BIOL 3201 Exam 1 Questions Answered Correctly Latest Update 2025-2026
BSL 1 - Answers Microorganisms not know to cause disease in healthy adults
BSL 2 - Answers Indigenous microorganisms that can lead to diseases of varying severity in
healthy adults
BSL 3 - Answers Indigenous or exotic microorganisms that cause serious or potentially lethal
disease through respiratory transmission
BSL 4 - Answers Microorganisms that are dangerous and exotic with high rick of aerosol
transmitted infections. Rarely are there treatments or vaccines for these microorganisms, and
the diseases they cause are frequently fatal
BSL 1 examples and PPE - Answers Bacillus subtilis, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus
saprophyticus
PPE not required, need a sink
BSL 2 examples and PPE - Answers Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes,
Salmonella
Lab coat, gloves - eye/face protection as needed
Work that may generate aerosols/splashes need a hood
BSL 3 examples and PPE - Answers Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bacillus anthracis, Francisella
tularensis
PPE with respirator
Hood
Decontamination of all waste and lab clothing before laundering
Must have negative air-flow
BSL 4 examples and PPE - Answers Ebola, Marburg virus
Hazmat
Microorganism/microbe - Answers General term for living organisms that cannot be seen
without a microscope
"Ubiquity of Microorganisms" - Answers The concept that microorganisms are everywhere
Sterile - Answers Free of microbial contamination
Contamination - Answers The undesired introduction of impurities like microbes, into or onto an
, item
Pure culture - Answers Only one type of microbe
Who invented agar - Answers Angelina and Walter Hesse
aseptic technique - Answers A set of precautions microbiologists take when working in a lab to
avoid contamination
What happens when you fail to use aseptic technique - Answers 1. Contaminate others with
microorganisms that could lead to infection
2. Contaminate yourself with microorganisms that could lead to infection
3. Contaminate media and/or the microorganisms being studied in the lab
Disinfectants - Answers Can destroy vegetative cells and viruses but may not destroy
endosperm's
Can disinfectants be used to sterilize? - Answers No
Who invented the first microscope - Answers No one knows, they were in Middleburg, Holland
What was the most notable microscope advancement in 1933? - Answers The construction of
the first functional microscope
Types of light microscopes - Answers Brightfield, phase contrast, dark field, fluorescent
Brightfield microscopes - Answers The simplest form of microscopy where the light is either
passed through, or reflected off, a specimen. Requires the use of stains
Phase contrast microscopes - Answers Converts the differences in optical density (refractive
index) of cells into different shades of brightness (contrast)
Allows for the visualization of morphology, external structures, and some internal
Stains not required
Darkfield microscopes - Answers Contrast is created by a bright specimen on a dark
background
Morphology and internal structures
Stains not required
Fluorescent microscopes - Answers Uses high intensity illumination to excite fluorescent
molecules (fluorophores) in the sample
Fluorescence (colored light) emanates from the sample (and not the illuminating light
BSL 1 - Answers Microorganisms not know to cause disease in healthy adults
BSL 2 - Answers Indigenous microorganisms that can lead to diseases of varying severity in
healthy adults
BSL 3 - Answers Indigenous or exotic microorganisms that cause serious or potentially lethal
disease through respiratory transmission
BSL 4 - Answers Microorganisms that are dangerous and exotic with high rick of aerosol
transmitted infections. Rarely are there treatments or vaccines for these microorganisms, and
the diseases they cause are frequently fatal
BSL 1 examples and PPE - Answers Bacillus subtilis, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus
saprophyticus
PPE not required, need a sink
BSL 2 examples and PPE - Answers Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes,
Salmonella
Lab coat, gloves - eye/face protection as needed
Work that may generate aerosols/splashes need a hood
BSL 3 examples and PPE - Answers Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bacillus anthracis, Francisella
tularensis
PPE with respirator
Hood
Decontamination of all waste and lab clothing before laundering
Must have negative air-flow
BSL 4 examples and PPE - Answers Ebola, Marburg virus
Hazmat
Microorganism/microbe - Answers General term for living organisms that cannot be seen
without a microscope
"Ubiquity of Microorganisms" - Answers The concept that microorganisms are everywhere
Sterile - Answers Free of microbial contamination
Contamination - Answers The undesired introduction of impurities like microbes, into or onto an
, item
Pure culture - Answers Only one type of microbe
Who invented agar - Answers Angelina and Walter Hesse
aseptic technique - Answers A set of precautions microbiologists take when working in a lab to
avoid contamination
What happens when you fail to use aseptic technique - Answers 1. Contaminate others with
microorganisms that could lead to infection
2. Contaminate yourself with microorganisms that could lead to infection
3. Contaminate media and/or the microorganisms being studied in the lab
Disinfectants - Answers Can destroy vegetative cells and viruses but may not destroy
endosperm's
Can disinfectants be used to sterilize? - Answers No
Who invented the first microscope - Answers No one knows, they were in Middleburg, Holland
What was the most notable microscope advancement in 1933? - Answers The construction of
the first functional microscope
Types of light microscopes - Answers Brightfield, phase contrast, dark field, fluorescent
Brightfield microscopes - Answers The simplest form of microscopy where the light is either
passed through, or reflected off, a specimen. Requires the use of stains
Phase contrast microscopes - Answers Converts the differences in optical density (refractive
index) of cells into different shades of brightness (contrast)
Allows for the visualization of morphology, external structures, and some internal
Stains not required
Darkfield microscopes - Answers Contrast is created by a bright specimen on a dark
background
Morphology and internal structures
Stains not required
Fluorescent microscopes - Answers Uses high intensity illumination to excite fluorescent
molecules (fluorophores) in the sample
Fluorescence (colored light) emanates from the sample (and not the illuminating light
