BIOD 171 ESSENTIAL MICROBIOLOGY 2026
EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
COMPLETE REVIEW PACKAGE
◉ What is the smallest biological unit of life
Answer: A cell
◉ Classified as a complex molecule that is composed from smaller
subunits
Answer: Macromolecule
◉ What are the four main types of macromolecules?
Answer: Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids
◉ What various functions do proteins have in a cell?
Answer: Proteins may facilitate the movement of materials in or out
of a cell. Some can act as enzymes that catalyze, or speed up,
biochemical processes. Others play a structural role while other
proteins, such as filaments, enable movement.
◉ what re the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles?
,Answer: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
Nucleic acids are chemical molecules that carry genetic information
within the cell. DNA contains a vast amount of hereditary
information and is responsible for the inheritable characteristics of
living organisms. RNA is responsible for deciphering the hereditary
information in DNA and using it to synthesize proteins.
◉ Serves the cell as a surrounding barrier that separates the inside
of the cell from the outside surrounding environment. The plasma
membrane also restricts the movement of materials (water,
nutrients, etc) either in or out of the cell, thus allowing a cells to
absorb and keep what is needed (influx) while also preventing the
escape (out flux) of lipids (hydrophobic hydrocarbons)
Answer: Plasma membrane and what it is made up of
◉ carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Examples would include,
C6H10O5 (glucose) C12H22O11 (surcose) and C6H10O5 (cellulose)
Answer: The three main components of carbohydrates
◉ Contain a nucleus, a membrane enclosed region within the cell
that contains the genetic material.
Answer: Eukaryotic cells
◉ Cells do not contain a nucleus and can be further classified as
either Bacteria and Archaea
, Answer: Prokaryotic cells
◉ Coccus (round/spherical), bacillus (rod), Vibrio (curved rod) or
spirillum (spiral/corkscrew)
Answer: Main morphologies of bacteria
◉ Which group of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under
harsh conditions?
Answer: Archaea. They are able to survive in extremely harsh
environmental conditions such as high salt levels, acid conditions,
high temperatures and oxygen-poor conditions
◉ Animal, Plant, Fungi or Protista
Answer: The four main classifications of Eukarya?
◉ Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic
Answer: No
◉ The lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane is composed of what?
Answer: The cell membrane is a bilayer composed primarily of
amphipathic phospholipids, meaning they contain a polar
hydrophilic (water loving) head group and a non-polar hydrophobic
(water fearing) tail region. The lipid bilayer is situated in such a way
where the non-polar tail groups face inward thus orienting the polar
EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
COMPLETE REVIEW PACKAGE
◉ What is the smallest biological unit of life
Answer: A cell
◉ Classified as a complex molecule that is composed from smaller
subunits
Answer: Macromolecule
◉ What are the four main types of macromolecules?
Answer: Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids
◉ What various functions do proteins have in a cell?
Answer: Proteins may facilitate the movement of materials in or out
of a cell. Some can act as enzymes that catalyze, or speed up,
biochemical processes. Others play a structural role while other
proteins, such as filaments, enable movement.
◉ what re the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles?
,Answer: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
Nucleic acids are chemical molecules that carry genetic information
within the cell. DNA contains a vast amount of hereditary
information and is responsible for the inheritable characteristics of
living organisms. RNA is responsible for deciphering the hereditary
information in DNA and using it to synthesize proteins.
◉ Serves the cell as a surrounding barrier that separates the inside
of the cell from the outside surrounding environment. The plasma
membrane also restricts the movement of materials (water,
nutrients, etc) either in or out of the cell, thus allowing a cells to
absorb and keep what is needed (influx) while also preventing the
escape (out flux) of lipids (hydrophobic hydrocarbons)
Answer: Plasma membrane and what it is made up of
◉ carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Examples would include,
C6H10O5 (glucose) C12H22O11 (surcose) and C6H10O5 (cellulose)
Answer: The three main components of carbohydrates
◉ Contain a nucleus, a membrane enclosed region within the cell
that contains the genetic material.
Answer: Eukaryotic cells
◉ Cells do not contain a nucleus and can be further classified as
either Bacteria and Archaea
, Answer: Prokaryotic cells
◉ Coccus (round/spherical), bacillus (rod), Vibrio (curved rod) or
spirillum (spiral/corkscrew)
Answer: Main morphologies of bacteria
◉ Which group of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under
harsh conditions?
Answer: Archaea. They are able to survive in extremely harsh
environmental conditions such as high salt levels, acid conditions,
high temperatures and oxygen-poor conditions
◉ Animal, Plant, Fungi or Protista
Answer: The four main classifications of Eukarya?
◉ Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic
Answer: No
◉ The lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane is composed of what?
Answer: The cell membrane is a bilayer composed primarily of
amphipathic phospholipids, meaning they contain a polar
hydrophilic (water loving) head group and a non-polar hydrophobic
(water fearing) tail region. The lipid bilayer is situated in such a way
where the non-polar tail groups face inward thus orienting the polar
