.
Viruses are considered neither prokaryotic nor eukaryotic. Viruses are not considered living and do
not replicate on their own, meaning they must replicate within a host.
The lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane is composed of what? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS
**✔✔The cell membrane is a bilayer composed primarily of amphipathic phospholipids, meaning
they contain a polar hydrophilic (water loving) head group and a non-polar hydrophobic (water
fearing) tail region. The lipid bilayer is situated in such a way where the non-polar tail groups face
inward thus orienting the polar head groups to interact with water both outside and inside of the
cell.
What are the primary cellular organelles described in this module? Be sure to know the roles of each.
- ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Ribosomes (protein synthesis), ER (site of protein synthesis), Golgi
(protein modification and distribution), lysosomes (waste disposal), mitochondria (ATP generation)
and chloroplasts (plants only; site of photosynthesis).
