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BIO 251 Exam 1 Questions with
Detailed Verified Answers
Define microbiology Ans: The study of microorganisms, how they
work, interact with the environment, and interact with us.
Bacteria, the largest and most important group of microorganisms.
List two emerging infections Ans: Tuberculosis
Hantavirus- mutation
Ebola
E. coli- in gut
Describe the impact of infectious disease on human deaths
before the 1900, currently worldwide and compared to the deaths
from wars and natural disasters. Ans: Before the 1900 50% of all
children died of infectious disease before reaching the age of 10.
Currently about 1/3 of deaths worldwide are due to infectious
diseases.
Deaths from wars: 150 million have died of AIDS, TB and malaria
alone since 1945 compared with 23 million lost to wars
Natural disasters: 160 times more people have died from AIDS,
malaria respiratory and diarrhea diseases than in all natural
disasters combined.
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List the 6 groups of microorganisms Ans: -Fungi
-Protozoa
-Algae
-Prokaryotes
-Helminths
-Virus
Fungi composed of Ans: Molds- multicellular, reproduced by
sexual and asexual spores
Yeasts- unicellular, reproduced asexually by budding, some
produce sexual spores
List at least one disease caused by each type of microorganism
-Protozoa, helmiths, fungi, algae, prokaryotes, viruses Ans: Fungi -
yeast infection (Candidiasis), cryptococcosis, pneumocystis
pneumonia
Protozoa - plasmodium (some can cause malaria-non-motile)
Algae - cholera (shellfish poisoning)
Prokaryotes - Tuberculosis
Helminths (worms) - tape worms
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Virus - AIDS, influenze, West Nile, SARS
List different characteristics of each group of microorganisms Ans:
Fungi- Eukaryotic (have membane-bound nucleus). Obtain their
food from other organisms.
Protozoa- single celled eukaryotes, most reproduce asexually
some produce sexually, classified by mechanism of motility.
Algae- Unicellular or multicellular. Photosynthetic. Simple
reproductive structures. Non-pathogenic except for their role in
red tides and shellfish poisoning (ppl eating fish that eat algae).
Make worlds most oxygen as part of photosynthesis.
Prokaryotes- Unicellular and no nucleus. Much smaller than
eukaryotes. Found everywhere there is sufficent moisture; some
found in extreme environments (archea). Reproduces asexually.
two kinds:
Bacteria- cell walls contain peptidoglycan, some lack cell walls,
most do not cause disease and some are beneficial.
Archaea- cell walls composed of polymers other than
peptidoglycan (no known disease). Lives in extreme environments.
Helminths (worms)- tape worms, flukes and round worms (found in
sushi if not frozen before eating)
Virus- non living obligate intracellular parasite (inside of the cell).
no cells are impermeable to viral infections (gets in into every
BIO 251 Exam 1 Questions with
Detailed Verified Answers
Define microbiology Ans: The study of microorganisms, how they
work, interact with the environment, and interact with us.
Bacteria, the largest and most important group of microorganisms.
List two emerging infections Ans: Tuberculosis
Hantavirus- mutation
Ebola
E. coli- in gut
Describe the impact of infectious disease on human deaths
before the 1900, currently worldwide and compared to the deaths
from wars and natural disasters. Ans: Before the 1900 50% of all
children died of infectious disease before reaching the age of 10.
Currently about 1/3 of deaths worldwide are due to infectious
diseases.
Deaths from wars: 150 million have died of AIDS, TB and malaria
alone since 1945 compared with 23 million lost to wars
Natural disasters: 160 times more people have died from AIDS,
malaria respiratory and diarrhea diseases than in all natural
disasters combined.
, Page | 2
List the 6 groups of microorganisms Ans: -Fungi
-Protozoa
-Algae
-Prokaryotes
-Helminths
-Virus
Fungi composed of Ans: Molds- multicellular, reproduced by
sexual and asexual spores
Yeasts- unicellular, reproduced asexually by budding, some
produce sexual spores
List at least one disease caused by each type of microorganism
-Protozoa, helmiths, fungi, algae, prokaryotes, viruses Ans: Fungi -
yeast infection (Candidiasis), cryptococcosis, pneumocystis
pneumonia
Protozoa - plasmodium (some can cause malaria-non-motile)
Algae - cholera (shellfish poisoning)
Prokaryotes - Tuberculosis
Helminths (worms) - tape worms
, Page | 3
Virus - AIDS, influenze, West Nile, SARS
List different characteristics of each group of microorganisms Ans:
Fungi- Eukaryotic (have membane-bound nucleus). Obtain their
food from other organisms.
Protozoa- single celled eukaryotes, most reproduce asexually
some produce sexually, classified by mechanism of motility.
Algae- Unicellular or multicellular. Photosynthetic. Simple
reproductive structures. Non-pathogenic except for their role in
red tides and shellfish poisoning (ppl eating fish that eat algae).
Make worlds most oxygen as part of photosynthesis.
Prokaryotes- Unicellular and no nucleus. Much smaller than
eukaryotes. Found everywhere there is sufficent moisture; some
found in extreme environments (archea). Reproduces asexually.
two kinds:
Bacteria- cell walls contain peptidoglycan, some lack cell walls,
most do not cause disease and some are beneficial.
Archaea- cell walls composed of polymers other than
peptidoglycan (no known disease). Lives in extreme environments.
Helminths (worms)- tape worms, flukes and round worms (found in
sushi if not frozen before eating)
Virus- non living obligate intracellular parasite (inside of the cell).
no cells are impermeable to viral infections (gets in into every
