1
BIOD 171 Final Exam Study Guide Questions
with Correct Answers | Updated (100%
Correct Answers)
What is microbiology the study of? Answer: microbes and their
biological processes
What is the smallest biological unit of life? Answer: cell
What are the characteristics of life? Answer: movement,
responsiveness, growth, reproduction, metabolism, homeostasis, and
organization
What is a macromolecule? Answer: a complex molecule that is
composed from smaller subunits
What are the four main types of macromolecules? Answer: protein,
lipids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates
What is the most prominent macromolecule in the body? Answer:
protein
What are the functions of proteins in a cell? Answer: Movement,
catalyzing, support, storage, transportation, communication in the
cell, defense
what is the most abundant cell type? Answer: Prokaryotic
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,2
What are the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles?
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? 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? Answer:
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
What is the primary difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic
cells? Answer: 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.
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, 3
What are the main morphologies of bacteria? Answer: coccus
(round/spherical), bacillus (rod), vibrio (curved rod) or spirillum
(spiral/corkscrew)
what are the 2 main branches of prokaryotes? Answer: bacteria and
archaea
Which group of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under
harsh conditions? Answer: Archaea
What are the four main classifications of Eukarya? Answer: Animalia,
Plantae, Fungi or Protista
Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic?
Answer: No they are not considered living because
What is the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane composed of?
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? 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).
© 2025 All rights reserved
BIOD 171 Final Exam Study Guide Questions
with Correct Answers | Updated (100%
Correct Answers)
What is microbiology the study of? Answer: microbes and their
biological processes
What is the smallest biological unit of life? Answer: cell
What are the characteristics of life? Answer: movement,
responsiveness, growth, reproduction, metabolism, homeostasis, and
organization
What is a macromolecule? Answer: a complex molecule that is
composed from smaller subunits
What are the four main types of macromolecules? Answer: protein,
lipids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates
What is the most prominent macromolecule in the body? Answer:
protein
What are the functions of proteins in a cell? Answer: Movement,
catalyzing, support, storage, transportation, communication in the
cell, defense
what is the most abundant cell type? Answer: Prokaryotic
© 2025 All rights reserved
,2
What are the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles?
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? 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? Answer:
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
What is the primary difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic
cells? Answer: 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.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3
What are the main morphologies of bacteria? Answer: coccus
(round/spherical), bacillus (rod), vibrio (curved rod) or spirillum
(spiral/corkscrew)
what are the 2 main branches of prokaryotes? Answer: bacteria and
archaea
Which group of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under
harsh conditions? Answer: Archaea
What are the four main classifications of Eukarya? Answer: Animalia,
Plantae, Fungi or Protista
Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic?
Answer: No they are not considered living because
What is the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane composed of?
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? 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).
© 2025 All rights reserved
