BIOD 171
BIOD 171 Final Exam Study Guide
Questions and Verified Answers 2025
What is microbiology the study of? -Correct Answer ✔microbes and their biological
processes
What is the smallest biological unit of life? -Correct Answer ✔cell
What are the characteristics of life? -Correct Answer ✔movement, responsiveness,
growth, reproduction, metabolism, homeostasis, and organization
What is a macromolecule? -Correct Answer ✔a complex molecule that is composed
from smaller subunits
What are the four main types of macromolecules? -Correct Answer ✔protein, lipids,
nucleic acids, carbohydrates
What is the most prominent macromolecule in the body? -Correct Answer ✔protein
What are the functions of proteins in a cell? -Correct Answer ✔Movement, catalyzing,
support, storage, transportation, communication in the cell, defense
what is the most abundant cell type? -Correct Answer ✔Prokaryotic
What are the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles? -Correct Answer ✔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? -Correct Answer ✔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? -Correct Answer ✔carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen
1
What is the primary difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? -Correct
Page
Answer ✔Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus, a membrane enclosed region within the
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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? -Correct Answer ✔coccus
(round/spherical), bacillus (rod), vibrio (curved rod) or spirillum (spiral/corkscrew)
what are the 2 main branches of prokaryotes? -Correct Answer ✔bacteria and archaea
Which group of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under harsh conditions? -
Correct Answer ✔Archaea
What are the four main classifications of Eukarya? -Correct Answer ✔Animalia, Plantae,
Fungi or Protista
Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic? -Correct Answer ✔No they
are not considered living because
What is the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane composed of? -Correct Answer ✔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? -Correct Answer ✔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 -Correct Answer ✔amino acids, 20
What is an essential amino acid? -Correct Answer ✔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? -
Correct Answer ✔sterol lipids (ex: cholesterol)
Functions of plasma membrane? -Correct Answer ✔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
2
Page
BIOD 171
BIOD 171 Final Exam Study Guide
Questions and Verified Answers 2025
What is microbiology the study of? -Correct Answer ✔microbes and their biological
processes
What is the smallest biological unit of life? -Correct Answer ✔cell
What are the characteristics of life? -Correct Answer ✔movement, responsiveness,
growth, reproduction, metabolism, homeostasis, and organization
What is a macromolecule? -Correct Answer ✔a complex molecule that is composed
from smaller subunits
What are the four main types of macromolecules? -Correct Answer ✔protein, lipids,
nucleic acids, carbohydrates
What is the most prominent macromolecule in the body? -Correct Answer ✔protein
What are the functions of proteins in a cell? -Correct Answer ✔Movement, catalyzing,
support, storage, transportation, communication in the cell, defense
what is the most abundant cell type? -Correct Answer ✔Prokaryotic
What are the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles? -Correct Answer ✔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? -Correct Answer ✔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? -Correct Answer ✔carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen
1
What is the primary difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? -Correct
Page
Answer ✔Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus, a membrane enclosed region within the
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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? -Correct Answer ✔coccus
(round/spherical), bacillus (rod), vibrio (curved rod) or spirillum (spiral/corkscrew)
what are the 2 main branches of prokaryotes? -Correct Answer ✔bacteria and archaea
Which group of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under harsh conditions? -
Correct Answer ✔Archaea
What are the four main classifications of Eukarya? -Correct Answer ✔Animalia, Plantae,
Fungi or Protista
Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic? -Correct Answer ✔No they
are not considered living because
What is the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane composed of? -Correct Answer ✔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? -Correct Answer ✔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 -Correct Answer ✔amino acids, 20
What is an essential amino acid? -Correct Answer ✔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? -
Correct Answer ✔sterol lipids (ex: cholesterol)
Functions of plasma membrane? -Correct Answer ✔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
2
Page
BIOD 171
