Question 1

Which of the following statements about algae is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Algae are primarily photosynthetic organisms and are not significantly involved in the degradation of dead plants and animals. This process is mainly carried out by bacteria and fungi, not algae.

Question 2

Which of the following questions largely stimulated the research of microbes during what is known as the Golden Age of Microbiology?

Accepted Answer

During the Golden Age of Microbiology, researchers were primarily focused on understanding the causes of disease and determining whether or not spontaneous generation of microbes was possible. Therefore, the best choice is E, which combines both questions.

Question 3

According to Kluyver and van Niel, which of the following are true of basic biochemical reactions?

Accepted Answer

Kluyver and van Niel proposed that basic biochemical reactions shared by all living things primarily involve transfer of electrons and hydrogen ions. This concept is known as the biochemical theory of microbial metabolism. Thus, only option D is correct. Options A, B, and E are incorrect as they do not align with this theory.

Question 4

Which of the following scientists provided evidence in favor of the concept of spontaneous generation?

Accepted Answer

Needham's experiments with beef broth showed the appearance of microorganisms even after boiling the broth, which he believed supported the idea of spontaneous generation.

Question 5

Semmelweis advocated handwashing as a method of preventing which of the following diseases?

Accepted Answer

Semmelweis advocated handwashing as a method of preventing puerperal fever or "childbed fever" in obstetric clinics.

Question 6

Microbes that can live in the presence or absence of oxygen are called

Accepted Answer

Microbes that can live in the presence or absence of oxygen are called facultative anaerobes. This group of organisms can switch to anaerobic metabolism in the absence of oxygen and use aerobic metabolism when oxygen is present.

Question 7

What scientist first hypothesized that gene sequences could provide new insights into evolutionary relationships between organisms such as microbes?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What scientist first hypothesized that gene sequences...

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of viruses?

Accepted Answer

Viruses are not visible with a light microscope as they are much smaller than the resolving power of a light microscope. They can only be seen with an electron microscope.

Question 9

The microbial production of alcohol from sugar is known as

Accepted Answer

Fermentation is the specific process of microbial conversion of sugar into alcohol. Pasturization is a separate process for killing bacteria by heating, metabolism refers to all chemical reactions in cells (not just alcohol production), abiogenesis is the disproven idea that living organisms can arise from non-living matter, and antisepsis refers to methods for preventing infection.

Question 10

The microbial activity of __________ is responsible for the production of various foods.

Accepted Answer

Both fungi and bacteria are responsible for the production of various foods through their microbial activity. Bacteria are used to ferment dairy products, meats, and vegetables while fungi are commonly used in the production of bread, beer, wine, and cheese.

Question 11

Work by __________ laid the foundations of the field of environmental microbiology.

Accepted Answer

Beijerinck and Winogradsky were pioneers in the study of microorganisms in the environment, including soil and water. They developed techniques for isolating and characterizing bacteria and other microorganisms in their natural habitats, and their work laid the foundations for the field of environmental microbiology. Redi and Spallanzani, Koch and Pasteur, Lister and Semmelweis, and Pauling and Woese made important contributions to microbiology, but their work did not specifically focus on environmental microbiology.

Question 12

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek was the first person in history to

Accepted Answer

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek was the first person to view protozoa and bacteria under a microscope, ultimately contributing to the development of microbiology as a field of study. While he did use magnification to view these microorganisms, he did not develop a taxonomic system or disprove spontaneous generation, and his work was prior to the development of the germ theory.

Question 13

The first true vaccine protected against disease caused by a __________ pathogen.

Accepted Answer

The first true vaccine was against smallpox, which is caused by the variola virus, a viral pathogen.

Question 14

The study of the body's defenses against pathogens is called

Accepted Answer

The study of the body's defenses against pathogens refers to immunology, which includes the understanding of how the immune system recognizes and responds to foreign substances such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Question 15

Which of the following individuals pioneered the use of chemicals to reduce the incidence of infections during surgery?

Accepted Answer

Joseph Lister pioneered the use of carbolic acid (phenol) as an antiseptic during surgery, significantly reducing the incidence of infections.

Question 16

The microbes commonly known as __________ are single-celled eukaryotes that are generally motile.

Accepted Answer

Protozoa are single-celled eukaryotes that are generally motile. Archaea and bacteria are prokaryotes and fungi are multicellular eukaryotes. Viruses are not considered living organisms and cannot be classified into any of the aforementioned categories.

Question 17

Paul Ehrlich used chemotherapy to treat

Accepted Answer

The answer of Paul Ehrlich used chemotherapy to treat
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Question 18

All of the following individuals were involved in improving public health in the 19th century EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Spallanzani lived in the 18th century and was primarily a biologist and physiologist, not a public health advocate. The other individuals listed were all involved in improving public health in the 19th century through various advances in medicine and sanitation.

Question 19

Which of the following statements concerning Koch's postulates is false?

Accepted Answer

The statement "A suspected pathogen must be found in the majority of individuals with a particular disease" is false. Koch's postulates require that the suspected pathogen be found in every individual with the disease, not just the majority.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about fungi is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Fungi are not photosynthetic. While some other eukaryotes such as plants and algae have the ability to perform photosynthesis, fungi rely on absorbing nutrients from other organisms.

Quiz 1: A Brief History of Microbiology