MGY277 Exam Questions And
Answers
U1 : Perspectives - Answer O
[1] perspectives on microbiology - Answer O
differences in the "top ten killers" globally in the year 1990 and today - Answer the
leading causes of death globally have shifted
- Infectious (communicable) diseases decline
- Rise of chronic conditions (non-communicable)
provide reasons for the differences in "top ten killers" in low- and high-income countries
- Answer - the differences in the "top ten killers" between low- and high-income
countries arise from various factors, including healthcare infrastructure,
socio-economic conditions, lifestyle choices, and access to medical technologies.
- different resources
- social factors
3 major advancements
that have been made in treating infectious diseases
due to our understanding of infectious diseases - Answer ① development of vaccines
② discovery of antibiotics
③ public health infrastructure
=> reduced mortality/morbidity due to infectious disease
how "microbes are striking back" against progress in treating infectious disease -
Answer (1) newly & re-emerging diseases
(2) antibiotic resistance
[2] what is microbiology? - Answer definition & terminology
define microbiology & pathogen - Answer microbiology : the study of organisms that are
too small to be seen microscope (=microorganism = microbe)
pathogen : microbes that cause disease
where microbes are found - Answer - microbes are found everywhere (ubiquitous)
, - extreme conditions
- on the human body
why bacteria were required for the species explosion
that came with the addition of oxygen to Earth's atmosphere - Answer - bacteria
invented photosynthesis before plants in a process that didn't produce oxygen
- this process evolved to one that (1) generated oxygen (2) was much more efficient at
extracting E from sunlight
=> ability to aerobically respire & form ozone => species explosion
the role of microbes in nutrient cycling & decomposition - Answer ; microorganisms are
necessary for the existence of life on the Earth
(1) nutrient cycling
- complex / simple compounds -> microbial factory (company) -> efflux -> stable carbon
pool
(2) decomposition
- bacteria make nutrients available to other organisms through decomposition (waste
-> bacteria -> nutrients)
provide at least 3 ex of applied uses of microbes
(ex) in biotechnology, bioremediation, ... - Answer - food production : yogurt, chocolate,
cheese, beer
- biotechnology : insulin (recombinant DNA technology in bacteria/yeast)
- synthesis of commercially valuable chemicals : MSG (fermentation vessels)
- biodegradation (of environmental pollutants) / bioremediation (: using microbes to
destroy/detoxify industrial chemicals at contaminated sites)
[3] types of microbes - Answer O
contrast how organisms were classified historically with how they are today - Answer
The earliest "trees of life"
- consisted only of 2 kingdoms
- bias towards organisms that could easily be seen
-> DNA technology changed this
3 "domains" tree of life
Answers
U1 : Perspectives - Answer O
[1] perspectives on microbiology - Answer O
differences in the "top ten killers" globally in the year 1990 and today - Answer the
leading causes of death globally have shifted
- Infectious (communicable) diseases decline
- Rise of chronic conditions (non-communicable)
provide reasons for the differences in "top ten killers" in low- and high-income countries
- Answer - the differences in the "top ten killers" between low- and high-income
countries arise from various factors, including healthcare infrastructure,
socio-economic conditions, lifestyle choices, and access to medical technologies.
- different resources
- social factors
3 major advancements
that have been made in treating infectious diseases
due to our understanding of infectious diseases - Answer ① development of vaccines
② discovery of antibiotics
③ public health infrastructure
=> reduced mortality/morbidity due to infectious disease
how "microbes are striking back" against progress in treating infectious disease -
Answer (1) newly & re-emerging diseases
(2) antibiotic resistance
[2] what is microbiology? - Answer definition & terminology
define microbiology & pathogen - Answer microbiology : the study of organisms that are
too small to be seen microscope (=microorganism = microbe)
pathogen : microbes that cause disease
where microbes are found - Answer - microbes are found everywhere (ubiquitous)
, - extreme conditions
- on the human body
why bacteria were required for the species explosion
that came with the addition of oxygen to Earth's atmosphere - Answer - bacteria
invented photosynthesis before plants in a process that didn't produce oxygen
- this process evolved to one that (1) generated oxygen (2) was much more efficient at
extracting E from sunlight
=> ability to aerobically respire & form ozone => species explosion
the role of microbes in nutrient cycling & decomposition - Answer ; microorganisms are
necessary for the existence of life on the Earth
(1) nutrient cycling
- complex / simple compounds -> microbial factory (company) -> efflux -> stable carbon
pool
(2) decomposition
- bacteria make nutrients available to other organisms through decomposition (waste
-> bacteria -> nutrients)
provide at least 3 ex of applied uses of microbes
(ex) in biotechnology, bioremediation, ... - Answer - food production : yogurt, chocolate,
cheese, beer
- biotechnology : insulin (recombinant DNA technology in bacteria/yeast)
- synthesis of commercially valuable chemicals : MSG (fermentation vessels)
- biodegradation (of environmental pollutants) / bioremediation (: using microbes to
destroy/detoxify industrial chemicals at contaminated sites)
[3] types of microbes - Answer O
contrast how organisms were classified historically with how they are today - Answer
The earliest "trees of life"
- consisted only of 2 kingdoms
- bias towards organisms that could easily be seen
-> DNA technology changed this
3 "domains" tree of life
