MICR 2420 Final Exam Questions and
Answers
Wet mount - Answer-A slide preparation technique where a specimen is placed on the slide with a drop
of liquid
Darkfield microscopy - Answer-Type of microscopy where a bright image is seen on a dark background
Brightfield microscopy - Answer-Type of microscopy where a dark image is seen on a bright background
Phase contrast microscopy - Answer-Type of microscopy where higher contrast and higher-definition
images are produced
Gram stain - Answer-A differential staining technique that distinguishes bacteria based upon their cell
wall structure
Acid fast stain - Answer-A differential staining technique that differentiates cells that have mycolic acids
in their gram-positive cell walls
,Endospore stain - Answer-A differential staining technique that uses two stains to make bacterial
endospores appear distinct from the rest of the cell
Capsule stain - Answer-A negative staining technique that stains around a bacterial capsule while
leaving the capsule clear
Scanning electron microscope - Answer-A type of EM that forms an image of the cell surface and
topography
Transmission electron microscope - Answer-A type of EM that focuses on a thinly spliced specimen
Fluorescence microscope - Answer-A microscope that uses natural fluorochromes or fluorescent stains
to increase contrast
Algae - Answer-Unicellular or multicellular eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms, lack vascular tissues
and organs
Prokaryote - Answer-An organism whose cell structure does not include a membrane-bound nucleus
Eukaryote - Answer-An organism made up of one or more cells that contain a membrane-bound nucleus
and organelles
Endosymbiotic theory - Answer-The theory that mitochondria and chloroplasts arose as a result of
prokaryotic cells establishing a symbiotic relationship within a eukaryotic host
Cyanobacteria - Answer-Phototrophic, chlorphyll-containing bacteria that produce large amounts of
gaseous oxygen
Plasmid - Answer-Small, circular DNA molecule that is independent from the bacterial chromosome
, Plasma membrane - Answer-Lipid bilayer with embedded proteins that defines the boundary of a cell
Proton motive force - Answer-Electrochemical gradient formed by the accumulation of protons on one
side of the membrane
Bacteriorhodopsin - Answer-A protein present in the bacterium genus Halobacterium, it transports
protons across the cytoplasmic membrane when illuminated
Photosynthesis - Answer-A process where phototrophic organisms convert solar energy into chemical
energy
Phototroph - Answer-An organism that obtains its energy from light
Lithotroph - Answer-An organism that uses inorganic chemicals as its electron source
Autotroph - Answer-An organism that converts its inorganic carbon dioxide into organic carbon
Heterotroph - Answer-An organism that uses fixed organic carbon compounds as its carbon source
Peptidoglycan - Answer-A major component of bacterial cell walls, consisting of short chains of amino
acids and sugars
S-layer - Answer-A cell envelope layer composed of protein that covers the cell wall in bacteria and
archaea
Capsule - Answer-A structure with organized levels of polysaccharides that aid in bacterial adherence to
surfaces
Answers
Wet mount - Answer-A slide preparation technique where a specimen is placed on the slide with a drop
of liquid
Darkfield microscopy - Answer-Type of microscopy where a bright image is seen on a dark background
Brightfield microscopy - Answer-Type of microscopy where a dark image is seen on a bright background
Phase contrast microscopy - Answer-Type of microscopy where higher contrast and higher-definition
images are produced
Gram stain - Answer-A differential staining technique that distinguishes bacteria based upon their cell
wall structure
Acid fast stain - Answer-A differential staining technique that differentiates cells that have mycolic acids
in their gram-positive cell walls
,Endospore stain - Answer-A differential staining technique that uses two stains to make bacterial
endospores appear distinct from the rest of the cell
Capsule stain - Answer-A negative staining technique that stains around a bacterial capsule while
leaving the capsule clear
Scanning electron microscope - Answer-A type of EM that forms an image of the cell surface and
topography
Transmission electron microscope - Answer-A type of EM that focuses on a thinly spliced specimen
Fluorescence microscope - Answer-A microscope that uses natural fluorochromes or fluorescent stains
to increase contrast
Algae - Answer-Unicellular or multicellular eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms, lack vascular tissues
and organs
Prokaryote - Answer-An organism whose cell structure does not include a membrane-bound nucleus
Eukaryote - Answer-An organism made up of one or more cells that contain a membrane-bound nucleus
and organelles
Endosymbiotic theory - Answer-The theory that mitochondria and chloroplasts arose as a result of
prokaryotic cells establishing a symbiotic relationship within a eukaryotic host
Cyanobacteria - Answer-Phototrophic, chlorphyll-containing bacteria that produce large amounts of
gaseous oxygen
Plasmid - Answer-Small, circular DNA molecule that is independent from the bacterial chromosome
, Plasma membrane - Answer-Lipid bilayer with embedded proteins that defines the boundary of a cell
Proton motive force - Answer-Electrochemical gradient formed by the accumulation of protons on one
side of the membrane
Bacteriorhodopsin - Answer-A protein present in the bacterium genus Halobacterium, it transports
protons across the cytoplasmic membrane when illuminated
Photosynthesis - Answer-A process where phototrophic organisms convert solar energy into chemical
energy
Phototroph - Answer-An organism that obtains its energy from light
Lithotroph - Answer-An organism that uses inorganic chemicals as its electron source
Autotroph - Answer-An organism that converts its inorganic carbon dioxide into organic carbon
Heterotroph - Answer-An organism that uses fixed organic carbon compounds as its carbon source
Peptidoglycan - Answer-A major component of bacterial cell walls, consisting of short chains of amino
acids and sugars
S-layer - Answer-A cell envelope layer composed of protein that covers the cell wall in bacteria and
archaea
Capsule - Answer-A structure with organized levels of polysaccharides that aid in bacterial adherence to
surfaces
