NURS 5338 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM UPDATED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔The process of carbon fixation begins with which of the following reactants: select all
that apply.
A. ATP
B. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
C. CO2
D. NADPH
E. H2O - ✔✔A, C, D, and E. Carbon fixation uses the ATP/NADPH produced during
light
reactions to convert CO2 and H2O into useful sources of energy (carbohydrates).
✔✔What is one limitation of fixing your sample? - ✔✔Fixation requires you to
irreversibly kill your sample. Thus, determining the motility (cell movement) of a sample
is impossible. Fixation also runs the risk of distorting the specimen shape and
arrangement.
✔✔Assuming a constant (non-adjustable) light source power, identify the part of the
microscope you
would adjust to limit the amount of light entering the microscope. Select all that apply.
A. Objective
B. Condenser
C. Iris diaphragm
D. Eye piece - ✔✔C. The iris controls the amount of light that passes through the
sample and into the objective
lens. Thus, it can be adjusted (opened or closed) to alter the amount of light.
✔✔What is one of the main functions of light reactions? - ✔✔Similar to the electron
transport chain, one of its main functions is to generate a proton concentration gradient
to generate ATP.
✔✔True or False: Dark reactions can occur in the presence or absence of light. -
✔✔True
✔✔Phase-contrast microscopy provided what benefits to imaging? - ✔✔Phase contrast
microscope can provide detailed images of live cells without staining. By using
specialized condensers and objectives, a phase contrast microscope amplifies the slight
differences between cells and the surrounding medium (background) to make the cells
highly distinguishable.
✔✔What is the total magnification (relative to your eye) of a sample imaged with a 60x
objective and
a 10x eyepiece? Show your math. - ✔✔60 x 10 = 600x magnification
,✔✔How many turns (or repititions) of the Calvin Cycle are required to generate one
molecule of glucose? - ✔✔six
✔✔Match the following reactions to its corresponding enzyme:
1. A+B → A-B
2.A-B → A+B
3. A-+B →A+B-
4. Ab+C → A+Cb
A- Lyases
B- Transferases
C- Oxioreductaces
D- Hydrolases
E- Ligases
F- Isomerases - ✔✔1E 1. A + B→A-B Ligases
2A 2. A-B→A + B Lyases
3C 3. A—+B → A+B—Oxioreductaces
4B 4. Ab + C→A + Cb Transferases
✔✔What is the distinguishing feature of dark field microscopy? - ✔✔Unlike bright field or
phase contrast microscopy where light passes directly through the sample, dark field
microscopy reflects light off of the specimen at an angle. The resulting image is an
exceptionally dark background and a vibrant specimen.
✔✔Unlike brightfield microscope, fluorescence microscopes illuminate samples through
what spectrum? - ✔✔The energy of the incoming light is in the form of the ultraviolet
(UV) spectrum.
✔✔True or False: A cell that is adherent, flat (thin) and unstained is easily identified
using bright field microscopy. - ✔✔False. Adherent, flat cells are almost invisible due to
the limits on both resolution and
contrast.
✔✔What is the primary difference between TEM and SEM? - ✔✔During transmission
electron microscopy the electron passes through the sample whereas during scanning
electron microscopy the electron is reflected off the sample creating a three dimensional
'shell' model of the specimen.
✔✔Which of the following could be seen clearly by the unaided eye? Select all that
apply.
A. Bacteria with diameter of 24 μm
B. Protozoa with diameter of 150 μm
C. Virus with a diameter of 0.2 μm
D. Skin cell with diameter of 1500 μm - ✔✔B and D. The unaided eye can, on average,
clearly resolve objects > 100 μm
,✔✔Gram staining is based on what basic principle? - ✔✔Gram staining, developed by
Hans Christian Gram in 1884, began with the basic observation that different types of
bacteria react differently to various dyes. Some bacteria readily take up a specific dye
while others do not.
✔✔This type of microscope is best suited for visualizing GFP, RFP and YFP
proteins. - ✔✔Fluorescence
✔✔This type of microscope can provide detailed images of live cells without
staining. - ✔✔Phase-Contrast
✔✔This type of microscope is used to greatly increase the contrast between samples
and
background by reflecting light of of the specimen. - ✔✔Dark Field
✔✔This type of microscope is capable of capturing images in multiple focal planes,
rendering a specimen in 3-D - ✔✔3DConfocal
✔✔What is a key determinant in a bacteria being Gram-positive? - ✔✔Gram-positive
bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer. The Gram stain exploits this characteristic by
using the dye combinations of Crystal violet and Iodine. Crystal violet is retained by the
thick peptidoglycan cell wall and forms a stable complex with iodine (upon its addition)
effectively trapping the dyes in the cell. The resulting mixture is a purple coloration of
the cell.
✔✔True or False: If a patient is suspected of having malaria, a Giemsa stain would be
an appropriate
differential test to perform. - ✔✔True
✔✔What is the purpose of heat fixing a sample? - ✔✔Heat fixing ensures the samples
tightly adhere to the glass slide prior to staining (and washing) procedures.
✔✔Identify what type of electron microscope was used to capture the following image
and explain your choice - ✔✔Transmission electron microscope (TEM)
Even at 20nm resolution (inset image), subcellular structures are still visible. The image
lacks the outside 'shell' only appearance of SEM
✔✔What is the primary purpose of a wet mount? - ✔✔Wet mounts are most often
performed to visualize live cells as well as the motility and behavior of an organism.
✔✔True or False: Growth media is best suited for distinguishing between two similar
species of bacteria. - ✔✔False. Growth media is designed to simply support (and not
restrict) microbial growth.
, ✔✔The acid-fast stain is most often used to identify what specific microorganism? -
✔✔Acid-fast stains are used to identify bacterial stains showing a high degree of
resistance to decolorization. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the most common use for
an acid-fast stain.
✔✔Gram-Positive cells appear ______ in color due to a ______ peptidoglycan layer in
the
cell wall. - ✔✔Purple; Thick
✔✔What is another name for a liquid growth media, and what are the basic
components? - ✔✔Growth media in a liquid form is often referred to as nutrient broth.
As the name implies its composition consists primarily of essential 'ingredients' such as
a rich source of sugars, amino acids and vitamins. Together, a nutrient broth provides
the microbe with a source of carbon/energy, which, in turn, encourages its expansion.
✔✔What is the total magnification (relative to your eye) of a sample imaged with a 20x
objective and a 15x eyepiece? Show your math. - ✔✔20 x 15 = 300x magnification
✔✔Gram-Negative cells appear _____ in color due to a ______ peptidoglycan layer in
the
cell wall. - ✔✔Pink; Thin
✔✔What is selective media? - ✔✔Selective media allows for only the growth of certain
microbes while restricting the growth of all others.
✔✔A researcher is asked to determine which of two vials contains E coli and which
contains
Salmonella. Knowing both are Gram-Negative while only one of them is capable of
fermenting
lactose, which type of media would be best suited:
A. Growth media
B. Differential media
C. Selective media
D. Selective and Differential media - ✔✔B. Differential media distinguishes between
two, often related, microbes.
✔✔This type of microscope utilizes ultraviolet (UV) light to illuminate stained objects. -
✔✔Flourescence
✔✔True or False: Diferential media is best suited for distinguishing between two similar
species of bacteria. - ✔✔True. Growth media does not contain restrictive factors, while
selective
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔The process of carbon fixation begins with which of the following reactants: select all
that apply.
A. ATP
B. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
C. CO2
D. NADPH
E. H2O - ✔✔A, C, D, and E. Carbon fixation uses the ATP/NADPH produced during
light
reactions to convert CO2 and H2O into useful sources of energy (carbohydrates).
✔✔What is one limitation of fixing your sample? - ✔✔Fixation requires you to
irreversibly kill your sample. Thus, determining the motility (cell movement) of a sample
is impossible. Fixation also runs the risk of distorting the specimen shape and
arrangement.
✔✔Assuming a constant (non-adjustable) light source power, identify the part of the
microscope you
would adjust to limit the amount of light entering the microscope. Select all that apply.
A. Objective
B. Condenser
C. Iris diaphragm
D. Eye piece - ✔✔C. The iris controls the amount of light that passes through the
sample and into the objective
lens. Thus, it can be adjusted (opened or closed) to alter the amount of light.
✔✔What is one of the main functions of light reactions? - ✔✔Similar to the electron
transport chain, one of its main functions is to generate a proton concentration gradient
to generate ATP.
✔✔True or False: Dark reactions can occur in the presence or absence of light. -
✔✔True
✔✔Phase-contrast microscopy provided what benefits to imaging? - ✔✔Phase contrast
microscope can provide detailed images of live cells without staining. By using
specialized condensers and objectives, a phase contrast microscope amplifies the slight
differences between cells and the surrounding medium (background) to make the cells
highly distinguishable.
✔✔What is the total magnification (relative to your eye) of a sample imaged with a 60x
objective and
a 10x eyepiece? Show your math. - ✔✔60 x 10 = 600x magnification
,✔✔How many turns (or repititions) of the Calvin Cycle are required to generate one
molecule of glucose? - ✔✔six
✔✔Match the following reactions to its corresponding enzyme:
1. A+B → A-B
2.A-B → A+B
3. A-+B →A+B-
4. Ab+C → A+Cb
A- Lyases
B- Transferases
C- Oxioreductaces
D- Hydrolases
E- Ligases
F- Isomerases - ✔✔1E 1. A + B→A-B Ligases
2A 2. A-B→A + B Lyases
3C 3. A—+B → A+B—Oxioreductaces
4B 4. Ab + C→A + Cb Transferases
✔✔What is the distinguishing feature of dark field microscopy? - ✔✔Unlike bright field or
phase contrast microscopy where light passes directly through the sample, dark field
microscopy reflects light off of the specimen at an angle. The resulting image is an
exceptionally dark background and a vibrant specimen.
✔✔Unlike brightfield microscope, fluorescence microscopes illuminate samples through
what spectrum? - ✔✔The energy of the incoming light is in the form of the ultraviolet
(UV) spectrum.
✔✔True or False: A cell that is adherent, flat (thin) and unstained is easily identified
using bright field microscopy. - ✔✔False. Adherent, flat cells are almost invisible due to
the limits on both resolution and
contrast.
✔✔What is the primary difference between TEM and SEM? - ✔✔During transmission
electron microscopy the electron passes through the sample whereas during scanning
electron microscopy the electron is reflected off the sample creating a three dimensional
'shell' model of the specimen.
✔✔Which of the following could be seen clearly by the unaided eye? Select all that
apply.
A. Bacteria with diameter of 24 μm
B. Protozoa with diameter of 150 μm
C. Virus with a diameter of 0.2 μm
D. Skin cell with diameter of 1500 μm - ✔✔B and D. The unaided eye can, on average,
clearly resolve objects > 100 μm
,✔✔Gram staining is based on what basic principle? - ✔✔Gram staining, developed by
Hans Christian Gram in 1884, began with the basic observation that different types of
bacteria react differently to various dyes. Some bacteria readily take up a specific dye
while others do not.
✔✔This type of microscope is best suited for visualizing GFP, RFP and YFP
proteins. - ✔✔Fluorescence
✔✔This type of microscope can provide detailed images of live cells without
staining. - ✔✔Phase-Contrast
✔✔This type of microscope is used to greatly increase the contrast between samples
and
background by reflecting light of of the specimen. - ✔✔Dark Field
✔✔This type of microscope is capable of capturing images in multiple focal planes,
rendering a specimen in 3-D - ✔✔3DConfocal
✔✔What is a key determinant in a bacteria being Gram-positive? - ✔✔Gram-positive
bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer. The Gram stain exploits this characteristic by
using the dye combinations of Crystal violet and Iodine. Crystal violet is retained by the
thick peptidoglycan cell wall and forms a stable complex with iodine (upon its addition)
effectively trapping the dyes in the cell. The resulting mixture is a purple coloration of
the cell.
✔✔True or False: If a patient is suspected of having malaria, a Giemsa stain would be
an appropriate
differential test to perform. - ✔✔True
✔✔What is the purpose of heat fixing a sample? - ✔✔Heat fixing ensures the samples
tightly adhere to the glass slide prior to staining (and washing) procedures.
✔✔Identify what type of electron microscope was used to capture the following image
and explain your choice - ✔✔Transmission electron microscope (TEM)
Even at 20nm resolution (inset image), subcellular structures are still visible. The image
lacks the outside 'shell' only appearance of SEM
✔✔What is the primary purpose of a wet mount? - ✔✔Wet mounts are most often
performed to visualize live cells as well as the motility and behavior of an organism.
✔✔True or False: Growth media is best suited for distinguishing between two similar
species of bacteria. - ✔✔False. Growth media is designed to simply support (and not
restrict) microbial growth.
, ✔✔The acid-fast stain is most often used to identify what specific microorganism? -
✔✔Acid-fast stains are used to identify bacterial stains showing a high degree of
resistance to decolorization. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the most common use for
an acid-fast stain.
✔✔Gram-Positive cells appear ______ in color due to a ______ peptidoglycan layer in
the
cell wall. - ✔✔Purple; Thick
✔✔What is another name for a liquid growth media, and what are the basic
components? - ✔✔Growth media in a liquid form is often referred to as nutrient broth.
As the name implies its composition consists primarily of essential 'ingredients' such as
a rich source of sugars, amino acids and vitamins. Together, a nutrient broth provides
the microbe with a source of carbon/energy, which, in turn, encourages its expansion.
✔✔What is the total magnification (relative to your eye) of a sample imaged with a 20x
objective and a 15x eyepiece? Show your math. - ✔✔20 x 15 = 300x magnification
✔✔Gram-Negative cells appear _____ in color due to a ______ peptidoglycan layer in
the
cell wall. - ✔✔Pink; Thin
✔✔What is selective media? - ✔✔Selective media allows for only the growth of certain
microbes while restricting the growth of all others.
✔✔A researcher is asked to determine which of two vials contains E coli and which
contains
Salmonella. Knowing both are Gram-Negative while only one of them is capable of
fermenting
lactose, which type of media would be best suited:
A. Growth media
B. Differential media
C. Selective media
D. Selective and Differential media - ✔✔B. Differential media distinguishes between
two, often related, microbes.
✔✔This type of microscope utilizes ultraviolet (UV) light to illuminate stained objects. -
✔✔Flourescence
✔✔True or False: Diferential media is best suited for distinguishing between two similar
species of bacteria. - ✔✔True. Growth media does not contain restrictive factors, while
selective
