BIO 134 STUDY GUIDE #1 WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS | GRADED A+ | NEW 2025-2026 UPDATE
What are some basic differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes? -
ANSWERS prokaryotes: smaller, simpler
eukaryotes: larger, more complex
For what fraction of the history of life on earth were prokaryotes the only form? -
ANSWERS first 2 billion years
Name and briefly describe the six types of organisms typically studied in
microbiology. - ANSWERS - bacteria (and archaea): smallest examples of
cellular life; unicellular or colonial; prokaryotes; crucial part of ecosystem
(nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, degradation/decomposition)
- algae: photosynthetic eukaryotes; protists; most are unicellular or colonial, but
some are multicellular
- protozoa: unicellular eukaryotes; protists; unicellular or (rarely) colonial
- fungi: eukaryotes; feed on decaying matter; many are unicellular or colonial,
some are multicellular; differentiated by certain cellular structures (cell walls)
- helminths: multicellular eukaryotes; parasitic worms, infection generally includes
microscopic forms
- viruses: non-cellular, neither eukaryotic nor prokaryotic; infectious particles that
have no metabolism of their own; reproduce exclusively by stealing host function
Define unicellular, colonial, and multicellular lifestyles, and list which microbes use
each type. - ANSWERS - unicellular: live alone (bacteria, algae, protozoa, fungi)
- colonial: live in communities (bacteria, algae, protozoa, fungi)
, - multicellular lifestyles: consists of many cells (algae, fungi, helminths)
Rank different organisms based on size and complexity. - ANSWERS -
Helminths
- Algae, fungal cells, protozoa, human cells
- Most bacteria
- Viruses
- Proteins
- Atoms
Define pathogen, primary pathogen, and opportunistic pathogen. - ANSWERS
- pathogen: "that which causes suffering"; 99% of microbes do NOT cause disease;
pathogens are those organisms that do cause disease
- primary pathogens: microbes that can cause disease in an otherwise healthy
person
- opportunistic pathogens: microbes that cause disease only when the host's
immune system has been damaged somehow
Are infectious diseases a more significant problem in the U.S., or worldwide? -
ANSWERS worldwide
Know the contributions by Hooke, van Leeuwenhoek, Pasteur, Koch, Lister, Jenner,
Flemming - ANSWERS
Describe the significance of cell theory, animalicules, spontaneous generation vs.
biogenesis, compound vs. simple microscopes, aseptic technique, the germ theory
SOLUTIONS | GRADED A+ | NEW 2025-2026 UPDATE
What are some basic differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes? -
ANSWERS prokaryotes: smaller, simpler
eukaryotes: larger, more complex
For what fraction of the history of life on earth were prokaryotes the only form? -
ANSWERS first 2 billion years
Name and briefly describe the six types of organisms typically studied in
microbiology. - ANSWERS - bacteria (and archaea): smallest examples of
cellular life; unicellular or colonial; prokaryotes; crucial part of ecosystem
(nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, degradation/decomposition)
- algae: photosynthetic eukaryotes; protists; most are unicellular or colonial, but
some are multicellular
- protozoa: unicellular eukaryotes; protists; unicellular or (rarely) colonial
- fungi: eukaryotes; feed on decaying matter; many are unicellular or colonial,
some are multicellular; differentiated by certain cellular structures (cell walls)
- helminths: multicellular eukaryotes; parasitic worms, infection generally includes
microscopic forms
- viruses: non-cellular, neither eukaryotic nor prokaryotic; infectious particles that
have no metabolism of their own; reproduce exclusively by stealing host function
Define unicellular, colonial, and multicellular lifestyles, and list which microbes use
each type. - ANSWERS - unicellular: live alone (bacteria, algae, protozoa, fungi)
- colonial: live in communities (bacteria, algae, protozoa, fungi)
, - multicellular lifestyles: consists of many cells (algae, fungi, helminths)
Rank different organisms based on size and complexity. - ANSWERS -
Helminths
- Algae, fungal cells, protozoa, human cells
- Most bacteria
- Viruses
- Proteins
- Atoms
Define pathogen, primary pathogen, and opportunistic pathogen. - ANSWERS
- pathogen: "that which causes suffering"; 99% of microbes do NOT cause disease;
pathogens are those organisms that do cause disease
- primary pathogens: microbes that can cause disease in an otherwise healthy
person
- opportunistic pathogens: microbes that cause disease only when the host's
immune system has been damaged somehow
Are infectious diseases a more significant problem in the U.S., or worldwide? -
ANSWERS worldwide
Know the contributions by Hooke, van Leeuwenhoek, Pasteur, Koch, Lister, Jenner,
Flemming - ANSWERS
Describe the significance of cell theory, animalicules, spontaneous generation vs.
biogenesis, compound vs. simple microscopes, aseptic technique, the germ theory
