Marie -----BIO 205; Rosati

09/6/2012
Exam 1 Written Assignment
1. W

rite out the difference between Cell and Germ theory.

a. Cell theory explains how cells make up every living organism, are the smallest unit of life,
and can reproduce and metabolize. Germ theory, however, explains that certain microbes can
cause infectious diseases when introduced to the body.
2. W

rite out important differences between cells and acellular microbes.

a. Although cells can reproduce and metabolize with help of their organelles, acellular
microbes cannot. Acellular microbes lack the organelles needed to reproduce and carry out
functions of the cells. Instead, acellular microbes such as viruses rely on the host cell for
replication, and are thus obligatory intracellular parasites. Likewise, acellular microbes are
extremely small, existing at a molecular level while cells exist at a cellular level of size.
3. D
escribe differences between a Gram negative and positive cell wall.
a. In a Gram negative cell wall, there are two distinct cell walls. On the outermost layer,
endotoxins are attached, and in between the cell walls rests a small layer of peptidoglycan. In a
Gram positive cell wall, there is only one cell wall made up of peptidoglycan outside of the
plasma membrane. They do not have the endotoxins that Gram negative cell walls do.
4. D
escribe the formation and structure of a bacterial endospore.
a. In the formation of a bacterial endospore, the bacteria will first begin to replicate its DNA
inside of its cytoplasm. A membrane will then form around the endospore, eventually sectioning
it off from the rest of the cell. When the bacteria cell dies, the endospore is released. In its
structure, it is composed of keratin, a strong outer covering, and the DNA of the parent bacteria.
5. E
xplain the difference between a plasmid and transposon.
a. A plasmid is a secondary chromosome from a virus or bacterial DNA transfer, while
transposons are plasmids that actually become integrated into a genomic chromosome.

6. L
ist the 3 categories of bacteria identification.
a. The 3 categories of bacteria identification are cell wall type, oxygen requirements, and cell
shape.
7. D
escribe host tropism and cell /tissue tropism.
a. In host tropism, a virus is specific to or can only infect a certain host, be it an animal,
human, plant, or bacteria. However, in cell/tissue tropism, a virus is specific to a certain type of
cell or tissue in the body.
8. L
ist 3 methods of viral entry
a.

The three methods of viral entry are adsorption, fusion, and endocytosis.

9. List the events in RNA viral chromosome replication.

a. In order for a RNA viral chromosome to replicate, it needs to be translated into DNA by
Reverse Transcriptase. The new viral DNA can then be transcribed by the host cell and used to
assemble new viruses.
10. Describe viral lysogeny.
11. Define heterotrophic and saprophytic.
a. Heterotrophic refers to fungi that needs to reap the complex nutrients from another organism,
since it cannot make its own. Saprophytic refers to fungi that decompose organisms to take in the
nutrients they need to survive.
12. Describe fungal dimorphism.
a. Fungi exist in two forms, and this is the basis of fungal dimorphism. This depends on the
environment fungi lives in, as different circumstances will cause the fungi to grow in a certain
form, such as temperature and how much oxygen is available. In an environment where oxygen
is plenty and the temperature varies, fungi grow in a hapnae form, which is multi-cellular. In an
environment with less oxygen and a stable, warm temperature, fungi exists as yeast, a single
circular cell.
13. Draw a staphylococcus and streptobacillus group of bacteria.