Study Guide for BI 234: Microbiology
Lecture Exam 1
Chapter 1
1. Match historical scientists with their discoveries (claim to fame)
2. List the five groups of microorganisms
3. Describe why scientists believed in spontaneous generation
4. List and be able to describe the experiments that disproved spontaneous generation
5. Describe and understand Pasteur’s experiments about fermentation.
6. Describe how Buchner’s experiments differed from Pasteur’s
7. Describe Koch’s experiment(s) that led him to his postulates, know the postulates
8. Define biochemistry, and describe some of its practical applications
9. Describe the importance of microbial genetics, molecular biology, recombinant DNA
technology, and gene therapy in today’s microbiological world.
Chapter 3
1. Know the four main characteristics of a living organism
2. Describe the differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes
3. Describe the composition and function of the glycocalyx
4. Discuss the relevance to human health of the glycocalyx
5. Distinguish between capsules and slime layer
6. Describe and understand the structure and function of bacterial flagella
7. Know the various bacterial flagella arrangements
8. Understand the various types of “taxis”
9. Differentiate between fimbriae and pili
10. Discuss and compare bacterial cell walls [Gram (+) vs. Gram (-)]
11. Discuss the unique qualities of Mycobacterium and Mycoplasmas
12. Discuss the difference between bacterial and archaeal cell walls
13. Know the structure and functions of the plasma membrane and how it relates to
permeability (active and passive transports)
14. Distinguish between isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic solutions
15. Discuss the role of inclusions, know some examples
Use your text, lecture notes, study guide, and plenty of quality study time to properly prepare for
this exam.
16. Describe endospores, including their unique characteristics, affects on food and health
industries, and the process of sporulation.
17. Know the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes
18. Describe and give evidence that supports and refutes the endosymbiotic theory of the
origin of mitochondria, chloroplasts, and eukaryotic cells
Chapter 4
1. Be able to convert common metric measurements used in microbiology
2. Understand the relationship between wavelength and magnification
3. List and explain two factors that determine resolving power
4. Describe the difference between simple and compound microscopes
5. Know the general magnification ranges for light and electron microscopes
6. Differentiate between SEM and TEM
7. Explain the purposes of staining bacteria
8. Discuss the difference between simple and differential staining (giving examples of
various differential stains)
9. Know the process of the Gram Stain and its effects on Gram (+) and Gram (-) cells
10. Know the process of Acid-Fast Stain and what organisms it is used on.
11. Briefly describe the purposes for using endospore stain, negative or capsule stain,
and flagellar stain.
12. Understand the rules of scientific naming (binomial nomenclature)
13. Know the levels in a Linnaean taxonomic scheme
14. Identify the three domains, and what characteristic places them in these groups
15. Identify and understand the 5 ways microorganisms can be classified.
16. Define dichotomous key
Chapter 11
1. Know the basic shapes and arrangements of prokaryotic cells
2. Identify three common types of reproduction in prokaryotes
3. Identify the common features of microbes in the domain Archaea
4. Discuss the environments needed by extremophiles (thermophiles, halophiles)
5. Describe the important roles methanogens play in the environment and industry
6. Know the major groups of Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria listed in the notes.
Use your text, lecture notes, study guide, and plenty of quality study time to properly prepare for
this exam.
Chapter 5
1. Differentiate between catabolism and anabolism
2. Define oxidation and reduction reactions, be able to identify oxidized or reduced
molecules.
3. Describe the three mechanisms of ATP production
4. Understand the general function of enzymes in metabolism
5. Describe and understand the reactants and products of glycolysis
6. Describe and understand the reactants and products of the pentose phosphate
pathway
7. Describe and understand the reactants and products of the Entner-Dourdoroff
pathway
8. Describe how the pentose phosphate pathway and the Entner-Doudoroff pathway
differ from glycolysis
9. Discuss when these alternatives to glycolysis can be utilized
10. Describe the reactants and products of the intermediate step between glycolysis and
the Kreb’s Cycle.
11. Describe and understand the reactants and products of the Kreb’s Cycle
12. Describe and understand the steps and products of the electron transport chain
13. Differentiate between aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
14. Define chemiosmosis, and understand how it fits into the process of ATP synthesis
15. Describe and understand fermentation and compare it to respiration
16. What types of end products are produced in fermentation and what is their function
to the bacteria? Function to humans?
17. Describe the structures utilized in photosynthesis
18. Describe and understand the reactants and products of photosynthesis (light and
dark reactions)
19. Discuss the differences between cyclic and noncyclic photophosphorylation
Use your text, lecture notes, study guide, and plenty of quality study time to properly prepare for
this exam.