MICROBIOLOGY TAMU EXAM 1
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 100%
CORRECT RATED A+
What is the defining characteristic of microorganisms?
✔✔ Organisms that are too small to be seen with the unaided eye (requiring
magnification such as a microscope for visualization).
What are several key roles and facts regarding microbes in our lives?
✔✔ Pathogenicity: Less than 1% of all microbial species are pathogenic (disease-
causing).
✔✔ Decomposition: Major role in decomposing organic waste and nutrient
recycling.
✔✔ Photosynthesis: Produce significant amounts of oxygen and organic
compounds via aquatic and terrestrial photosynthesis.
✔✔ Industrial/Commercial: Used to produce industrial chemicals (e.g., acetone,
enzymes) and fermented foods/beverages.
✔✔ Abundance: Microbes vastly outnumber human cells in and on the human
body.
Which major microbial groups possess eukaryotic cell structures?
✔✔ Fungi, protozoans, and algae (possess a true membrane-bound nucleus and
membrane-bound organelles).
Which major microbial groups are classified as prokaryotes (and note the
special status of viruses)?
✔✔ Bacteria (and Archaea; lack a membrane-bound nucleus).
✔✔ Note on Viruses: Viruses are not cells (they are acellular infectious entities
consisting of genetic material enclosed in a protein coat).
,What word describes that microbes are everywhere, all around us? -
ANSWER✔✔they are ubiquitous
What is an example of a microbe? -ANSWER✔✔polar bear hairs are hollow in
warmer weather- microorganisms, algae & cyanobacteria gets in hair and turns it
green
Microbial Ecology -ANSWER✔✔part of ecosystem
bacteria recycle carbon, nutrients, sulfur and phosphorus that can be used by plants
and animals
use photosynthesis- ocean/freshwater to produce energy- make carbon compounds
which serve as a food source, bottom link of food chain
Bioremediation -ANSWER✔✔process that used naturally occurring or genetically
engineered microorganisms
What does bacteria do in bioremediation? -ANSWER✔✔degrade organic matter in
sewage or detoxify pollutants such as oil and mercury
outcome: detoxify/reduces toxicity
What are some examples of bioremediation? -ANSWER✔✔few species of bacteria
(pseudomonas sp.) can use crude oil for energy, cleaning up oil spills in ocean
What is a real life example of bioremediation? -ANSWER✔✔April 20, 2010 BP
oil spill in Gulf
June- scientist sample oil blume at 3600 ft below surface, 100x, find oil degrading
August- short chain hydrocarbons gone, bacteria still more damaging long chain
carbons present, study these bacteria- identify their oil by degrading enzymes
, What did they use on the gulf? -ANSWER✔✔used dispertants/absorbant booms,
sink down oil globs, more surface area for bacteria to break it down
Bioremediation of Landfills -ANSWER✔✔300 metric tons of trash and waste
deposited into environment each yr.
-successful remediation needs microbes/bacteria + H2O + O2
-ground water, which is the primary source of drinking for many is often polluted
Waste management by Bioremediation -ANSWER✔✔use of microbes to
breakdown or remove toxic wastes in water and soil, uses pesticides reduced by
96% solvents reduced from 1 million ppb to <10pph, heavy metals detoxified
How to microbes interact with plants? -ANSWER✔✔they make nitrogen available
to plants
N2- not form that can be used by most organisms
-bacteria can metabolize N2-NO2 & NH4 (ammonia)
-these forms can be used by nitrate plants
-????
How do microbes aid in the digestive process of grazing animals? -
ANSWER✔✔bacteria in gut breakdown cellulose to usable compounds in animals,
produce necessary enzymes
Microbes as biopesticides -ANSWER✔✔-bacillus thurginiensis(bacterium)- toxic
to insects that that ingest them, produces spores and crystals, insects ingests
crystal- activated and breaks down digestive tract, harmless to other organisms,
found in commercial dusts, chops caterpillar up on inside
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 100%
CORRECT RATED A+
What is the defining characteristic of microorganisms?
✔✔ Organisms that are too small to be seen with the unaided eye (requiring
magnification such as a microscope for visualization).
What are several key roles and facts regarding microbes in our lives?
✔✔ Pathogenicity: Less than 1% of all microbial species are pathogenic (disease-
causing).
✔✔ Decomposition: Major role in decomposing organic waste and nutrient
recycling.
✔✔ Photosynthesis: Produce significant amounts of oxygen and organic
compounds via aquatic and terrestrial photosynthesis.
✔✔ Industrial/Commercial: Used to produce industrial chemicals (e.g., acetone,
enzymes) and fermented foods/beverages.
✔✔ Abundance: Microbes vastly outnumber human cells in and on the human
body.
Which major microbial groups possess eukaryotic cell structures?
✔✔ Fungi, protozoans, and algae (possess a true membrane-bound nucleus and
membrane-bound organelles).
Which major microbial groups are classified as prokaryotes (and note the
special status of viruses)?
✔✔ Bacteria (and Archaea; lack a membrane-bound nucleus).
✔✔ Note on Viruses: Viruses are not cells (they are acellular infectious entities
consisting of genetic material enclosed in a protein coat).
,What word describes that microbes are everywhere, all around us? -
ANSWER✔✔they are ubiquitous
What is an example of a microbe? -ANSWER✔✔polar bear hairs are hollow in
warmer weather- microorganisms, algae & cyanobacteria gets in hair and turns it
green
Microbial Ecology -ANSWER✔✔part of ecosystem
bacteria recycle carbon, nutrients, sulfur and phosphorus that can be used by plants
and animals
use photosynthesis- ocean/freshwater to produce energy- make carbon compounds
which serve as a food source, bottom link of food chain
Bioremediation -ANSWER✔✔process that used naturally occurring or genetically
engineered microorganisms
What does bacteria do in bioremediation? -ANSWER✔✔degrade organic matter in
sewage or detoxify pollutants such as oil and mercury
outcome: detoxify/reduces toxicity
What are some examples of bioremediation? -ANSWER✔✔few species of bacteria
(pseudomonas sp.) can use crude oil for energy, cleaning up oil spills in ocean
What is a real life example of bioremediation? -ANSWER✔✔April 20, 2010 BP
oil spill in Gulf
June- scientist sample oil blume at 3600 ft below surface, 100x, find oil degrading
August- short chain hydrocarbons gone, bacteria still more damaging long chain
carbons present, study these bacteria- identify their oil by degrading enzymes
, What did they use on the gulf? -ANSWER✔✔used dispertants/absorbant booms,
sink down oil globs, more surface area for bacteria to break it down
Bioremediation of Landfills -ANSWER✔✔300 metric tons of trash and waste
deposited into environment each yr.
-successful remediation needs microbes/bacteria + H2O + O2
-ground water, which is the primary source of drinking for many is often polluted
Waste management by Bioremediation -ANSWER✔✔use of microbes to
breakdown or remove toxic wastes in water and soil, uses pesticides reduced by
96% solvents reduced from 1 million ppb to <10pph, heavy metals detoxified
How to microbes interact with plants? -ANSWER✔✔they make nitrogen available
to plants
N2- not form that can be used by most organisms
-bacteria can metabolize N2-NO2 & NH4 (ammonia)
-these forms can be used by nitrate plants
-????
How do microbes aid in the digestive process of grazing animals? -
ANSWER✔✔bacteria in gut breakdown cellulose to usable compounds in animals,
produce necessary enzymes
Microbes as biopesticides -ANSWER✔✔-bacillus thurginiensis(bacterium)- toxic
to insects that that ingest them, produces spores and crystals, insects ingests
crystal- activated and breaks down digestive tract, harmless to other organisms,
found in commercial dusts, chops caterpillar up on inside
