Virus Basics
Are viruses considered living or nonliving?
Nonliving
What is a virus that infects bacteria called?
Bacteriophage
Are bacteria unicellular or multicellular?
Unicellular
Name one food produced with the help of bacteria.
Yogurt, cheese, sour cream...
What is a disease causing organism?
Pathogen
What two basic components make up a virus?
Genetic material (DNA or RNA) and a protein coat.
What must a virus infect to reproduce?
A living host cell.
What structure helps some bacteria move through liquids?
Flagellum
What is an organism that breaks down dead plant and animal material called?
Decomposer
What is a type of microorganism can live in extreme environmental conditions?
Extremophile
What is the primary function of a protein coat?
To protect it's genetic material.
What happens during the release stage of the viral reproduction process shown in class / in our notes?
The host cell bursts and releases new viruses.
Name all five bacterial shapes studied in class.
spherical, rod, comma, spiral, corkscrew
What type of bacteria converts nitrogen into compounds that plants can use?
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
What is the process of heating liquids to kill harmful bacteria called?
Pasteurization
Name the four basic shapes of viruses.
Spherical, helical, polyhedral, complex.
Put the four stages of viral reproduction in the correct order: Assembly, Release, Attachment, Replicaiton.
Attachment, Replication, Assembly, Release
What is the process called when one bacterium divides into two daughter cells?
Binary fission
Name two ways beneficial bacteria help the human digestive system.
Help digest food, produce vitamins, help get rid of harmful bacteria
Why does refrigeration help prevent bacterial food poisoning?
Cold temperatures slow the growth and reproduction of many bacteria.
Give two reasons scientists generally do not consider viruses living organisms.
They are not made of cells and can't reproduce independently.
What makes a retrovirus different from the typical viral reproduction process we studied?
A retrovirus uses RNA to make DNA that can become part of the host cell's genetic material.
Why do some bacteria form endospores, and do endospores help bacteria reproduce?
Endospores help bacteria survive unfavorable conditions; they are not a form of reproduction.
Name three of the five environmental conditions that can limit bacterial population growth.
Limited nutrients, limited space, waste buildup, temperature changes, unsuitable pH or other conditions (any three)
Give one similarity and one difference between bacteria and archaea.
Both are unicellular prokaryotes; they differ in their cell walls, cell membranes, or certain chemical characteristics.