Microbiology Midterm Study Guide Quiz

What is the process called when a single bacterial cell reproduces to form a colony?

• Meiosis

• Conjugation

• Binary fission

• Mitosis

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for bacterial metabolism?

• Source of energy

• Source of carbon

• Source of nitrogen

• Source of electrons or hydrogen atoms

What do photoautotrophs use as their energy source?

• Organic chemical compounds

• Inorganic chemical compounds

• Carbon dioxide

• Sunlight

Which term describes organisms that consume organic matter for their carbon source?

• Chemoautotrophs

• Autotrophs

• Heterotrophs

• Photoautotrophs

During which phase of the bacterial growth curve do bacteria adjust to their new environment?

• Log phase

• Lag phase

• Stationary phase

• Death phase

What happens during the stationary phase of bacterial growth?

• Bacteria die off rapidly

• Bacteria grow exponentially

• Bacterial population remains constant

• Bacteria adjust to a new environment

What is the primary reason for the death phase in a bacterial growth curve?

• Increase in space

• Decrease in temperature

• Increase in nutrients

• Buildup of toxins

Which phase of the bacterial growth curve is also known as the active growth phase?

• Log phase

• Death phase

• Stationary phase

• Lag phase

What is one of the functions of DNA in organisms?

• Breaks down carbohydrates

• Stores energy

• Directs protein synthesis

• Directs its own synthesis

What does the term 'autocatalytic' refer to in the context of DNA?

• DNA's ability to replicate itself

• DNA's ability to mutate

• DNA's ability to repair itself

• DNA's ability to degrade