Which of the following best describes microbial ecology?

• Study of viruses in nature

• Study of microorganisms and their environment

• Study of bacterial diseases

• Study of eukaryotic microorganisms

Microbial communities are primarily structured by which of the following factors?

• Predation and competition

• Temperature and pH

• Oxygen availability

• All of the above

Which of the following is an example of a microbial biogeochemical cycle?

• Nitrogen cycle

• Carbon cycle

• Phosphorus cycle

• All of the above

What is a mutualistic relationship in microbial communities?

• One organism benefits while the other is harmed

• Both organisms benefit

• One organism benefits, and the other is neutral

• Both organisms are harmed

Which of the following is NOT a type of microbial interaction?

• Symbiosis

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

• Decomposition

In microbial communities, quorum sensing refers to:

• A mechanism to inhibit the growth of harmful microbes

• A communication system that allows bacteria to detect their population density

• The competition between different microbial species

• A strategy for the production of antibiotics

The genetic code is said to be 'degenerate' because:

• It is universal

• Some amino acids are encoded by multiple codons

• It can mutate

• It is unchanging

Which of the following is the main function of RNA in protein synthesis?

• Carrying genetic information from DNA to ribosomes

• Catalyzing the formation of proteins

• Storing genetic information

• None of the above

Which of the following mutations results in a change in the protein sequence?

• Silent mutation

• Missense mutation

• Nonsense mutation

• Both b and c

Which of the following is the most abundant site for microbiota in the human body?

• Skin

• Mouth

• Intestines

• Lungs