STRAIGHTERLINE MICROBIOLOGY FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE | COMPLETE EXAM
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
In the nitrogen cycle, which of the following steps involves removal of nitrogen from the atmosphere by
bacteria? - ANS ✔✔Nitrogen Fixation
If enough H+ ions are added to pure water to raise the H+ concentration of the solution to ten times
higher than the original concentration, what is the resulting OH- concentration of the solution? - ANS
✔✔10-8 M
Fungi are able to reproduce asexually by creating conidiospores and sporangiospores. Which of the
following is an accurate explanation for why it is advantageous that they are also capable of sexual
reproduction? - ANS ✔✔Offspring from two parents may have variations in form and function that
contribute to survival of the species.
In a laboratory bacterial cell culture that has been infected by a virus, plaques are areas in which... - ANS
✔✔the virus has spread and left behind the remains of dead cells.
The sun's energy is delivered as discrete packets that travel as waves and are called - ANS ✔✔Photons
What is a characteristic of aerobic respiration? - ANS ✔✔The process includes glycolysis, the Krebs cycle,
and the electron transport chain.
In completing protein synthesis in a prokaryote, what basic message is carried by a specialized codon
that has no corresponding tRNA? - ANS ✔✔"Terminate here."
Microbial drug resistance can be caused by mutations or by introduction of new genes into a population.
Which of the following can only be caused by the introduction of new genes into a population? - ANS
✔✔new enzymes that inactivate the drug are synthesized
Why do the hands, feet, and breasts have more lymphatic vessels for host defense than other areas of
the human body? - ANS ✔✔They have a high risk for infection due to frequent contact.
Penicillin functions as an antimicrobial agent by inhibiting bacterial... - ANS ✔✔cell wall synthesis.
Which class of eukaryotic microorganisms can be subdivided into groups such as Mastigophora,
Sarcodina, Ciliophora, and Apicomplexa? - ANS ✔✔Protozoa
Genetic material can be excised from one chromosome and directly integrated into another via... - ANS
✔✔transposons
What immune cell secretes numerous cytokines that help to coordinate the response of other immune
cells? - ANS ✔✔TH cell
What enzymes are used to amplify DNA during PCR? - ANS ✔✔DNA polymerase
, Which of the following is a scientific name? - ANS ✔✔Streptococcus pyogenes
Eosin-methylene blue agar, or EMB, is a commonly used bacteriological medium for growing gram-
negative bacteria from complex environments. It contains two dyes, eosin and methylene blue, as well as
the sugar lactose. Eosin is a pH indicator that changes color when the medium is acidic, while methylene
blue inhibits the growth of most gram-positive bacteria. If an organism consumes lactose, acid will be
produced, causing the bacterial colonies to change color.
Based upon this description, this medium is ______ - ANS ✔✔differential and selective
A diagram of the three domains (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya) proceeding from the Last Universal
Common Ancestor would show Archaea - ANS ✔✔branching off the Domain Eukarya.
In the cell cytoplasm, molecules of ATP are a - ANS ✔✔solute
The _____ of the microscope holds and allows selection of the objective lenses. - ANS ✔✔nosepiece
Characteristics shared by all cells include - ANS ✔✔the presence of cellular fluid, the possession of
genetic information, and a membrane serving as a cell boundary.
Anything that occupies space and mass is called... - ANS ✔✔matter
Trees of life illustrate the phylogenetic relationships of all organisms were traditionally based on _____;
newer methods for determining phylogeny rely on _____. - ANS ✔✔Morphology; nucleic acid sequences
Covalent bonds - ANS ✔✔result from sharing electrons
One nucleotide contains one - ANS ✔✔phosphate, pentose sugar, nitrogen base
Among the types of microorganisms, the ___. are noncellullar - ANS ✔✔viruses
Using microbes to detoxify a site contaminated with heavy metals is an example of ____ - ANS
✔✔Bioremediation
C6H12O6+C6H12O6---> C12H22O11+H2O - ANS ✔✔a dehydration synthesis
Which scientific field is involved in the identification, classification, and naming of organisms? - ANS
✔✔Taxonomy
Which type of medium would be the best choice when shipping a sample of bacteria from a clinic to a
laboratory for testing? - ANS ✔✔Transport-meduim
Which activity is an example of biotechnology? - ANS ✔✔
Which of the following is produced by adding 1% to 5% agar to nutrient broth that is then boiled and
cooled? - ANS ✔✔A solid medium
Most biochemical macromolecules are polymers, which are chains of... - ANS ✔✔repeating monomers
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
In the nitrogen cycle, which of the following steps involves removal of nitrogen from the atmosphere by
bacteria? - ANS ✔✔Nitrogen Fixation
If enough H+ ions are added to pure water to raise the H+ concentration of the solution to ten times
higher than the original concentration, what is the resulting OH- concentration of the solution? - ANS
✔✔10-8 M
Fungi are able to reproduce asexually by creating conidiospores and sporangiospores. Which of the
following is an accurate explanation for why it is advantageous that they are also capable of sexual
reproduction? - ANS ✔✔Offspring from two parents may have variations in form and function that
contribute to survival of the species.
In a laboratory bacterial cell culture that has been infected by a virus, plaques are areas in which... - ANS
✔✔the virus has spread and left behind the remains of dead cells.
The sun's energy is delivered as discrete packets that travel as waves and are called - ANS ✔✔Photons
What is a characteristic of aerobic respiration? - ANS ✔✔The process includes glycolysis, the Krebs cycle,
and the electron transport chain.
In completing protein synthesis in a prokaryote, what basic message is carried by a specialized codon
that has no corresponding tRNA? - ANS ✔✔"Terminate here."
Microbial drug resistance can be caused by mutations or by introduction of new genes into a population.
Which of the following can only be caused by the introduction of new genes into a population? - ANS
✔✔new enzymes that inactivate the drug are synthesized
Why do the hands, feet, and breasts have more lymphatic vessels for host defense than other areas of
the human body? - ANS ✔✔They have a high risk for infection due to frequent contact.
Penicillin functions as an antimicrobial agent by inhibiting bacterial... - ANS ✔✔cell wall synthesis.
Which class of eukaryotic microorganisms can be subdivided into groups such as Mastigophora,
Sarcodina, Ciliophora, and Apicomplexa? - ANS ✔✔Protozoa
Genetic material can be excised from one chromosome and directly integrated into another via... - ANS
✔✔transposons
What immune cell secretes numerous cytokines that help to coordinate the response of other immune
cells? - ANS ✔✔TH cell
What enzymes are used to amplify DNA during PCR? - ANS ✔✔DNA polymerase
, Which of the following is a scientific name? - ANS ✔✔Streptococcus pyogenes
Eosin-methylene blue agar, or EMB, is a commonly used bacteriological medium for growing gram-
negative bacteria from complex environments. It contains two dyes, eosin and methylene blue, as well as
the sugar lactose. Eosin is a pH indicator that changes color when the medium is acidic, while methylene
blue inhibits the growth of most gram-positive bacteria. If an organism consumes lactose, acid will be
produced, causing the bacterial colonies to change color.
Based upon this description, this medium is ______ - ANS ✔✔differential and selective
A diagram of the three domains (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya) proceeding from the Last Universal
Common Ancestor would show Archaea - ANS ✔✔branching off the Domain Eukarya.
In the cell cytoplasm, molecules of ATP are a - ANS ✔✔solute
The _____ of the microscope holds and allows selection of the objective lenses. - ANS ✔✔nosepiece
Characteristics shared by all cells include - ANS ✔✔the presence of cellular fluid, the possession of
genetic information, and a membrane serving as a cell boundary.
Anything that occupies space and mass is called... - ANS ✔✔matter
Trees of life illustrate the phylogenetic relationships of all organisms were traditionally based on _____;
newer methods for determining phylogeny rely on _____. - ANS ✔✔Morphology; nucleic acid sequences
Covalent bonds - ANS ✔✔result from sharing electrons
One nucleotide contains one - ANS ✔✔phosphate, pentose sugar, nitrogen base
Among the types of microorganisms, the ___. are noncellullar - ANS ✔✔viruses
Using microbes to detoxify a site contaminated with heavy metals is an example of ____ - ANS
✔✔Bioremediation
C6H12O6+C6H12O6---> C12H22O11+H2O - ANS ✔✔a dehydration synthesis
Which scientific field is involved in the identification, classification, and naming of organisms? - ANS
✔✔Taxonomy
Which type of medium would be the best choice when shipping a sample of bacteria from a clinic to a
laboratory for testing? - ANS ✔✔Transport-meduim
Which activity is an example of biotechnology? - ANS ✔✔
Which of the following is produced by adding 1% to 5% agar to nutrient broth that is then boiled and
cooled? - ANS ✔✔A solid medium
Most biochemical macromolecules are polymers, which are chains of... - ANS ✔✔repeating monomers
