Student Name: ________________________________

Microbiology

Q1 Explain what is meant by each of the following terms: 2(5) marks

Aseptic technique _____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________
Sterile _____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Q2 Answer the following questions with regard to investigating the growth of leaf yeasts using agar plates.
(a) How can the petri dishes be sterilised before use? ____________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
(b) State five precautions that can be taken during this experiment to reduce the possibility of
other micro-organisms contaminating the petri dish.
1. __________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________________________
(c) Why should the petri dishes be incubated upside down? _______________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
(d) How would you recognise the yeast cells at the end of the experiment? ___________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
(e) How should the petri dishes be disposed of?_________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
8(3) marks

Q3 The diagram represents a bacterial growth curve.

What do the letters L and T represent?
L ______________________________
T ______________________________

Name the stages labelled A, B, C and D.

Student Name: ________________________________
A __________________________________ C __________________________________
B __________________________________ D __________________________________

6(3) marks
Student Name: ________________________________
Describe briefly what is happening to the population of bacteria at each of the stages you have named.
Provide a reason for this behaviour in each case.
A Population ___________________________________________________________________________
Reason ______________________________________________________________________________
B Population ___________________________________________________________________________
Reason ______________________________________________________________________________
C Population ___________________________________________________________________________
Reason ______________________________________________________________________________
D Population ___________________________________________________________________________
Reason ______________________________________________________________________________

Suggest what might happen to the population of bacteria after stage D.

____________________________________________________________________________________
Give a reason for your answer ___________________________________________________________

6(3) marks

Q4 The diagram shows a bioreactor in use in the food

processing industry. Which type of food
processing is being employed here?
_______________________________________
What might be placed in through A and D?
A _____________________________________
D _____________________________________

What might come out of the container at B and C? Name the parts labelled E and F.
B _________________________________ E _________________________________
C _________________________________ F _________________________________
Suggest two disadvantages this type of food processing may have when compared to the other.
1 __________________________________________________________________________________
2 __________________________________________________________________________________
3 __________________________________________________________________________________

10(3) marks