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Micro > Past Paper MCQs > Flashcards

Past Paper MCQs Flashcards

1
Q

Which of the following distinguish the field of microbiology from other fields of biology?

(a) The size of the organism studied
(b) The techniques used to study organisms regardless of their size
(c) Both the size of the organism studied and the techniques employed in the study of organisms
(d) Neither the size of the organism studied nor the techniques employed in the study of organisms regardless of their size

A

(c) Both the size of the organism studied and the techniques employed in the study of organisms

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2
Q

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that is found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is also known as:

(a) exotoxin
(b) teichoic acid
(c) murein
(d) endotoxin

A

(d) endotoxin

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3
Q

An open system in which a medium containing an essential nutrient is fed into the culture vessel at the same rate as the medium containing microorganisms is removed is called a:

(a) closed culture system
(b) batch culture
(c) turbidostat
(d) chemostat

A

(d) chemostat

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4
Q

The cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria:

(a) retains the cytoplasm and its contents
(b) acts as a selectively permeable barrier, allowing some molecules to pass while preventing the movement of others
(c) is the major site of ATP synthesis in aerobes
(d) all of the choices

A

(d) all of the choices

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5
Q

All of the following statements about prokaryotic flagella are correct EXCEPT:

(a) they are driven by the proton motive force
(b) they move with a whiplike motion
(c) they are found in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria
(d) their motor is embedded in the cell envelope

A

(b) they move with a whiplike motion

they are whiplike but move like a propeller

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6
Q

MacConkey agar selects for:

(a) Selects for Gram-negative bacteria
(b) Selects for Gram-positive bacteria
(c) Selects for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria
(d) Selects for haemolytic microorganisms

A

(a) Selects for Gram-negative bacteria

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7
Q

Which of the following is a micronutrient?

(a) Manganese
(b) Sulphur
(c) Carbon
(d) Phosphorus

A

(a) Manganese

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8
Q
  1. The size of the most useful RNA molecule for prokaryotic evolutionary studies is:

(a) 5S
(b) 16S
(c) 18S
(d) 23S

A

(b) 16S

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9
Q

A microbe isolated from deep in the ocean could best be characterized as a:

(a) Psychrophile
(b) Mesophile
(c) Barophile and psychrophile
(d) Barophile

A

(c) Barophile and psychrophile

```
Barophile = high pressure
(psychrophile = extreme cold)
~~~

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10
Q

Mutations are:

(a) Chemical modifications of DNA or RNA molecules
(b) Any changes of bacterial genome as compared with a wild type
(c) Events resulting from genetic exchange between bacterial plasmids
(d) Sequencing errors

A

(b) Any changes of bacterial genome as compared with a wild type

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11
Q

Diseases in humans and animals caused by fungi are called:

(a) funguses
(b) mycoses
(c) dictyoses
(d) cystoses

A

(b) mycoses

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12
Q

Which of the following organisms is NOT a true fungus (i.e. it is classified in the Kingdom Protoctista):

(a) Botrytis cinerea
(b) Phytophthora infestans
(c) Agaricus bisporus
(d) Taphrina deformans

A

(b) Phytophthora infestans

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13
Q

Cells with a relatively complex morphology that have a true membrane-delimited nucleus are called:

(a) Prokaryotes
(b) Eukaryotes
(c) Urkaryotes
(d) Nokaryotes

A

(b) Eukaryotes

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14
Q

Who of the following provided the evidence needed to discredit the concept of spontaneous generation?

(a) Pasteur
(b) Koch
(c) Semmelweiss
(d) Lister

A

(a) Pasteur

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15
Q

Which of the following statements about membrane lipids is TRUE?

(a) Lipids of bacteria have ether linkages, while those of archaea have ester linkages
(b) Lipids of bacteria have ester linkages, while those of archaea have ether linkages
(c) Lipids of bacteria and archaea have ester linkages
(d) Lipids of bacteria and archaea have ether linkages

A

(b) Lipids of bacteria have ester linkages, while those of archaea have ether linkages

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16
Q

Which of the following statements about the prokaryotic chromosome is TRUE?

(a) It has a single origin of replication and the DNA is replicated unidirectionally
(b) It has a single origin of replication and the DNA is replicated bidirectionally
(c) It has multiple origins of replication and the DNA is replicated unidirectionally (d) It has multiple origins of replication and the DNA is replicated bidirectionally

A

(b) It has a single origin of replication and the DNA is replicated bidirectionally

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17
Q

Which of the following is/are true of capsules?

(a) They help bacteria escape phagocytosis by host cells
(b) They retain water and help prevent desiccation of the bacteria
(c) They prevent entry of many bacterial viruses
(d) All of the choices

A

(d) All of the choices

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18
Q

Which of the following is a differential medium?

(a) Nutrient broth
(b) Yeast Extract
(c) Blood agar
(d) Tryptic soya broth

A

(c) Blood agar

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19
Q

Metagenomics is:

(a) Science studying genetic exchange
(b) Genome level study of the whole bacterial community
(c) Application of bioinformatics to genomic studies
(d) Sequencing of DNA and RNA molecules

A

(b) Genome level study of the whole bacterial community

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20
Q

Tinea pedis is a fungal infection of the:

(a) Head
(b) Beard
(c) Feet
(d) Groin

A

(c) Feet

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21
Q

Who of the following developed a set of criteria that could be used to establish a causative link between a particular microorganism and a particular disease?

(a) Fracastoro
(b) Koch
(c) Pasteur
(d) Lister

A

(b) Koch

22
Q

Which of the following is NOT a component of peptidoglycan?

(a) N-acetylmuramic acid
(b) N-acetylglucosamine
(c) Lipopolysaccharide
(d) Peptide cross-links

A

(c) Lipopolysaccharide

23
Q

All of the following are true about the prokaryotic outer membrane except:

(a) It is composed of a phospholipid bilayer
(b) It is found only in Gram-negative bacteria
(c) It contains porins
(d) It contains a toxic component

A

(a) It is composed of a phospholipid bilayer

24
Q

Bacterial Genetics deals with:

(a) Structures of bacterial cells
(b) Individual bacterial cells
(c) Bacterial populations
(d) Bacterial proteins

A

(c) Bacterial populations

25
Q

Bacterial genes:

(a) Often contain introns
(b) Are often organised in operons
(c) Always encode proteins
(d) Are always shorter than 1,000 base pairs

A

(b) Are often organised in operons

26
Q

Which of the following is the only characteristic of ALL true fungi?

(a) Eukaryotic
(b) Multi-cellular
(c) Photosynthetic
(d) Reproduce sexually

A

(a) Eukaryotic

27
Q

Carl Woese of the University of Illinois and his collaborators identified two major branches of prokaryotic evolution. What was the basis for dividing prokaryotes into two domains?

(a) Microscopic examination of the staining characteristics of the cell wall.
(b) Metabolic characteristics such as the production of methane gas
(c) Ecological characteristics such as the ability to survive extreme temperatures
(d) Molecular characteristics such as ribosomal RNA sequences

A

(d) Molecular characteristics such as ribosomal RNA sequences

28
Q

Incorporation of atmospheric N2 to NH4+ occurs via the process of?

(a) Nitrogen fixation
(b) Nitrification
(c) Denitrification
(d) None of the above, atmospheric N2 cannot be incorporated into NH4+

A

(a) Nitrogen fixation

29
Q

Which of these environmental factors influence microbial growth?

(a) pH
(b) Water potential
(c) Oxygen
(d) All of the above

A

(d) All of the above

30
Q

The addition of which of the following would change a chemically defined medium into a complex medium?

(a) Biotin (a vitamin)
(b) K2HPO4
(c) NH4NO3
(d) Yeast extract

A

(d) Yeast extract

31
Q

Pasteur is attributed with which one of the following discoveries?

(a) Was the first to see microorganisms under a microscope
(b) First to discover and use agar
(c) That there could be life without air
(d) The first chemical antibiotics

A

(c) That there could be life without air

32
Q

The length of a typical E. coli cell is approximately?

(a) 20 μm
(b) 2 μm
(c) 200 nm
(d) 20 nm

A

(b) 2 μm

33
Q
  1. Bacterial flagella bring about cell motion by which mechanism?

(a) Wave-like movement of the flagellum
(b) Rotation of the cell
(c) Rotation of the flagellum in one direction only
(d) Rotation of the flagellum that is reversible

A

(c) Rotation of the flagellum in one direction only

34
Q

Which prokaryotes should be expected to be most strongly resistant to plasmolysis in hypertonic environments?

(a) extreme halophiles
(b) extreme thermophiles
(c) methanogens
(d) nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in root nodules

A

(a) extreme halophiles

35
Q

An organism is capable of oxidizing H2S and using the energy obtained from the reaction to reduce carbon dioxide. Which type of metabolism does this organism possess?

(a) Photolithotrophic autotroph
(b) Chemolithotrophic autotroph
(c) Photoorganotrophic heterotroph
(d) Chemoorganotrophic heterotroph

A

(b) Chemolithotrophic autotroph

36
Q

A bacterial episome is:

(a) A plasmid which is able to integrate into the chromosome
(b) A plasmid encoding antibiotic resistance
(c) A bacterial virus
(d) The diploid part of any bacterial genome

A

(a) A plasmid which is able to integrate into the chromosome

37
Q

With regard to the differences between bacterial and eukaryotic cells which statement is the CORRECT one?

(a) Bacterial cells do not contain mitochondria
(b) Bacterial cells are always larger than eukaryote cells
(c) Bacteria do not contain a chromosome
(d) Eukaryotic cells are sensitive to β-lactam antibiotics

A

(a) Bacterial cells do not contain mitochondria

38
Q

Which statement is CORRECT with respect to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)?

(a) LPS is found in Gram positive cells
(b) LPS is found in Gram negative cells in the cytoplasmic membrane
(c) LPS is found in the outer-membrane of Gram negative cells
(d) LPS is associated with all bacterial cells

A

(c) LPS is found in the outer-membrane of Gram negative cells

39
Q

Which statement is CORRECT with respect to peptidoglycan?

(a) There are multiple molecules of peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls
(b) Only Gram positive cells possess peptidoglycan
(c) There is only a single molecule of peptidoglycan in a bacterial cell wall
(d) Peptidoglycan is only found in Gram negative cell walls

A

(c) There is only a single molecule of peptidoglycan in a bacterial cell wall

40
Q

The Bacterial chromosome is:

a. Circular DNA
b. Linear DNA
c. Either circular or linear DNA
d. Double stranded RNA

A

c. Either circular or linear DNA

41
Q

Which of the following is both a selective and a differential medium?

a. Nutrient broth.
b. MacConkey agar.
c. Blood agar.
d. Tryptic soya broth.

A

b. MacConkey agar.

42
Q

Which of the following is NOT a correct statement about true fungi:

a. True fungi are eukaryotic
b. All true fungi are multi-cellular
c. True fungi are heterotrophic
d. Most true fungi have chitin cell walls

A

b. All true fungi are multi-cellular

43
Q

With regards to bacterial plasmids which statement is the CORRECT one?

a. A plasmid is a regulatory gene
b. A plasmid is a short RNA molecule
c. A plasmid is an extra chromosomal DNA molecule
d. A plasmid is a non coding region found in some bacterial genomes

A

c. A plasmid is an extra chromosomal DNA molecule

44
Q

Addition of blood to a culture medium only allows the haemolytic bacteria that grow on the plate to be picked out. This is an example of a:

(a) Selective medium
(b) Differential medium
(c) Complex medium
(d) Synthetic medium

A

(a) Selective medium

45
Q

Almost all medically important microbes are:

(a) Chemolithoautotrophs
(b) Photoorganoheterotrophs
(c) Photolithoautotrophs
(d) Chemoorganoheterotrophs

A

(d) Chemoorganoheterotrophs

46
Q

Koch’s postulates MOST CORRECTLY relate to which one of the following statements?

(a) The isolation of a bacterium in culture from an infection alone indicates that it caused the disease.
(b) Isolation and cultivation of a microorganism from a diseased animal, then inoculation into another healthy animal to cause the same disease followed by re-isolation of the same microorganism indicates that it is the cause of the disease.
(c) The observation of virus particles in tissue from a human with disease indicates that it has caused the disease.
(d) Inoculation of a bacterium into an animal and observation of disease alone indicates that it is the cause of the disease observed.

A

(b) Isolation and cultivation of a microorganism from a diseased animal, then inoculation into another healthy animal to cause the same disease followed by re-isolation of the same microorganism indicates that it is the cause of the disease.

47
Q

Which of the following is a macronutrient?

(a) Manganese
(b) Magnesium
(c) Zinc
(d) Cobalt

A

(b) Magnesium

48
Q

Denitrification is a process by which:

(a) Nitrogen gas is fixed by microorganisms
(b) Nitrates are reduced to nitrogen gas
(c) Nitrates are reduced to ammonia
(d) Nitrogen is assimilated into cellular material

A

(b) Nitrates are reduced to nitrogen gas

49
Q

Modes of obtaining nutrition, used by at least some bacteria, include all of the following EXCEPT:

(a) Chemolithoautrophy
(b) Photolithoautrophy
(c) Chemoheteroautrophy
(d) Chemoorganoheterotrophy

A

(c) Chemoheteroautrophy

50
Q

Saprophytic activity is essential for the health of the biosphere because:

(a) It facilitates nutrient cycling and waste degradation
(b) It kills host organisms and thereby averts overpopulation
(c) It facilitates species evolution via endosymbiosis
(d) It involves mineralization of inorganic rocks in the lithosphere

A

(a) It facilitates nutrient cycling and waste degradation

Micro (2 decks)

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