Midterm Exam
Kahoot Question Bank
Lecture 1
1) Which scientist was the first to describe bacteria?
A) Robert Hooke
B) Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek
C) Louis Pastuer
D) Robert Koch
Explanation: Robert Hooke was the first to describe microbes more broadly, while Antonie van
Leeuwenhoek was specifically identified as the first to be able to describe bacteria. Pasteur is
associated with disproving spontaneous generation and advancing germ theory, and Koch is
associated with pure culture techniques.
2) What did the miasma theory of disease claim?
A) Disease was caused by invisible living microbes
B) Disease was caused by bad air from unclean conditions
C) Disease was caused only by inherited traits
D) Disease was caused by a lack of oxygen in tissues
Explanation: Miasma theory said that disease came from “bad air” due to unclean environments.
3) What is the main purpose of an enrichment culture?
A) To grow every microorganism present in a sample equally
B) To sterilize a sample before observation
C) To use defined conditions that favor the growth of specific microbes
D) To isolate viruses in pure culture
Explanation: Enrichment culture uses defined media or growth conditions designed to favor the
growth of particular microorganisms of interest.
4) Who founded the method of using ribosomal rRNA sequences to infer evolutionary history?
A) Carl Woese
B) Frederick Sanger
C) Watson, Crick, & Franklin
D) Sergei Winogradsky
,Explanation: Carl Woese discovered how to use ribosomal RNA to infer evolutionary history by
building the first Tree of Life from rRNA sequences. Sanger discovered the method for
sequencing DNA, and Watson, Crick, & Franklin discovered the structure of DNA. Winogradsky
only discovered that microbial communities separate themselves into layers with specific
nutrient demands, and therefore has no correlation to rRNA sequencing.
5) Which one of these is a method for determining the DNA sequences of all genomes in one
community?
A) Metagenomic sequencing
B) Genome sequencing
C) PCR
D) Tree of Life
Explanation: Metagenomic sequencing is defined as “a method for determining the DNA
sequences of all genomes in a community.” Genome sequencing is a method for determining the
DNA sequence of a genome from one organism. PCR is a method of obtaining specific DNA
segments for study. The Tree of Life is only a visualization of all the differences in rRNA
sequences between organisms, and not a sequencing method itself.
6) Which of the following is not one of Koch’s postulates?
A) The suspected pathogen must be present in all cases of the disease.
B) The suspected pathogen must be grown on pure media.
C) Cells from pure culture of the suspected pathogen must cause disease in a similar
organism.
D) The suspected pathogen must be reisolated and shown to be the same as the original
animal.
Explanation: The suspected pathogen doesn’t have to cause disease in a similar organism, but
rather it only has to cause disease in a healthy organism.
7) What theory did Louis Pasteur disprove with his experiments?
a) Germ theory
b) Cell theory
c) Spontaneous generation
d) Evolution
8) What was Robert Koch’s major contribution to microbiology?
a) Development of pasteurization
b) Discovery of viruses
c) Development of pure culture techniques and Koch’s postulates
, d) First observation of microbes
9) What is the purpose of an enrichment culture in microbiology?
a) To kill all microorganisms except pathogens
b) To increase the growth of a specific microorganism by using selective conditions
c) To stain bacteria so they can be seen under a microscope
d) To observe viruses in pure culture
Lecture 2
1) A scientist discovered an unknown organism and wants to identify it. He plans to observe it
through an electron microscope. Which of the following characteristics would best indicate that
the unknown organism is a prokaryote?
A) Membrane bound nucleus
B) Capsid shell
C) Nucleoid
D) Membrane bound organelles
Explanation: A prokaryote is described to be roughly 0.2-700 um, not containing organelles, and
containing a nucleoid. Eukaryotic organisms possess membrane bound organelles and a
membrane bound nucleus. Viruses contain a capsid shell that stores its genetic information
2) Diffusion is very important for microbes as nutrients and valuable macromolecules diffuse
from high to low concentrations. Which of the following cells would have the fastest diffusion
rate?
A) Cell with surface area of 10 um^2 and volume of 2 um^3
B) Cell with surface area of 12 um^2 and volume of 4 um^3
C) Cell with surface area of 26 um^2 and volume of 8 um^3
D) Cell with surface area of 40 um^2 and volume of 10 um^3
Explanation: Surface area to volume ratio is important for determining which cells are more
effective at diffusion. A cell with a higher surface area to volume ratio is better with diffusion
than a cell with a lower surface area to volume ratio. Answer choice A has a SA:V ratio of 5;
Answer choice B has a SA:V ratio of 3; Answer choice C has a SA:V ratio of 3.25; Answer
choice D has a SA:V ratio of 4. Since answer choice A has the highest SA:V ratio, it will be the
best at diffusion.
, 3) What microscopy technique requires electrons to pass through cells to produce a 2D image?
A) Phase Contrast
B) Transmission Electron Microscopy
C) Scanning Electron Microscopy
D) Bright Field
Explanation: Transmission Electron microscopy (TEM) is used to visualize 2D cell structures in
sectioned samples by passing electrons through samples. Phase contract and bright field
microscopy are both considered different types of light microscopy, which use light to view cells.
While Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) uses electrons, they do not pass through cells, but
instead, bounce off the surface of a sample.
4) Which microscopy method is best suited for producing a 3D image of a specimen’s surface?
A) Bright-field microscopy
B) Phase-contrast microscopy
C) Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
D) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Explanation: SEM works by coating the specimen with metal and detecting electrons that bounce
off the sample surface, producing a 3D image of the surface. TEM passes electrons through a
thin sample and is used to visualize internal structures in a 2D sectioned view. Bright-field and
phase-contrast are light microscopy methods and do not provide the same kind of surface
topography.
5) Which of the following is NOT a cell?
A) Archaea
B) Bacteria
C) Virus
D) Yeast
Explanation: Viruses lack a cytoplasmic membrane, cytoplasm, and ribosomes, cannot conserve
energy, and are obligate parasites. In contrast, Archaea and Bacteria are prokaryotic cells, and
yeast is a eukaryotic microorganism.
6) Which structure is listed as being shared by all cells?
A) Membrane-bound nucleus
B) Capsid
C) Ribosomes
D) Mitochondria
Kahoot Question Bank
Lecture 1
1) Which scientist was the first to describe bacteria?
A) Robert Hooke
B) Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek
C) Louis Pastuer
D) Robert Koch
Explanation: Robert Hooke was the first to describe microbes more broadly, while Antonie van
Leeuwenhoek was specifically identified as the first to be able to describe bacteria. Pasteur is
associated with disproving spontaneous generation and advancing germ theory, and Koch is
associated with pure culture techniques.
2) What did the miasma theory of disease claim?
A) Disease was caused by invisible living microbes
B) Disease was caused by bad air from unclean conditions
C) Disease was caused only by inherited traits
D) Disease was caused by a lack of oxygen in tissues
Explanation: Miasma theory said that disease came from “bad air” due to unclean environments.
3) What is the main purpose of an enrichment culture?
A) To grow every microorganism present in a sample equally
B) To sterilize a sample before observation
C) To use defined conditions that favor the growth of specific microbes
D) To isolate viruses in pure culture
Explanation: Enrichment culture uses defined media or growth conditions designed to favor the
growth of particular microorganisms of interest.
4) Who founded the method of using ribosomal rRNA sequences to infer evolutionary history?
A) Carl Woese
B) Frederick Sanger
C) Watson, Crick, & Franklin
D) Sergei Winogradsky
,Explanation: Carl Woese discovered how to use ribosomal RNA to infer evolutionary history by
building the first Tree of Life from rRNA sequences. Sanger discovered the method for
sequencing DNA, and Watson, Crick, & Franklin discovered the structure of DNA. Winogradsky
only discovered that microbial communities separate themselves into layers with specific
nutrient demands, and therefore has no correlation to rRNA sequencing.
5) Which one of these is a method for determining the DNA sequences of all genomes in one
community?
A) Metagenomic sequencing
B) Genome sequencing
C) PCR
D) Tree of Life
Explanation: Metagenomic sequencing is defined as “a method for determining the DNA
sequences of all genomes in a community.” Genome sequencing is a method for determining the
DNA sequence of a genome from one organism. PCR is a method of obtaining specific DNA
segments for study. The Tree of Life is only a visualization of all the differences in rRNA
sequences between organisms, and not a sequencing method itself.
6) Which of the following is not one of Koch’s postulates?
A) The suspected pathogen must be present in all cases of the disease.
B) The suspected pathogen must be grown on pure media.
C) Cells from pure culture of the suspected pathogen must cause disease in a similar
organism.
D) The suspected pathogen must be reisolated and shown to be the same as the original
animal.
Explanation: The suspected pathogen doesn’t have to cause disease in a similar organism, but
rather it only has to cause disease in a healthy organism.
7) What theory did Louis Pasteur disprove with his experiments?
a) Germ theory
b) Cell theory
c) Spontaneous generation
d) Evolution
8) What was Robert Koch’s major contribution to microbiology?
a) Development of pasteurization
b) Discovery of viruses
c) Development of pure culture techniques and Koch’s postulates
, d) First observation of microbes
9) What is the purpose of an enrichment culture in microbiology?
a) To kill all microorganisms except pathogens
b) To increase the growth of a specific microorganism by using selective conditions
c) To stain bacteria so they can be seen under a microscope
d) To observe viruses in pure culture
Lecture 2
1) A scientist discovered an unknown organism and wants to identify it. He plans to observe it
through an electron microscope. Which of the following characteristics would best indicate that
the unknown organism is a prokaryote?
A) Membrane bound nucleus
B) Capsid shell
C) Nucleoid
D) Membrane bound organelles
Explanation: A prokaryote is described to be roughly 0.2-700 um, not containing organelles, and
containing a nucleoid. Eukaryotic organisms possess membrane bound organelles and a
membrane bound nucleus. Viruses contain a capsid shell that stores its genetic information
2) Diffusion is very important for microbes as nutrients and valuable macromolecules diffuse
from high to low concentrations. Which of the following cells would have the fastest diffusion
rate?
A) Cell with surface area of 10 um^2 and volume of 2 um^3
B) Cell with surface area of 12 um^2 and volume of 4 um^3
C) Cell with surface area of 26 um^2 and volume of 8 um^3
D) Cell with surface area of 40 um^2 and volume of 10 um^3
Explanation: Surface area to volume ratio is important for determining which cells are more
effective at diffusion. A cell with a higher surface area to volume ratio is better with diffusion
than a cell with a lower surface area to volume ratio. Answer choice A has a SA:V ratio of 5;
Answer choice B has a SA:V ratio of 3; Answer choice C has a SA:V ratio of 3.25; Answer
choice D has a SA:V ratio of 4. Since answer choice A has the highest SA:V ratio, it will be the
best at diffusion.
, 3) What microscopy technique requires electrons to pass through cells to produce a 2D image?
A) Phase Contrast
B) Transmission Electron Microscopy
C) Scanning Electron Microscopy
D) Bright Field
Explanation: Transmission Electron microscopy (TEM) is used to visualize 2D cell structures in
sectioned samples by passing electrons through samples. Phase contract and bright field
microscopy are both considered different types of light microscopy, which use light to view cells.
While Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) uses electrons, they do not pass through cells, but
instead, bounce off the surface of a sample.
4) Which microscopy method is best suited for producing a 3D image of a specimen’s surface?
A) Bright-field microscopy
B) Phase-contrast microscopy
C) Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
D) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Explanation: SEM works by coating the specimen with metal and detecting electrons that bounce
off the sample surface, producing a 3D image of the surface. TEM passes electrons through a
thin sample and is used to visualize internal structures in a 2D sectioned view. Bright-field and
phase-contrast are light microscopy methods and do not provide the same kind of surface
topography.
5) Which of the following is NOT a cell?
A) Archaea
B) Bacteria
C) Virus
D) Yeast
Explanation: Viruses lack a cytoplasmic membrane, cytoplasm, and ribosomes, cannot conserve
energy, and are obligate parasites. In contrast, Archaea and Bacteria are prokaryotic cells, and
yeast is a eukaryotic microorganism.
6) Which structure is listed as being shared by all cells?
A) Membrane-bound nucleus
B) Capsid
C) Ribosomes
D) Mitochondria
