FUNDAMENTALS OF MICROBIOLOGY
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
VERIFIED 2025/2026.
Robert hooke and antonie van leeuwenhoek - ANS first to observe microbes through a simple
microscope
robert hooke - ANS first compound microscope, observe mold filaments, coined term cell
antonie van leeuwenhoek - ANS single lens magnifier, first to observe single-celled microbes,
called them animalcules
spontaneous generation - ANS false theory that microbes arise spontaneously (without
parents), disproven by lazzaro spallanzani
bassi de lodi - ANS germ theory
disprove spontaneous generation - ANS heat sterilization prevented microbial growth
Louis Pasteur - ANS microbial basis of fermentation, in absence of O2 yeast produces alcohol
but when contaminated with bacteria produce acetic acid (vinegar)
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Pasteur swan neck flask - ANS after boiling contents remain free of microbial growth despite
access to air (oxygen doesnt enable spontaneous generation)
john tyndall - ANS have to use repeated cycles of heat to kill spores
robert koch - ANS used pure culture to study single species in isolation. have to have pure
culture to prove bacterium caused a specific disease
Hess - ANS solid medium with agar
Kochs postulates - ANS 1. microbe always present in diseased host and absent in healthy
2. microbe is isolated from diseased host and grown in pure culture (no other present)
3. introduce pure microbe into healthy host (becomes sick)
4. same microbe re-isolated from sick individual
Edward Jenner - ANS vaccination, cowpox to prevent smallpox
Louis Pasteur (vaccinations) - ANS developed first vaccines using weakened strains
immunization - ANS stimulation of immune response by deliberate inoculation
ignaz semmelweiz - ANS wash hands with antiseptic (chlorine)
francesco redi - ANS controlled experiments to disprove spontaneous generation (meat and
flies/maggots)
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, joseph lister - ANS carbolic acid (phenol) to treat woulds and clean surgical instruments
alexander fleming - ANS discovered penicillium mold makes substance that kills bacteria
florey and chain - ANS purified penicillin, first commercial antibiotic
Dimitri Ivanovsky - ANS viruses can pass through filter that blocks bacteria
Sergei Winogradsky - ANS discovered Beggiatoa oxidizes H2S, discovered chemolithotrophs,
developed enrichment cultures (selective media) called winogradsky column
chemolithotrophs - ANS metabolize inorganic minerals instead of organic nutrients
geochemical cycling - ANS depends on bacteria and archaea that cycle nitrogen, phosphorus,
etc throughout biosphere
endosymbionts - ANS microbes that live within host and provide essential functions for host
rhizobia - ANS fix nitrogen inside a root nodule for a legume. Martinus Beijerinck first
discovered this
copeland - ANS separated eukaryotes (protozoa and algae) from prokaryotes
lynn margulis - ANS endosymbiont theory
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
VERIFIED 2025/2026.
Robert hooke and antonie van leeuwenhoek - ANS first to observe microbes through a simple
microscope
robert hooke - ANS first compound microscope, observe mold filaments, coined term cell
antonie van leeuwenhoek - ANS single lens magnifier, first to observe single-celled microbes,
called them animalcules
spontaneous generation - ANS false theory that microbes arise spontaneously (without
parents), disproven by lazzaro spallanzani
bassi de lodi - ANS germ theory
disprove spontaneous generation - ANS heat sterilization prevented microbial growth
Louis Pasteur - ANS microbial basis of fermentation, in absence of O2 yeast produces alcohol
but when contaminated with bacteria produce acetic acid (vinegar)
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Pasteur swan neck flask - ANS after boiling contents remain free of microbial growth despite
access to air (oxygen doesnt enable spontaneous generation)
john tyndall - ANS have to use repeated cycles of heat to kill spores
robert koch - ANS used pure culture to study single species in isolation. have to have pure
culture to prove bacterium caused a specific disease
Hess - ANS solid medium with agar
Kochs postulates - ANS 1. microbe always present in diseased host and absent in healthy
2. microbe is isolated from diseased host and grown in pure culture (no other present)
3. introduce pure microbe into healthy host (becomes sick)
4. same microbe re-isolated from sick individual
Edward Jenner - ANS vaccination, cowpox to prevent smallpox
Louis Pasteur (vaccinations) - ANS developed first vaccines using weakened strains
immunization - ANS stimulation of immune response by deliberate inoculation
ignaz semmelweiz - ANS wash hands with antiseptic (chlorine)
francesco redi - ANS controlled experiments to disprove spontaneous generation (meat and
flies/maggots)
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, joseph lister - ANS carbolic acid (phenol) to treat woulds and clean surgical instruments
alexander fleming - ANS discovered penicillium mold makes substance that kills bacteria
florey and chain - ANS purified penicillin, first commercial antibiotic
Dimitri Ivanovsky - ANS viruses can pass through filter that blocks bacteria
Sergei Winogradsky - ANS discovered Beggiatoa oxidizes H2S, discovered chemolithotrophs,
developed enrichment cultures (selective media) called winogradsky column
chemolithotrophs - ANS metabolize inorganic minerals instead of organic nutrients
geochemical cycling - ANS depends on bacteria and archaea that cycle nitrogen, phosphorus,
etc throughout biosphere
endosymbionts - ANS microbes that live within host and provide essential functions for host
rhizobia - ANS fix nitrogen inside a root nodule for a legume. Martinus Beijerinck first
discovered this
copeland - ANS separated eukaryotes (protozoa and algae) from prokaryotes
lynn margulis - ANS endosymbiont theory
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
