Fundamentals of Microbial Physiology and Cell Structures Quiz

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1. The barrier that separates the inside of the cell from its environment is called the ______________.

Explanation

The cell membrane is a semi-permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm of a cell, separating the internal environment from the external environment. It is crucial for regulating the passage of substances in and out of the cell.

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About This Quiz
Fundamentals Of Microbial Physiology And Cell Structures Quiz - Quiz

Enhance your understanding of microorganisms and their biological processes with this focused study tool. Dive into microbial physiology, exploring essential concepts and applications in microbiology, ideal for students... see moreand professionals seeking depth in this scientific field. see less

2. Which of the following are essential characteristics of living systems?

Explanation

Living systems exhibit essential characteristics such as evolution, metabolism, differentiation, and chemical signaling. Reproduction is also a vital characteristic of living systems, while photosynthesis is a process specific to certain organisms and not a universal characteristic. Gravitational pull is a physical force and not a defining characteristic of living systems.

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3. What is the complicated mix of materials surrounded by the cell membrane in bacteria called?

Explanation

The cytoplasm is the gel-like substance within the cell membrane that holds all the cell's organelles. The nucleus is the control center of the cell, mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, and the cell wall provides structural support in bacteria.

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4. Which of the following is a proper designation of this bacterium?

Explanation

Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium of the genus Escherichia that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms.

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5. The _______ includes the living organisms together with the chemical and physical constituents of the environment.

Explanation

An ecosystem consists of living organisms and the physical/chemical factors of the environment, while population refers to a group of individuals of the same species, biosphere is the global ecological system including all ecosystems, and habitat is the natural environment in which an organism lives.

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6. How may microorganisms modify their environment?

Explanation

Microorganisms can modify their environment by removing O2, excreting waste products, and removing nutrients. These actions can have significant impacts on the surrounding ecosystem.

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7. A culture that contains only one type of microorganism is said to be.

Explanation

A pure culture contains only one type of microorganism, while a mixed culture contains multiple types, a contaminated culture contains unwanted microorganisms, and a diverse culture contains a wide variety of microorganisms.

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8. Members of the plant group _____________ live in close association with special bacteria that form nitrogen-fixing nodules on their roots.

Explanation

Legumes such as beans, peas, and soybeans have a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots, allowing them to thrive in nutrient-poor soils.

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9. What is the process called when microorganisms are used to clean up pollution?

Explanation

Bioremediation is the process of using biological organisms to remove or neutralize contaminants from a polluted area. Phytoremediation involves using plants to clean up pollution, chemoremediation is the use of chemicals, and thermoremediation applies heat to remove contaminants.

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10. Which discipline concerns the artificial manipulation of genes and their products?

Explanation

Genetic engineering is the field that involves the deliberate modification of an organism's genetic material.

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11. Who is generally considered the first to see organisms as small as prokaryotes?

Explanation

Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe microorganisms, including bacteria and protozoa, using single-lens microscopes he created.

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12. The notion of pure culture was largely done under the leadership of __________ in Berlin.

Explanation

The correct answer is Koch as he was a prominent figure in microbiology and his work on pure culture techniques laid the foundation for modern microbiology. Louis Pasteur, Alexander Fleming, and Joseph Lister were also significant figures in the field of microbiology but did not play as crucial a role in the development of pure culture techniques as Robert Koch.

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13. Who used oddly-shaped flasks to study airborne contamination of broth?

Explanation

Louis Pasteur used his iconic swan neck flasks to demonstrate that spontaneous generation of life was not possible and that microorganisms could only come from other living microorganisms.

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14. Who is generally credited with the discovery that certain bacteria could fix atmospheric nitrogen?

Explanation

Winogradsky is credited with the discovery because of his research on bacteria in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly his work on nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

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15. What type of organisms use carbon dioxide as the source of cellular carbon?

Explanation

Autotrophs are able to produce their own organic molecules from inorganic sources like carbon dioxide. Heterotrophs, on the other hand, obtain organic molecules from other organisms. Mixotrophs are capable of both photosynthesis and heterotrophy. Parasites rely on other organisms for nutrients.

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16. What are viruses that infect bacteria known as?

Explanation

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. Prions are misfolded proteins, Viroids are smaller than viruses and only infect plants, and Phages can refer to any viruses that infect cells, not specifically bacteria.

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17. Which of the following groups would be most associated with human disease?

Explanation

Groups such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi are associated with human disease, hence 'more than one of the above' is the correct answer as multiple groups can contribute to causing human diseases.

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18. An assembly of populations that live in association with each other is called a microbial ___________.

Explanation

In ecology, a community refers to the collection of populations living and interacting with each other in a specific area, while the other terms do not accurately describe this concept.

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19. Which of the following is not one of Koch's postulates?

Explanation

Koch's postulates are a set of principles that guide the identification of the causative agent of a particular disease. All of the options listed are actually part of Koch's postulates, so the correct answer is that there isn't one that is not one of Koch's postulates.

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20. The discipline ________ was spawned by a combination of genetic engineering and industrial microbiology.

Explanation

The correct answer is biotechnology because it specifically refers to the interdisciplinary field that combines biological sciences with technology to create products and processes.

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21. What is the barrier structure that separates the inside of the cell from its outside?

Explanation

The cell membrane, also known as the plasma membrane, is a biological membrane that separates the interior of all cells from the outside environment.

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22. ______ is the conserving some of the energy of these substances in the process.

Explanation

Metabolism involves the conservation of energy in living organisms through various biochemical processes.

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23. What are proteins that accelerate the rate of a chemical reaction called?

Explanation

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions. Catalysts are substances that increase the rate of a chemical reaction, but enzymes specifically are proteins that perform this function. Substrates are the molecules on which enzymes act, and inhibitors are substances that decrease the rate of a chemical reaction.

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24. In prokaryotic cells, the bacterial chromosome aggregates to form the __________, a mass that is visible with the electron microscope.

Explanation

In prokaryotic cells, the bacterial chromosome aggregates to form the nucleoid, which is the region where genetic material is located. The term 'centrosome' refers to a cellular organelle involved in cell division, 'ribosome' is the cellular component responsible for protein synthesis, and 'chloroplast' is an organelle found in plant cells involved in photosynthesis, none of which are related to the aggregation of bacterial chromosomes.

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25. Whose postulates are a set of criteria used to prove that a specific microorganism causes a specific disease?

Explanation

Koch's postulates are named after German physician Robert Koch and are used to establish the causative relationship between a microorganism and a disease. Louis Pasteur is known for his contributions to germ theory, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, and Joseph Lister is known as the father of antiseptic surgery.

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26. __________ culture is the process of selecting specific microorganisms from a natural sample through the use of specific culture media and incubations that favor growth of one type of organism while constraining the growth of others.

Explanation

Enrichment culture involves creating conditions that promote the growth of specific microorganisms while inhibiting the growth of others, allowing for the isolation and study of particular strains.

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27. The diagram shows a typical bacterial cell. Provide the labels (A-D) for the diagram below.

Explanation

The correct labels for the diagram of a typical bacterial cell are Nucleoid as C, Cytoplasmic Membrane as D, Cell Wall as A, and Cytoplasm as B. The incorrect labels provided (Ribosome, Flagellum, and Pilus) do not match the components shown in the diagram.

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The barrier that separates the inside of the cell from its environment...
Which of the following are essential characteristics of living...
What is the complicated mix of materials surrounded by the cell...
Which of the following is a proper designation of this bacterium?
The _______ includes the living organisms together with the chemical...
How may microorganisms modify their environment?
A culture that contains only one type of microorganism is said to be.
Members of the plant group _____________ live in close association...
What is the process called when microorganisms are used to clean up...
Which discipline concerns the artificial manipulation of genes and...
Who is generally considered the first to see organisms as small as...
The notion of pure culture was largely done under the leadership of...
Who used oddly-shaped flasks to study airborne contamination of broth?
Who is generally credited with the discovery that certain bacteria...
What type of organisms use carbon dioxide as the source of cellular...
What are viruses that infect bacteria known as?
Which of the following groups would be most associated with human...
An assembly of populations that live in association with each other is...
Which of the following is not one of Koch's postulates?
The discipline ________ was spawned by a combination of genetic...
What is the barrier structure that separates the inside of the cell...
______ is the conserving some of the energy of these substances in the...
What are proteins that accelerate the rate of a chemical reaction...
In prokaryotic cells, the bacterial chromosome aggregates to form the...
Whose postulates are a set of criteria used to prove that a specific...
__________ culture is the process of selecting specific microorganisms...
The diagram shows a typical bacterial cell. Provide the labels (A-D)...
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