MICROBIOLOGY EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS (GRADED A+)
Microbiology Foundations: Definitions, Microbial Types & Benefits
What is the formal definition of microbiology?
✔✔ The scientific study of organisms and entities too small to be seen without
magnification (microorganisms).
What are the different types of microorganisms and biological agents studied
in microbiology?
✔✔ 1. Bacteria
✔✔ 2. Archaea
✔✔ 3. Fungi (yeasts and molds)
✔✔ 4. Protozoa
✔✔ 5. Multi-cellular animal parasites (helminths)
✔✔ 6. Algae
✔✔ 7. Viruses
✔✔ 8. Prions
How are viruses structurally and biologically described?
✔✔ Acellular (non-living) infectious and parasitic particles composed
fundamentally of a core nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) enclosed within a protective
protein coat (capsid) (and sometimes surrounded by a lipid envelope).
What are several key examples of how microbes benefit human life, industry,
and ecosystems?
✔✔ Decomposition: Break down and recycle organic waste and dead material in
ecosystems.
,✔✔ Photosynthesis: Perform primary production and generate atmospheric
oxygen (e.g., cyanobacteria and algae).
✔✔ Host Nutrition: Aid human/animal digestion and provide essential nutrients
to the host.
✔✔ Medicine & Pharmaceuticals: Produce antibiotics, vaccines, and other
therapeutic drugs used to treat diseases.
✔✔ Industrial & Food Production: Essential for manufacturing products such as
acetone, vinegar, cheese, and bread.
Robert Hooke's contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Described the first
"cell"
Anton van Leeuwenhoek contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Observed
the first microbes
Edward Jenner contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔First person to
perform successful vaccination (against small pox)
Rudolf Virchow contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Gave rise to the cell
theory
Louis Pasteur contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Showed microbes are
responsible for fermentation. The Father of Microbiology.
Robert Koch contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Came up with
postulates which shows that a specific microbe causes a specific disease
, Joseph Lister contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔1st person to perform
sterile field surgery (aseptic technique)
Alexander Fleming contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Discovered first
antibiotic (penicillin)
Carolus Linnaeus contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Established the
system of scientific nomenclature
What is biogenesis? -ANSWER✔✔Living organisms arise from preexisting life
What is spontaneous generation? -ANSWER✔✔Living organisms arise from
nonliving matter; a "vital force" forms life
List the order of organisms from most to least inclusive. -ANSWER✔✔(Did King
Phillip Come Over For Green Spaghetti)
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum (or division)
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
What groups make up the domain system? -ANSWER✔✔Archaea, Bacteria, and
Eukarya
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS (GRADED A+)
Microbiology Foundations: Definitions, Microbial Types & Benefits
What is the formal definition of microbiology?
✔✔ The scientific study of organisms and entities too small to be seen without
magnification (microorganisms).
What are the different types of microorganisms and biological agents studied
in microbiology?
✔✔ 1. Bacteria
✔✔ 2. Archaea
✔✔ 3. Fungi (yeasts and molds)
✔✔ 4. Protozoa
✔✔ 5. Multi-cellular animal parasites (helminths)
✔✔ 6. Algae
✔✔ 7. Viruses
✔✔ 8. Prions
How are viruses structurally and biologically described?
✔✔ Acellular (non-living) infectious and parasitic particles composed
fundamentally of a core nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) enclosed within a protective
protein coat (capsid) (and sometimes surrounded by a lipid envelope).
What are several key examples of how microbes benefit human life, industry,
and ecosystems?
✔✔ Decomposition: Break down and recycle organic waste and dead material in
ecosystems.
,✔✔ Photosynthesis: Perform primary production and generate atmospheric
oxygen (e.g., cyanobacteria and algae).
✔✔ Host Nutrition: Aid human/animal digestion and provide essential nutrients
to the host.
✔✔ Medicine & Pharmaceuticals: Produce antibiotics, vaccines, and other
therapeutic drugs used to treat diseases.
✔✔ Industrial & Food Production: Essential for manufacturing products such as
acetone, vinegar, cheese, and bread.
Robert Hooke's contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Described the first
"cell"
Anton van Leeuwenhoek contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Observed
the first microbes
Edward Jenner contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔First person to
perform successful vaccination (against small pox)
Rudolf Virchow contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Gave rise to the cell
theory
Louis Pasteur contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Showed microbes are
responsible for fermentation. The Father of Microbiology.
Robert Koch contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Came up with
postulates which shows that a specific microbe causes a specific disease
, Joseph Lister contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔1st person to perform
sterile field surgery (aseptic technique)
Alexander Fleming contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Discovered first
antibiotic (penicillin)
Carolus Linnaeus contribution to microbiology. -ANSWER✔✔Established the
system of scientific nomenclature
What is biogenesis? -ANSWER✔✔Living organisms arise from preexisting life
What is spontaneous generation? -ANSWER✔✔Living organisms arise from
nonliving matter; a "vital force" forms life
List the order of organisms from most to least inclusive. -ANSWER✔✔(Did King
Phillip Come Over For Green Spaghetti)
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum (or division)
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
What groups make up the domain system? -ANSWER✔✔Archaea, Bacteria, and
Eukarya
