WGU D311 Questions and answers Microbiology with
Lab Section
What are characteristics of Prokaryotic Cells "Bacteria" Single celled, do not have nucleus,
mitochondria or chloroplast, multiple shapes (coccus, bacillus, vibrio, etc) found in pairs, clusters or
chains
What are characteristics of Eukaryotic cells "animal and plant cells" Have a nucleus, have
membrane bound organelles, single celled or multicellular, larger than prokaryotes, linear histone
wrapped chromosomes
Differences between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes All plants and animal cell ( protozoans , algae,
fungi) are Eukaryotic.
bacteria and archaea are Prokaryotic
Structures if Eukaryotic: nucleus, membrane organelles in the cytoplasm (mitochondria, endoplasmic
reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lissome, and peroxisomes held in place by the cytoskeleton. Flagella (whip
like/flexible) and Cilla
Structures of Prokaryotic: cell membrane, chromosomal dna that is in nucleotide, ribosomes, and cell
wall. Flagella (stiff/rotating) pilli, fimbriae and capsules
Bacteria Found in every habitat on earth, prokaryotic, cell walls have peptidoglycan and
described by shape (coccus, bacillus, spirillum, spirochete or vibrio)
Protists A eukaryotic organism that cannot be classified as an animal, plant, or fungus.
Fungi Eukaryotic, lives by decomposing and absorbing nutrients. Not photosynthetic and has cell
wall made of chitin
Helminths multicellular parasitic organisms commonly called worms or flukes
ex: Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis)
Viruses Acellular, consists of proteins and genetic material (dna/rna) never both
,Bacterial Structures "prokaryotic" Nucleoid, ribosomes, endospores, plasma membrane, cell wall,
peptidoglycan, flagella, fimbriae, pilli
Nucleoid of Bacteria central area in a prokaryotic cell that contains genetic information, not
surrounded by a membrane
Ribosomes of Bacteria site of protein synthesis. 70S composed of two subunits (30S small and
50S large and are composed of protein and rRNA components
Endospores of bacteria form around DNA when stressed, protect until conditions are good
Plasma membrane in bacteria phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins that defines the
boundary of the cell
Cell wall of bacteria made of peptidoglycan and help maintain shape and withstand changes in
osmotic pressure
Peptidoglycan of bacteria is part of the cell wall.
is made of sugars and proteins.
Flagella of bacteria acts as a propeller to move the cell. Stiff, rotating structure.
Fimbriae of bacteria hairlike bristles that allow adhesion to surfaces
Pili of bacteria Appendages that allow bacteria to attach to each other and to transfer DNA
Chemotaxis Directional movt from a call in response to chemical attraction
Phototaxis movement in response to light using flagella
, Bacterium "runs" Movt of bacteria counterclockwise flagellar rotation
Bacteria "tumbles" Random movt of bacterial cell by clockwise flagellar rotation
vegetative cell metabolically active and growing and does not contain endospores. Sensitive to
extreme temps and radiation, gram positive, normal water content
Endospores A thick-walled protective spore that forms inside a bacterial cell and resists harsh
conditions (extreme temps and radiation) does not absorb gram stain. No growth
Why is sporulation important for bacteria Protects bacteria agaisnt degrading agents, unfavorable
growth and nutrient depletion
What are 6 steps of sporulation process DNA replicates, membranes form around dna, forespore
forms additional membranes, protective cortex forms around the spore, protein coat forms around the
cortex and spore is released
Gram Negative cell More complex, 3 layers (inner membrane, thin layer if peptidoglycan and
outer membrane containing lipipolysaccharide)
Gram positive cell Simple structure, thick layer of peptidoglycan with teichoic acid
Gram Negative structure Lipopolysaccharides: outer membrane
Periplasmic space: b/T cell wall and plasma membrane
outer membrane: phospholipid bilayer external to the peptidoglycan layer
All viruses have ? capsid and nucleic acid
Capsid protein coat surrounding a virus
Lab Section
What are characteristics of Prokaryotic Cells "Bacteria" Single celled, do not have nucleus,
mitochondria or chloroplast, multiple shapes (coccus, bacillus, vibrio, etc) found in pairs, clusters or
chains
What are characteristics of Eukaryotic cells "animal and plant cells" Have a nucleus, have
membrane bound organelles, single celled or multicellular, larger than prokaryotes, linear histone
wrapped chromosomes
Differences between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes All plants and animal cell ( protozoans , algae,
fungi) are Eukaryotic.
bacteria and archaea are Prokaryotic
Structures if Eukaryotic: nucleus, membrane organelles in the cytoplasm (mitochondria, endoplasmic
reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lissome, and peroxisomes held in place by the cytoskeleton. Flagella (whip
like/flexible) and Cilla
Structures of Prokaryotic: cell membrane, chromosomal dna that is in nucleotide, ribosomes, and cell
wall. Flagella (stiff/rotating) pilli, fimbriae and capsules
Bacteria Found in every habitat on earth, prokaryotic, cell walls have peptidoglycan and
described by shape (coccus, bacillus, spirillum, spirochete or vibrio)
Protists A eukaryotic organism that cannot be classified as an animal, plant, or fungus.
Fungi Eukaryotic, lives by decomposing and absorbing nutrients. Not photosynthetic and has cell
wall made of chitin
Helminths multicellular parasitic organisms commonly called worms or flukes
ex: Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis)
Viruses Acellular, consists of proteins and genetic material (dna/rna) never both
,Bacterial Structures "prokaryotic" Nucleoid, ribosomes, endospores, plasma membrane, cell wall,
peptidoglycan, flagella, fimbriae, pilli
Nucleoid of Bacteria central area in a prokaryotic cell that contains genetic information, not
surrounded by a membrane
Ribosomes of Bacteria site of protein synthesis. 70S composed of two subunits (30S small and
50S large and are composed of protein and rRNA components
Endospores of bacteria form around DNA when stressed, protect until conditions are good
Plasma membrane in bacteria phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins that defines the
boundary of the cell
Cell wall of bacteria made of peptidoglycan and help maintain shape and withstand changes in
osmotic pressure
Peptidoglycan of bacteria is part of the cell wall.
is made of sugars and proteins.
Flagella of bacteria acts as a propeller to move the cell. Stiff, rotating structure.
Fimbriae of bacteria hairlike bristles that allow adhesion to surfaces
Pili of bacteria Appendages that allow bacteria to attach to each other and to transfer DNA
Chemotaxis Directional movt from a call in response to chemical attraction
Phototaxis movement in response to light using flagella
, Bacterium "runs" Movt of bacteria counterclockwise flagellar rotation
Bacteria "tumbles" Random movt of bacterial cell by clockwise flagellar rotation
vegetative cell metabolically active and growing and does not contain endospores. Sensitive to
extreme temps and radiation, gram positive, normal water content
Endospores A thick-walled protective spore that forms inside a bacterial cell and resists harsh
conditions (extreme temps and radiation) does not absorb gram stain. No growth
Why is sporulation important for bacteria Protects bacteria agaisnt degrading agents, unfavorable
growth and nutrient depletion
What are 6 steps of sporulation process DNA replicates, membranes form around dna, forespore
forms additional membranes, protective cortex forms around the spore, protein coat forms around the
cortex and spore is released
Gram Negative cell More complex, 3 layers (inner membrane, thin layer if peptidoglycan and
outer membrane containing lipipolysaccharide)
Gram positive cell Simple structure, thick layer of peptidoglycan with teichoic acid
Gram Negative structure Lipopolysaccharides: outer membrane
Periplasmic space: b/T cell wall and plasma membrane
outer membrane: phospholipid bilayer external to the peptidoglycan layer
All viruses have ? capsid and nucleic acid
Capsid protein coat surrounding a virus
