Microbiology Lecture Exam Unit #2 Study Guide

Essential Biology and Survey of the Microbial World

Chapters 8-13

Chapter 8 - Microbial Genetics

1. Define the following terms:
Term Definition
Gene A segment of DNA that encodes a functional product, usually a protein
DNA Polymerase Enzyme that synthesizes DNA by copying a DNA template; proofread and facilitate repair of DNA
DNA Ligase Makes covalent bonds to join DNA strands; Okazaki fragments, and new fragments in excision repair
Primase An RNA polymerase that makes RNA primers from a DNA template
transcription
translation
tRNA
rRNA
mRNA
Promoter
RNA Polymerase Copies RNA from a DNA sequence
Transformation
Conjugation
Transduction
Recombination
Mutation
Mutagen
Carcinogen
photolyase
Peptide bond
2. Sketch the structure of DNA. What is a nucleotide? How are the two strands bonded together?
3. What is the effect of non-ionizing radiation on cells? Can UV damage be repaired? How is it repaired?
4. A base pairs with T and U, C base pairs with G.
5. If the codon for leucine is UUA, what is the anticodon .
6. Be able to perform the exercises from the Genetics Worksheet. Remember that mRNA always begins with
methionine (AUG), and thus the polypeptide begins with the amino acid methionine (Met). Remember the
differences when writing the complementary sequence for DNA replication vs. the complementary sequence for
transcription (DNA to RNA). Make up your own DNA sequence of at least 15 bases and write the complementary
strand of RNA and the corresponding sequence of amino acids.
7. Sketch out and identify the parts of the lac and trp operons. Describe how they work. Define the terms "inducible"
and "repressible."
8. Gene expression is regulated by proteins that affect which cellular process-transcription or translation?
9. Define the terms: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary protein structure.
10. Sketch out the elongation phase of translation. Label the mRNA, codons, anticodons, tRNAs, amino acids, growing
polypeptide chain, and both ribosomal subunits. What are the three sites on the ribosome? What is the purpose of
each site?
11. Where does eukaryotic transcription take place? What happens before RNA exits the nucleus? What are introns and
exons?
12. How did Griffith demonstrate genetic transformation?
13. What is the Ames test?

Chapter 10 - Classification of Microorganisms

1. What are the differences between bacteria and archaea? How are they similar?
2. Understand the 3-domain system. What are the general characteristics of each domain? When do scientists life began
on earth? What do the arrows in figure 10.1 represent? Are viruses part of this classification scheme?
3. What is the order for the taxonomic hierarchy? Remember the "Do Keep Pots Clean Or Family Gets Sick"
mnemonic.
 4. Understand binomial nomenclature.
5. What is a dichotomous key?
6. How is G+C content relevant to determining relatedness?
7. Know the different methods of classifying and identifying microorganisms discussed in class. What is phage typing?
Serology? What are biochemical tests? PCR?
8. What type of RNA is used for phylogenetic classification of bacteria?
9. Define phylogeny.

Chapter 12 – Eukaryotic Microbes

1. What types of fungi are multicellular? unicellular?

2. Are all helminths parasitic? How do parasitic helminths differ from their free-living counterparts?
3. Know the physical structure of lichens. What are the three morphologies?
4. Know the three phyla of fungi discussed in class and the names of their sexual and asexual spores. Define the
different spore types discussed in lecture. Make a table like the one below:
Phylum Sexual spore Asexual spore example

5. Define the terms below:

Term Definition
Definitive Host
Intermediate Host
Hyphae
Septate
Coenocytic
Thallus
Sporangiospore
Vegetative Hyphae
Aerial Hyphae

6. What are arthropod vectors?

7. Why are archaezoa unique eukaryotes?
8. What fungus is a frequent cause of yeast infections in humans?
9. Sketch and describe asexual reproduction of diatoms.
10. Know the characteristics of algae and their uses discussed in lecture.
11. What caused the Irish potato famine in the mid-1800s?

Chapter 13 - Viruses

1. Define the terms below:

Term Definition
Plaque A clearing in a bacterial lawn resulting from lysis by phages
Prion An infectious agent consisting of self-replicating protein, with no detectable nucleic acids
Capsid The protein coat of a virus that surrounds the nucleic acid
Capsomer A protein subunit of a viral capsid
e
Envelope An outer covering surrounding the capsid of some viruses
Spike A carbohydrate-protein complex that projects from the surface of certain viruses
Virion A complete, fully developed viral particle
Lysogeny A state in which phage DNA is incorporated into the host cell without lysis

2. Draw and explain the lytic and lysogenic cycle of bacteriophages.

3. What is a complex virus?

 4. What are latent viruses? Give some examples.
5. List the steps of viral multiplication for bacteriophages and animal viruses.
6. Which virus families have reverse transcriptase? What is reverse transcriptase?
7. What steps must happen with the DNA that injected by a bacteriophage in order to make new virions? Focus on the
nucleic acids.
8. What steps must happen with the sense strand of an RNA virus that has entered an animal cell? Focus on the nucleic
acids inside and outside of the nucleus.
9. What are oncogenic viruses?

Ch19 –AIDS

1. What are the three phases of HIV progression? Summarize each phase. Sketch the graph of HIV progression (Fig.
19.16).
2. What is the difference between an active and latent HIV infection?
3. How do reverse transcriptase inhibitors work?
4. How does the HIV virus attach to a CD4+ T cell? How does it fuse with the membrane? Make a sketch.

Know replication, cycles, HIV infection graph-in chapter 13

Know how to do the DNA sequence thing that was a study guide work sheet
Be able to explain lac operon and study hard for it- about how gene expression is controlled in bacteria