BIOD 171 ESSENTIAL MICROBIOLOGY
MODULES 1 TO 6 EXAM SCRIPT 2026
◉ Viruses are. Answer: parasitic, protein-coated genetic elements,
dependent on their infected host, connected with the evolution of
microbes and humans
◉ Nature of Microorganisms. Answer: -Microbes are very easy and
very difficult to study.
-Reproduce rapidly.
-Can be quickly grown in large populations in the laboratory.
-Can't be seen directly.
-Microscopes and other indirect means are used to study them.
◉ Prokaryote. Answer: A unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus
and membrane bound organelles
◉ Eukaryote. Answer: organism whose cells contain a nucleus
◉ where do microbes live. Answer: everywhere
,◉ anoxygenic photosynthesis. Answer: Light-fueled conversion of
carbon dioxide to organic material that does not produce oxygen
◉ oxygenic photosynthesis. Answer: Light-fueled conversion of
carbon dioxide to organic material that does produce oxygen
◉ historical uses of microbes by humans. Answer: Bread production
Alcohol production
Cheese production
Treatment of wounds and lesions
Mining precious metals
Cleaning up human-created contamination
◉ genetic engineering. Answer: an area of biotechnology that
manipulates the genetics of microbes, plants, and animals for
creating new products and genetically modified organisms (GMO's)
◉ Recombinant DNA technology. Answer: the transfer of genetic
material from one organism to another to deliberately alter the DNA
and produce a specific product
◉ Bioremediation. Answer: the use of microorganisms, either
naturally occurring or artificially introduced, to restore stability or
clean up toxic pollutants
, ◉ Pathogens. Answer: Microbes that cause disease
◉ spontaneous generation. Answer: the belief that invisible vital
forces present in matter led to the creation of life
◉ Abiogenesis. Answer: The idea that long ago, very simple life
forms spontaneously appeared through chemical reactions.
◉ Biogenesis. Answer: development of life from preexisting life
◉ Macromolecules. Answer: large molecules
◉ Four main macromolecules. Answer: carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins, nucleic acids
◉ monomers. Answer: subunits of macromolecules
◉ Polymers. Answer: chains of various lengths made up of
monomers
◉ Polysaccharides. Answer: Carbohydrates that are made up of
more than two monosaccharides
MODULES 1 TO 6 EXAM SCRIPT 2026
◉ Viruses are. Answer: parasitic, protein-coated genetic elements,
dependent on their infected host, connected with the evolution of
microbes and humans
◉ Nature of Microorganisms. Answer: -Microbes are very easy and
very difficult to study.
-Reproduce rapidly.
-Can be quickly grown in large populations in the laboratory.
-Can't be seen directly.
-Microscopes and other indirect means are used to study them.
◉ Prokaryote. Answer: A unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus
and membrane bound organelles
◉ Eukaryote. Answer: organism whose cells contain a nucleus
◉ where do microbes live. Answer: everywhere
,◉ anoxygenic photosynthesis. Answer: Light-fueled conversion of
carbon dioxide to organic material that does not produce oxygen
◉ oxygenic photosynthesis. Answer: Light-fueled conversion of
carbon dioxide to organic material that does produce oxygen
◉ historical uses of microbes by humans. Answer: Bread production
Alcohol production
Cheese production
Treatment of wounds and lesions
Mining precious metals
Cleaning up human-created contamination
◉ genetic engineering. Answer: an area of biotechnology that
manipulates the genetics of microbes, plants, and animals for
creating new products and genetically modified organisms (GMO's)
◉ Recombinant DNA technology. Answer: the transfer of genetic
material from one organism to another to deliberately alter the DNA
and produce a specific product
◉ Bioremediation. Answer: the use of microorganisms, either
naturally occurring or artificially introduced, to restore stability or
clean up toxic pollutants
, ◉ Pathogens. Answer: Microbes that cause disease
◉ spontaneous generation. Answer: the belief that invisible vital
forces present in matter led to the creation of life
◉ Abiogenesis. Answer: The idea that long ago, very simple life
forms spontaneously appeared through chemical reactions.
◉ Biogenesis. Answer: development of life from preexisting life
◉ Macromolecules. Answer: large molecules
◉ Four main macromolecules. Answer: carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins, nucleic acids
◉ monomers. Answer: subunits of macromolecules
◉ Polymers. Answer: chains of various lengths made up of
monomers
◉ Polysaccharides. Answer: Carbohydrates that are made up of
more than two monosaccharides
