Module 2

Question 1

Define “saprophyte”.

Answer 1

An organism that feeds on dead matter.

Question 2

Define “parasite”.

Answer 2

An organism that feeds on a living host.

Question 3

Define “aerobic organism”.

Answer 3

An organism that requires oxygen.

Question 4

Define “anaerobic organism”.

Answer 4

An organism that does not require oxygen.

Question 5

Define “steady state”.

Answer 5

A state in which members of a population die as quickly as new members are born.

Question 6

Define “exponential growth”.

Answer 6

Population growth that is unhindered because of the abundance of resources for an ever-increasing population.

Question 7

Define “logistic growth”.

Answer 7

Population growth that is controlled by limited resources.

Question 8

Define “conjugation”.

Answer 8

A temporary union of two organisms for the purpose of DNA transfer.

Question 9

Define “plasmid”.

Answer 9

A small, circular section of extra DNA that confers one or more traits to a bacterium and can be reproduced separately from the main bacterial genetic code.

Question 10

Define “transformation”, as pertains to bacteria.

Answer 10

The transfer of a DNA segment from a nonfunctional donor cell to that of a functional recipient cell.

Question 11

Define “transduction”.

Answer 11

The process by which infection by a virus results in DNA being transferred from one bacteria to another.

Question 12

Define “endospore”.

Answer 12

The DNA and other essential parts of a bacterium coated with several hard layers.

Question 13

Define “strains”.

Answer 13

Organisms from the same species that have markedly different traits.

Question 14

How do you classify a bacterium with an exotic cell wall?

Answer 14

Phylum Mendosicutes

Class Archaebacteria

Question 15

How do you classify a bacterium with no cell wall?

Answer 15

Phylum Tenericutes

Class Mollicutes

Question 16

How do you classify a gram-positive bacterium that is bacillus or coccus?

Answer 16

Phylum Firmicutes

Class Firmibacteria

Question 17

How do you classify a gram-positive bacterium that is not bacillus or coccus?

Answer 17

Phylum Firmicutes

Class Thallobacteria

Question 18

How do you classify a gram-negative bacterium that is not photosynthetic?

Answer 18

Phylum Gracilicutes

Class Scotobacteria

Question 19

How do you classify a gram-negative bacterium that is photosynthetic but doesn’t produce oxygen?

Answer 19

Phylum Gracilicutes

Class Anoxyphotobacteria

Question 20

How do you classify a gram-negative bacterium that is photosynthetic and produces oxygen?

Answer 20

Phylum Gracilicutes

Class Oxyphotobacteria

Question 21

Define “pathogen”.

Answer 21

An organism that causes disease.

Question 22

What does the plasma membrane do?

Answer 22

The plasma membrane regulates what materials are taken in and out of the cell by the bacterium.

Question 23

What does the cell wall do?

Answer 23

The cell wall keeps the interior of the cell together and gives it its shape.

Question 24

What does the capsule do?

Answer 24

The capsule protects the bacterium from infection-fighting agents and allows it to stick to surfaces.

Question 25

What does the cytoplasm do?

Answer 25

The cytoplasm supports the internal structures of the cell.

Question 26

What does the DNA do?

Answer 26

The DNA provides the instructions necessary to make a bunch of chemicals into a living organism.

Question 27

What do the ribosomes do?

Answer 27

The ribosomes produce proteins.

Question 28

What do the fimbria do?

Answer 28

The fimbria are used to grip surfaces and other bacteria during conjugation.

Question 29

What does the flagellum do?

Answer 29

The flagellum spins to provide the bacterium with propulsion.