Portage Learning: Microbiology Final Exam Set
1. Microbiology is the study of what? Microbiology is the study of microbes (mi-
croorganisms and viruses) and their biological
processes.
2. What is the smallest biological unit of A cell
life?
3. What is a macromolecule? A macromolecule is classified as a complex mol-
ecule that is composed from smaller subunits.
4. What are the four main types of macro- Proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates
molecules?
5. What various functions do proteins Proteins may facilitate the movement of materi-
have in a cell? als in or out of a cell. Some can act as enzymes
that catalyze, or speed up, biochemical process-
es. Others play a structural role while other pro-
teins, such as filaments, enable movement.
6. What are the two major types of nucleic There are two major types of nucleic acids: DNA
acids and their roles? (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 character-
istics of living organisms. RNA is responsible for
deciphering the hereditary information in DNA
and using it to synthesize proteins.
7. What is the plasma membrane, and The plasma membrane serves the cell as a sur-
what is it made up of? rounding barrier that separates the inside of the
cell from the outside surrounding environment.
The plasma membrane also restricts the move-
, Portage Learning: Microbiology Final Exam Set
ment 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 essential
nutrients. The plasma membrane is composed
of lipids (hydrophobic hydrocarbons).
8. What are the three main components Polysaccharides are composed of carbon, hy-
of polysaccharides? drogen and oxygen atoms. Examples would
include, C6H12O6 (glucose) C12H22O11 (su-
crose) and C6H10O5 (cellulose).
9. What is the primary difference between Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus, a membrane
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? enclosed region within the cell that contains the
genetic material. Prokaryotic cells do not have a
nucleus and can be further classified as either
Bacteria or Archaea.
10. What are the main morphologies of Bacteria can be described as coccus
bacteria? (round/spherical), bacillus (rod), vibrio (curved
rod) or spirillum (spiral/corkscrew).
11. Which group (classification) of mi- Archaea. They are able to survive in extremely
crobes is noted for its ability to survive harsh environmental conditions such as high salt
under harsh conditions? levels, acid conditions, high temperatures and
oxygen-poor conditions.
12. What are the four main classifications Eukaryotic microorganisms are classified as ei-
of Eukarya? ther belonging to Animalia, Plantae, Fungi or
Protista.
13. Can viruses be classified as either No. Viruses are considered neither prokaryotic
prokaryotic or eukaryotic? nor eukaryotic. Viruses are not considered living
, Portage Learning: Microbiology Final Exam Set
and do not replicate on their own, meaning they
must replicate within a host.
14. The lipid bilayer of the plasma mem- The cell membrane is a bilayer composed pri-
brane is composed of what? marily of amphipathic phospholipids, meaning
they contain a polar hydrophilic (water loving)
head group and a non-polar hydrophobic (wa-
ter fearing) tail region. The lipid bilayer is sit-
uated in such a way where the non-polar tail
groups face inward thus orienting the polar
head groups to interact with water both outside
and inside of the cell.
15. What are the primary cellular or- Ribosomes (protein synthesis), ER (site of pro-
ganelles described in this module? Be tein synthesis), Golgi (protein modification and
sure to know the roles of each. distribution), lysosomes (waste disposal), mi-
tochondria (ATP generation) and chloroplasts
(plants only; site of photosynthesis).
16. Be able to identify the primary or- Prokaryotic Cell
ganelles within a cell as shown in Fig-
ures 1.4
17. Be able to identify the primary or- Eukaryotic Cell
ganelles within a cell as shown in Fig-
ures 1.5
18. Be able to identify the primary or- EC magnified
ganelles within a cell as shown in Fig-
ures 1.6.
, Portage Learning: Microbiology Final Exam Set
19. True/False. A virus is considered a mi- False.
croorganism.
Viruses are not living and as such are not consid-
ered microorganisms. Viruses can, however, be
classified as microbes, a more general term that
includes microorganisms and viruses.
20. At a generalized level, all cells are com- Macromolecules*
prised of what? *A student may also answer: Proteins, Lipids,
Nucleic acids and Carbohydrates, but they must
answer with all four to be fully correct.
21. How many different types of amino 20
acids are available from which to make
proteins?
22. How many amino acids are classified as 9
being essential amino acids?
23. Complete the following DNA strand, 3' GGTCATCG 5'5' CCAGTAGC 3'There are 2
and indicate how many bonds are bonds formed between A and T, and 3 bonds
formed for each complementary pair: between G and C.
3' GGTCATCG 5'5' CC AGC 3'
24. The plasma membrane (select all that B & D
are true):
A) Only restricts movement of materials
1. Microbiology is the study of what? Microbiology is the study of microbes (mi-
croorganisms and viruses) and their biological
processes.
2. What is the smallest biological unit of A cell
life?
3. What is a macromolecule? A macromolecule is classified as a complex mol-
ecule that is composed from smaller subunits.
4. What are the four main types of macro- Proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates
molecules?
5. What various functions do proteins Proteins may facilitate the movement of materi-
have in a cell? als in or out of a cell. Some can act as enzymes
that catalyze, or speed up, biochemical process-
es. Others play a structural role while other pro-
teins, such as filaments, enable movement.
6. What are the two major types of nucleic There are two major types of nucleic acids: DNA
acids and their roles? (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 character-
istics of living organisms. RNA is responsible for
deciphering the hereditary information in DNA
and using it to synthesize proteins.
7. What is the plasma membrane, and The plasma membrane serves the cell as a sur-
what is it made up of? rounding barrier that separates the inside of the
cell from the outside surrounding environment.
The plasma membrane also restricts the move-
, Portage Learning: Microbiology Final Exam Set
ment 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 essential
nutrients. The plasma membrane is composed
of lipids (hydrophobic hydrocarbons).
8. What are the three main components Polysaccharides are composed of carbon, hy-
of polysaccharides? drogen and oxygen atoms. Examples would
include, C6H12O6 (glucose) C12H22O11 (su-
crose) and C6H10O5 (cellulose).
9. What is the primary difference between Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus, a membrane
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? enclosed region within the cell that contains the
genetic material. Prokaryotic cells do not have a
nucleus and can be further classified as either
Bacteria or Archaea.
10. What are the main morphologies of Bacteria can be described as coccus
bacteria? (round/spherical), bacillus (rod), vibrio (curved
rod) or spirillum (spiral/corkscrew).
11. Which group (classification) of mi- Archaea. They are able to survive in extremely
crobes is noted for its ability to survive harsh environmental conditions such as high salt
under harsh conditions? levels, acid conditions, high temperatures and
oxygen-poor conditions.
12. What are the four main classifications Eukaryotic microorganisms are classified as ei-
of Eukarya? ther belonging to Animalia, Plantae, Fungi or
Protista.
13. Can viruses be classified as either No. Viruses are considered neither prokaryotic
prokaryotic or eukaryotic? nor eukaryotic. Viruses are not considered living
, Portage Learning: Microbiology Final Exam Set
and do not replicate on their own, meaning they
must replicate within a host.
14. The lipid bilayer of the plasma mem- The cell membrane is a bilayer composed pri-
brane is composed of what? marily of amphipathic phospholipids, meaning
they contain a polar hydrophilic (water loving)
head group and a non-polar hydrophobic (wa-
ter fearing) tail region. The lipid bilayer is sit-
uated in such a way where the non-polar tail
groups face inward thus orienting the polar
head groups to interact with water both outside
and inside of the cell.
15. What are the primary cellular or- Ribosomes (protein synthesis), ER (site of pro-
ganelles described in this module? Be tein synthesis), Golgi (protein modification and
sure to know the roles of each. distribution), lysosomes (waste disposal), mi-
tochondria (ATP generation) and chloroplasts
(plants only; site of photosynthesis).
16. Be able to identify the primary or- Prokaryotic Cell
ganelles within a cell as shown in Fig-
ures 1.4
17. Be able to identify the primary or- Eukaryotic Cell
ganelles within a cell as shown in Fig-
ures 1.5
18. Be able to identify the primary or- EC magnified
ganelles within a cell as shown in Fig-
ures 1.6.
, Portage Learning: Microbiology Final Exam Set
19. True/False. A virus is considered a mi- False.
croorganism.
Viruses are not living and as such are not consid-
ered microorganisms. Viruses can, however, be
classified as microbes, a more general term that
includes microorganisms and viruses.
20. At a generalized level, all cells are com- Macromolecules*
prised of what? *A student may also answer: Proteins, Lipids,
Nucleic acids and Carbohydrates, but they must
answer with all four to be fully correct.
21. How many different types of amino 20
acids are available from which to make
proteins?
22. How many amino acids are classified as 9
being essential amino acids?
23. Complete the following DNA strand, 3' GGTCATCG 5'5' CCAGTAGC 3'There are 2
and indicate how many bonds are bonds formed between A and T, and 3 bonds
formed for each complementary pair: between G and C.
3' GGTCATCG 5'5' CC AGC 3'
24. The plasma membrane (select all that B & D
are true):
A) Only restricts movement of materials
