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Bacterial Tidbits Trivia Quiz

For my first quiz, I'll turn to one of my favorite biology subfields: microbiology.

A multiple-choice quiz by malarson. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
malarson

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
294,600

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2690

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is chemotaxis? Hint

A key metabolic function to all bacterial cells

The process of two bacterial cells combining to exchange genetic material

A response to a light stimulus

A response to a chemical stimulus

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Question 2 of 10

2. What structures are necessary for conjugation? Hint

Fimbriae

DNA probe

Glycocalyx

Pili

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Question 3 of 10

3. All of the following are acceptable ways to describe the arrangement of bacterial cells in a Gram stain EXCEPT... Hint

Rods (bacilli) in irregular clusters

Cocci in tetrads

Cocci in irregular clusters

Rods (bacilli) in palisades

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Question 4 of 10

4. What type of plasmid is the source of the problem with antibiotic resistance? Hint

A plasmid

R plasmid

L plasmid

X plasmid

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Question 5 of 10

5. When exposed to unfavorable conditions, some cells have the ability to enter a type of "standby" mode in which they cease metabolic functioning. The structure they form is called the... Hint

Endospore

Granules

Glycocalyx

Mesosomes

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Question 6 of 10

6. What correctly describes the cell membrane? Hint

A phospholipid bilayer

A carbohydrate bilayer

A glucolipid layer

A lipoprotein layer

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Question 7 of 10

7. What process can bacterial cells undergo that allows them to pick up DNA fragments in their environment and incorporate them into their genome? Hint

Transformation

Recombination

Transduction

Replication

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of the following organisms are archaebacteria? Hint

All of these

Halophiles

Methanogens

Thermophiles

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Question 9 of 10

9. What was the first synthetic antibiotic? Hint

Alizarin

Penicillin

Prontosil

Benzoic Acid

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of these organelles can be found in a bacterial cell? Hint

Mitochondria

Ribosomes

Nucleus

Chloroplast

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is chemotaxis?

Answer: A response to a chemical stimulus

This can be either positive (toward the stimulus) or negative (away from the stimulus).

2. What structures are necessary for conjugation?

Answer: Pili

The pili (also known as sex pili) form a bridge between two bacterial cells, allowing DNA to pass between them.

3. All of the following are acceptable ways to describe the arrangement of bacterial cells in a Gram stain EXCEPT...

Answer: Rods (bacilli) in irregular clusters

Rods can't be described as being in irregular clusters. They are always in a noticeable arrangement.

4. What type of plasmid is the source of the problem with antibiotic resistance?

Answer: R plasmid

"R" for "resistance." I just made up the others.

5. When exposed to unfavorable conditions, some cells have the ability to enter a type of "standby" mode in which they cease metabolic functioning. The structure they form is called the...

Answer: Endospore

The endospore is capable of surviving for millions of years and is quite difficult to kill. Pasteurization and other cleaning techniques use cells that form endospores as the standard for sterilization.

6. What correctly describes the cell membrane?

Answer: A phospholipid bilayer

The bacterial cell membrane, like all other cell membranes, are formed by a bilayer of phospolipids. The hydrophillic (water-loving) heads form the inner and outer boundary, and the hydrophobic (water-fearing) tails face inward, forming a semi-permeable membrane.

7. What process can bacterial cells undergo that allows them to pick up DNA fragments in their environment and incorporate them into their genome?

Answer: Transformation

Transformation was demonstrated in a famous experiment by Frederick Griffith.

8. Which of the following organisms are archaebacteria?

Answer: All of these

Archaebacteria are different from regular bacteria in that they thrive in extreme environments. Archaebacteria have been found growing in many diverse environments, from pools fed by thermal activity, to the bottom of the ocean.

9. What was the first synthetic antibiotic?

Answer: Prontosil

Prontosil was a dye first used by Gerhard Domagk on his daughter.

10. Which of these organelles can be found in a bacterial cell?

Answer: Ribosomes

By definition, bacteria are prokaryotes and have no membrane-bound organelles. Ribosomes are the only organelles listed in this question that aren't membrane-bound.

Source: Author malarson

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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