Mahon: Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology, 4 th Edition
Chapter 01: Bacterial Cell Structure, Physiology, Metabolism, and Genetics
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. To survive, microbial inhabitants have learned to adapt by varying all of the following
EXCEPT:
a. Growth rate
b. Growth in all atmospheric conditions
c. Growth at particular temperatures
d. Bacterial shape
ANS: D
The chapter begins by discussing the way microbial inhabitants have had to evolve to
survive in many different niches and habitats. It discusses slow growers, rapid growers, and
replication with scarce or abundant nutrients, under different atmospheric conditions,
temperature requirements, and cell structure. Bacterial shape as a form of evolution is not
discussed.
REF: page 3 OBJ: Level 2 – Interpretation
2. Who was considered the father of protozoology and bacteriology?
a. Anton van Leeuwenhoek
b. Louis Pasteur
c. Carl Landsteiner
, d. Michael Douglas
ANS: A
The book discusses Anton van Leeuwenhoek as the inventor of the microscope and the first
person to see the “beasties.” So they dubbed him the father of protozoology and
bacteriology. The other three individuals were not discussed.
REF: page 4 OBJ: Level 1 – Recall
3. Prokaryotic cells have which the following structures in their cytoplasm?
a. Golgi apparatus
b. Ribosome
c. Mitochondria
d. Endoplasmic reticulum
ANS: B
All the structures listed are found in eukaryotic cells, but the one that only applies to
prokaryotic cells is the ribosome.
REF: page 5 OBJ: Level 1 – Recall
4. This type of chromosomal DNA is found in eukaryotic cells.
a. Linear
b. Circular
c. Plasmid
d. Colloid
, ANS: A
Circular and plasmid DNA is found in bacteria, not eukaryotic cells. Colloid is a protein
molecule, not a nucleotide.
REF: page 5 OBJ: Level 3 – Synthesis
5. The nuclear membrane in prokaryotes is:
a. Missing
b. Impenetrable
c. A classic membrane
d. A lipid bilayer membrane
ANS: A
Prokaryotic cells do not have any membrane bound structures in the cytoplasm including a
structured nucleus. Nuclear membranes are never impenetrable because mRNA templates
must be able to pass out of the nucleus into the endoplasmic reticulum. The cellular
membrane is a lipid bilayer. A classic membrane is a vague term that is not descriptive.
REF: page 5 OBJ: Level 1 – Recall
6. A microorganism that is a unicellular organism and lacks a nuclear membrane and true
nucleus is classified as:
a. Fungi
b. Virus
c. Algae
d. Parasite
, ANS: B
Fungi, algae, and parasites are unicellular organisms that contain a true nucleus.
REF: page 5 OBJ: Level 1 – Recall
7. In the laboratory, the clinical microbiologist is responsible for all the following EXCEPT:
a. Isolating microorganisms
b. Selecting treatment for patients
c. Identifying microorganisms
d. Analyzing bacteria that cause disease
ANS: B
Clinical microbiologists never select treatment for patients. They provide the doctor with
the name of the organism and the antibiotics that can kill the bacteria, but never a final
selection of treatment protocols.
REF: page 4 OBJ: Level 3 – Synthesis
8. What enables the microbiologist to select the correct media for primary culture and
optimize the chance of isolating a pathogenic organism?
a. Determining staining characteristics
b. Understanding the cell structure and biochemical pathways of an organism
c. Understanding the growth requirements of a particular bacterium
d. Knowing the differences in cell walls of particular bacteria.
ANS: C
Chapter 01: Bacterial Cell Structure, Physiology, Metabolism, and Genetics
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. To survive, microbial inhabitants have learned to adapt by varying all of the following
EXCEPT:
a. Growth rate
b. Growth in all atmospheric conditions
c. Growth at particular temperatures
d. Bacterial shape
ANS: D
The chapter begins by discussing the way microbial inhabitants have had to evolve to
survive in many different niches and habitats. It discusses slow growers, rapid growers, and
replication with scarce or abundant nutrients, under different atmospheric conditions,
temperature requirements, and cell structure. Bacterial shape as a form of evolution is not
discussed.
REF: page 3 OBJ: Level 2 – Interpretation
2. Who was considered the father of protozoology and bacteriology?
a. Anton van Leeuwenhoek
b. Louis Pasteur
c. Carl Landsteiner
, d. Michael Douglas
ANS: A
The book discusses Anton van Leeuwenhoek as the inventor of the microscope and the first
person to see the “beasties.” So they dubbed him the father of protozoology and
bacteriology. The other three individuals were not discussed.
REF: page 4 OBJ: Level 1 – Recall
3. Prokaryotic cells have which the following structures in their cytoplasm?
a. Golgi apparatus
b. Ribosome
c. Mitochondria
d. Endoplasmic reticulum
ANS: B
All the structures listed are found in eukaryotic cells, but the one that only applies to
prokaryotic cells is the ribosome.
REF: page 5 OBJ: Level 1 – Recall
4. This type of chromosomal DNA is found in eukaryotic cells.
a. Linear
b. Circular
c. Plasmid
d. Colloid
, ANS: A
Circular and plasmid DNA is found in bacteria, not eukaryotic cells. Colloid is a protein
molecule, not a nucleotide.
REF: page 5 OBJ: Level 3 – Synthesis
5. The nuclear membrane in prokaryotes is:
a. Missing
b. Impenetrable
c. A classic membrane
d. A lipid bilayer membrane
ANS: A
Prokaryotic cells do not have any membrane bound structures in the cytoplasm including a
structured nucleus. Nuclear membranes are never impenetrable because mRNA templates
must be able to pass out of the nucleus into the endoplasmic reticulum. The cellular
membrane is a lipid bilayer. A classic membrane is a vague term that is not descriptive.
REF: page 5 OBJ: Level 1 – Recall
6. A microorganism that is a unicellular organism and lacks a nuclear membrane and true
nucleus is classified as:
a. Fungi
b. Virus
c. Algae
d. Parasite
, ANS: B
Fungi, algae, and parasites are unicellular organisms that contain a true nucleus.
REF: page 5 OBJ: Level 1 – Recall
7. In the laboratory, the clinical microbiologist is responsible for all the following EXCEPT:
a. Isolating microorganisms
b. Selecting treatment for patients
c. Identifying microorganisms
d. Analyzing bacteria that cause disease
ANS: B
Clinical microbiologists never select treatment for patients. They provide the doctor with
the name of the organism and the antibiotics that can kill the bacteria, but never a final
selection of treatment protocols.
REF: page 4 OBJ: Level 3 – Synthesis
8. What enables the microbiologist to select the correct media for primary culture and
optimize the chance of isolating a pathogenic organism?
a. Determining staining characteristics
b. Understanding the cell structure and biochemical pathways of an organism
c. Understanding the growth requirements of a particular bacterium
d. Knowing the differences in cell walls of particular bacteria.
ANS: C
