BIOD 171 Final Exam Study
Guide Actual Exam Questions
and Answers 2025
What is microbiology the study of? - Ans ✅✅-microbes and their biological processes
What is the smallest biological unit of life? - Ans ✅✅-cell
What are the characteristics of life? - Ans ✅✅-movement, responsiveness, growth,
reproduction, metabolism, homeostasis, and organization
What is a macromolecule? - Ans ✅✅-a complex molecule that is composed from
smaller subunits
What are the four main types of macromolecules? - Ans ✅✅-protein, lipids, nucleic
acids, carbohydrates
What is the most prominent macromolecule in the body? - Ans ✅✅-protein
What are the functions of proteins in a cell? - Ans ✅✅-Movement, catalyzing, support,
storage, transportation, communication in the cell, defense
what is the most abundant cell type? - Ans ✅✅-Prokaryotic
What are the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles? - Ans ✅✅-DNA and
RNA
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 of? - Ans ✅✅-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? - Ans ✅✅-carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen
, What is the primary difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? - Ans ✅✅-
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? - Ans ✅✅-coccus (round/spherical),
bacillus (rod), vibrio (curved rod) or spirillum (spiral/corkscrew)
what are the 2 main branches of prokaryotes? - Ans ✅✅-bacteria and archaea
Which group of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under harsh conditions? - Ans
✅✅-Archaea
What are the four main classifications of Eukarya? - Ans ✅✅-Animalia, Plantae,
Fungi or Protista
Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic? - Ans ✅✅-No they are
not considered living because
What is the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane composed of? - Ans ✅✅-polar
hydrophilic (water loving) head group and a non-polar hydrophobic (water fearing) tail
region
-hydrophobic tail faces inward and and polar head interacts with water outside and
inside the cell
What are the primary cellular organelles and their roles? - Ans ✅✅-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).
Proteins are formed from various combinations of ______ of which there are ____
known forms - Ans ✅✅-amino acids, 20
What is an essential amino acid? - Ans ✅✅-An essential amino acid cannot be
produced by the human body and as such must be take in from the environment
through alternative sources (i.e) food.
What do eukaryotic cell membranes have that prokaryotic cell membranes don't? - Ans
✅✅-sterol lipids (ex: cholesterol)
Functions of plasma membrane? - Ans ✅✅-Proteins in membrane allow the import of
nutrients or export of molecules (wastes, signaling molecules)
Protein sensors receive information about the environment or messages from other
cells
Mechanical properties allow for movement, growth, and reseal
Guide Actual Exam Questions
and Answers 2025
What is microbiology the study of? - Ans ✅✅-microbes and their biological processes
What is the smallest biological unit of life? - Ans ✅✅-cell
What are the characteristics of life? - Ans ✅✅-movement, responsiveness, growth,
reproduction, metabolism, homeostasis, and organization
What is a macromolecule? - Ans ✅✅-a complex molecule that is composed from
smaller subunits
What are the four main types of macromolecules? - Ans ✅✅-protein, lipids, nucleic
acids, carbohydrates
What is the most prominent macromolecule in the body? - Ans ✅✅-protein
What are the functions of proteins in a cell? - Ans ✅✅-Movement, catalyzing, support,
storage, transportation, communication in the cell, defense
what is the most abundant cell type? - Ans ✅✅-Prokaryotic
What are the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles? - Ans ✅✅-DNA and
RNA
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 of? - Ans ✅✅-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? - Ans ✅✅-carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen
, What is the primary difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? - Ans ✅✅-
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? - Ans ✅✅-coccus (round/spherical),
bacillus (rod), vibrio (curved rod) or spirillum (spiral/corkscrew)
what are the 2 main branches of prokaryotes? - Ans ✅✅-bacteria and archaea
Which group of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under harsh conditions? - Ans
✅✅-Archaea
What are the four main classifications of Eukarya? - Ans ✅✅-Animalia, Plantae,
Fungi or Protista
Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic? - Ans ✅✅-No they are
not considered living because
What is the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane composed of? - Ans ✅✅-polar
hydrophilic (water loving) head group and a non-polar hydrophobic (water fearing) tail
region
-hydrophobic tail faces inward and and polar head interacts with water outside and
inside the cell
What are the primary cellular organelles and their roles? - Ans ✅✅-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).
Proteins are formed from various combinations of ______ of which there are ____
known forms - Ans ✅✅-amino acids, 20
What is an essential amino acid? - Ans ✅✅-An essential amino acid cannot be
produced by the human body and as such must be take in from the environment
through alternative sources (i.e) food.
What do eukaryotic cell membranes have that prokaryotic cell membranes don't? - Ans
✅✅-sterol lipids (ex: cholesterol)
Functions of plasma membrane? - Ans ✅✅-Proteins in membrane allow the import of
nutrients or export of molecules (wastes, signaling molecules)
Protein sensors receive information about the environment or messages from other
cells
Mechanical properties allow for movement, growth, and reseal
