CH 1 end of chapter questions. Knowledge Comprehension and Multiple Choice

How did the idea of spontaneous generation come about?

People came to believe that living organisms arise from nonliving matter because they would see flies coming out of manure, maggots coming out of dead animals, and microorganisms appearing in liquids after a day or two.

Briefly state the role microorganisms play in each of the following:

a. biological control of pests

Certain microorganisms cause diseases in insects. Microorganisms that kill insects can be effective biological control agents because they are specific for the pest and do not persist in the environment.

b. recycling of elements

Carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus are required for all living organisms. Microorganisms convert these elements into forms that are useful for other organisms. Many bacteria decompose material and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which plants use. Some bacteria can take nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into a form that plants and other microorganisms can use.

c. normal microbiota

microorganisms that are found in and on the human body. They do not usually cause disease and can be beneficial.

d. sewage treatment

Organic matter in sewage is decomposed by bacteria into carbon dioxide, nitrates, phosphates, sulfate, and other inorganic compounds in a wastewater treatment plant.

e. human insulin production

Recombinant DNA techniques have resulted in insertion of the gene for insulin production into bacteria. These bacteria can produce human insulin inexpensively.

f. vaccine production

Microorganisms can be used as vaccines. Some microbes can be genetically modified to produce components of vaccines.

g. biofilms

aggregated bacteria adhering to each other and to a solid surface.

6. It is possible to purchase the following microorganisms in a retail store. Provide a reason for buying each.

Bacillus thuringiensis

B. thuringiensis is sold as a biological insecticide.

It is possible to purchase the following microorganisms in a retail store. Provide a reason for buying each.

Saccharomyces

Saccharomyces is the yeast sold for making bread, wine, and beer.

NAME IT What type of microorganism has a peptidoglycan cell wall, has DNA that is not contained in a nucleus, and has flagella?

Bacterium

DRAW IT Show where airborne microbes ended up in Pasteur's experiment.

Which of the following is a scientific name?

- Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Italics)

- Tubercle bacillus

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Which of the following is not a characteristic of bacteria?

- are prokaryotic

- have peptidoglycan cell walls

- have the same shape

- grow by binary fission

- have the ability to move

have the same shape

Which of the following is the most important element of Koch's germ theory of disease? The animal shows disease symptoms when

- the animal has been in contact with a sick animal.

- the animal has a lowered resistance.

- a microorganism is observed in the animal.

- a microorganism is inoculated into the animal.

- microorganisms can be cultured from the animal

a microorganism is inoculated into the animal.

Recombinant DNA is

- DNA in bacteria.

- the study of how genes work.

- the DNA resulting when genes of two different organisms are mixed.

- the use of bacteria in the production of foods.

- the production of proteins by genes.

the DNA resulting when genes of two different organisms are mixed.

Which of the following statements is the best definition of biogenesis?

- Nonliving matter gives rise to living organisms.

- Living cells can only arise from preexisting cells.

- A vital force is necessary for life.

- Air is necessary for living organisms.

- Microorganisms can be generated from nonliving matter

Living cells can only arise from preexisting cells

Which of the following is a beneficial activity of microorganisms?

- Some microorganisms are used as food for humans.

- Some microorganisms use carbon dioxide.

- Some microorganisms provide nitrogen for plant growth.

- Some microorganisms are used in sewage treatment processes.

- all of the above

all of the above

It has been said that bacteria are essential for the existence of life on Earth. Which of the following is the essential function performed by bacteria?

- control insect populations

- directly provide food for humans

- decompose organic material and recycle elements

- cause disease

- produce human hormones such as insulin

decompose organic material and recycle elements

Which of the following is an example of bioremediation?

- application of oil-degrading bacteria to an oil spill

- application of bacteria to a crop to prevent frost damage

- fixation of gaseous nitrogen into usable nitrogen

- production by bacteria of a human protein such as interferon

- all of the above

application of oil-degrading bacteria to an oil spill

Spallanzani's conclusion about spontaneous generation was challenged because Antoine Lavoisier had just shown that oxygen was the vital component of air. Which of the following statements is true?

- All life requires air.

- Only disease-causing organisms require air.

- Some microbes do not require air.

- Pasteur kept air out of his biogenesis experiments.

- Lavoisier was mistaken.

Some microbes do not require air

Which of the following statements about E. coli is false?

- E. coli was the first disease-causing bacterium identified by Koch.

- E. coli is part of the normal microbiome of humans.

- E. coli is beneficial in human intestines.

- E. coli gets nutrients from intestinal contents.

- None of the above; all the statements are true

E. coli was the first disease-causing bacterium identified by Koch.