Deck 2: Taxonomy and Classification

Question 1

Microorganisms are classified by taxonomy in order to

A) differentiate them based on phenotypic characteristics.
B) allow scientists to share information on them in a universal language.
C) categorize them as animal or plant.
D) categorize them based on their mode of reproduction.

Answer 1

allow scientists to share information on them in a universal language.

Question 2

Which of the following approaches to taxonomy is based on the physical characteristics of organisms?

A) Genotypic
B) Phylogenic
C) Phenotypic
D) numerical

Answer 2

Phenotypic

Question 3

Which of the following inventions dramatically revolutionized the scientific community and organism taxonomy?

A) Printing press
B) The use of binomial names for classification
C) Agar-based medium
D) The inception of the "International Code of Botanical Nomenclature"

Answer 3

Printing press

Question 4

Which of the following individuals is credited with the current categorization of organisms as genus and species?

A) Gutenberg
B) van Leeuwenhoek
C) Cavalier-Smith
D) Linnaeus

Question 5

Which of the following defines a bacterial species? A group of microorganisms that

A) are based on the complete genotypic profile.
B) share a considerable set of phenotypic characteristics.
C) belong to the same evolutionary lineage.
D) share the same antibiogram.

Question 6

Which of the following stem endings indicates a bacterial family?

A) -aceae
B) -idea
C) -inae
D) -ales

Question 7

Plesiomonas shigelloides, an oxidase positive gram-negative rod, was moved from the family Vibrionaceae to the family Enterobacteriaceae. This was probably done based on

A) phenotypic characteristics.
B) genetic history.
C) serology testing using monoclonal antibodies.
D) nucleic acid hybridization to measure relatedness.

Question 8

An organism that lives on decaying matter for nutrition is called a(an)

A) pathogen.
B) eukaryote.
C) saprophyte.
D) prokaryote.

Question 9

Prions differ from viruses because they are

A) composed of protein and do not contain RNA or DNA.
B) larger than viruses.
C) able to infect the central nervous system.
D) infective for vertebrates.

Question 10

Fungi differ from other microorganisms because they contain

A) single circular chromosome.
B) a cell wall of chitin.
C) no cytoplasmic organelles.
D) plasma membrane.

Question 11

Eukaryotic cells differ from prokaryotic cells because eukaryotic cells have
1) a nuclear membrane.
2) a cell wall.
3) one chromosome.

A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) 2 and 3
D) 1 and 3

Question 12

The clinically significant yeast and moulds are found in the kingdoms
1) Bacteria.
2) Protozoa.
3) Fungi.
4) Chromista.

A) 3 only
B) 2 and 3
C) 3 and 4
D) 2, 3, and 4

Question 13

A microorganism is named Staphylococcus aureus. The second word (aureus) is the

A) strain.
B) family.
C) genus.
D) species.

Question 14

A microorganism is named Staphylococcus aureus. The first word (Staphylococcus) is the

A) family.
B) genus.
C) species.
D) group.

Question 15

Which words in the two-word name for a microorganism should be capitalized and underlined or italicized?

A) Species is capitalized and both are underlined or italicized.
B) Genus is capitalized and both are underlined or italicized.
C) Both are capitalized and underlined or italicized.
D) Only the genus is capitalized and underlined or italicized.

Question 16

Bacteria that live harmlessly in our bodies and protect us by preventing other microbes from attaching to and colonizing the human body are an example of

A) hybridization.
B) parasitism.
C) mutualism.
D) pathogenesis.

Question 17

A useful method of classifying viruses is based on the
1) site of infection.
2) type of nucleic acid.
3) symmetry of the protein coat.
4) presence of absence of an envelope.

A) 2, 3, and 4
B) 1, 2, and 3
C) 1, 3 and 4
D) 1, 2, and 4

Question 18

Prokaryotic cells differ from eukaryotic cells because prokaryotic cells usually have
1) a nuclear membrane.
2) a cell wall.
3) one chromosome.

A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) 2 and 3
D) 1 and 3

Question 19

Which taxonomy term defines a group of microbes that have similar characteristics and are distinguished from other related strains?

A) Order
B) Class
C) Genus
D) Species