Question 1

Antibiotics are chemotherapeutic drugs that function by inhibiting an important cellular structure or process of an organism that is causing an infection.Which of the following would not be affected by an antibiotic that targets cellular metabolic enzymes?

Accepted Answer

Herpes virus is not affected by antibiotics that target cellular metabolic enzymes because viruses do not have their own metabolism and rely on host cell machinery to replicate.

Question 2

Which of the following demonstrates correct scientific notation of a bacterial organism?

Accepted Answer

Scientific notation is used in scientific writing to avoid confusion between similar organisms or chemicals. In this case, Staphylococcus epidermidis is correctly written in scientific notation by italicizing the genus name (Staphylococcus) and species name (epidermidis) and writing them out in full. The parentheses also help to distinguish the organism name as a scientific notation.

Question 3

Which of the following is always classified as a eukaryote?

Accepted Answer

Yeast is a type of fungus and all fungi are eukaryotic organisms. Papillomavirus is a virus, which is not classified as a eukaryote. Methanogen and Escherichia coli are both prokaryotes without true nucleus, and therefore not eukaryotes.

Question 4

A microbe that is 50 nm in size would most likely be

Accepted Answer

A microbe that is 50 nm in size is extremely small and falls within the size range of viruses. Fungi, E. coli, and algae are much larger microbes, typically ranging from 1-100+ micrometers in size.

Question 5

Which of the following has been used as a tool for gene therapy?

Accepted Answer

Viruses have been used as a tool for gene therapy because of their ability to insert genetic material into host cells. Researchers have modified viruses to carry therapeutic genes and deliver them to specific cells or tissues in the body.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT an explanation for the centuries it took between Leeuwenhoek observing microorganisms with his microscope and the discovery that microbes are capable of causing disease?

Accepted Answer

Diseases were not a problem in the world until long after the discovery of microorganisms.

Question 7

Based on the figure below,approximately what percentage of the hospitalizations in week 43 resulted in deaths?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on the figure below,approximately what percentage...

Question 8

Which of the following methods for classifying life forms can best be used to distinguish between two closely related rod-shaped bacterial organisms,Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli?

Accepted Answer

DNA sequence comparison is the most accurate method for distinguishing between closely related organisms, as it can identify even small differences in their genetic makeup. Physical characteristics, method of reproduction, and environmental habitat may not be reliable indicators, as these bacteria may share many traits in common.

Question 9

What would John Tyndall have needed to use to disprove the theory of spontaneous generation with his experiments?

Accepted Answer

An autoclave would be necessary for Tyndall's experiments to disprove spontaneous generation, as it sterilizes materials by using high pressure and steam, ensuring that no living microorganisms would contaminate the experiment.

Question 10

If Spallanzani had unknowingly poked a hole in the top of his flask of meat broth,what would this have implied about the theory of spontaneous generation?

Accepted Answer

If Spallanzani had poked a hole in the flask, it would have allowed microorganisms from the air to enter and grow in the meat broth, which would have appeared to support the theory of spontaneous generation by showing that life could arise from non-living matter when, in fact, it was due to contamination.

Question 11

Based on the figure,the type of organism shown is a(n)

Accepted Answer

The figure shows a eukaryotic cell with a nucleus, organelles such as mitochondria, and a membrane-bound cell surface. This indicates that it is not a virus or a bacterium, both of which lack organelles and a nucleus, and it is not archaea, which have a different type of cell wall and membrane composition.

Question 12

Which scientist is credited with constructing the first microscope?

Accepted Answer

Robert Hooke is credited with constructing one of the first compound microscopes and using it to make significant scientific discoveries.

Question 13

Based on the figure shown,the type of organism indicated with an arrow could be a

Accepted Answer

The figure shows a diagram of a bacterium cell, which is indicated by the arrow.

Question 14

Why did fewer soldiers die from infectious disease during the Crimean War in the winter months?

Accepted Answer

Pathogens do not multiply as quickly in colder temperatures, which can lead to fewer cases of infectious diseases and ultimately fewer deaths. Cold temperatures can also slow down the movement of pathogens, reducing the likelihood of transmission.

Question 15

Which of the following organisms would you NOT be able to see using Robert Hooke's microscope?

Accepted Answer

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a bacterium that is much smaller than the other organisms listed and cannot be seen with Robert Hooke's microscope.

Question 16

Which key characteristic differentiates a prokaryote from a eukaryote?

Accepted Answer

The absence of membrane-bound organelles, such as a nucleus or mitochondria, is a key characteristic that differentiates prokaryotes from eukaryotes. Prokaryotes also tend to be smaller and less complex in their cellular organization compared to eukaryotes.

Question 17

Which of the following theories was the Miller experiment designed to test?

Accepted Answer

The Miller experiment was designed to test the idea that all the chemicals found in early Earth could have come together to form the basic components of cellular life.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT considered a benefit of microorganisms?

Accepted Answer

Microorganisms can provide many benefits, such as nitrogen fixation, production of fermented foods, and synthesis of vitamins. However, they can also be causative agents of disease and are not considered a benefit in this context.

Question 19

Which of the following was an unexpected benefit of the bubonic plague?

Accepted Answer

The bubonic plague, which significantly reduced the population of Europe, indirectly led to labor shortages. This scarcity of laborers increased the value of work, leading to better wages and improved living conditions for the surviving population. The redistribution of wealth and the decline in population also contributed to the conditions that fostered the cultural flourishing known as the Renaissance.

Question 20

Which of the following would you not expect to find in the human digestive tract?

Accepted Answer

Algae are not commonly found in the human digestive tract as they require light and specialized environments to survive. The other options (archaea, bacteria, and intestinal viruses) are commonly found in the digestive tract.

Quiz 1: Microbes Shape Our History