Bacterial Structure (Prokaryotes, tutorial #4))

Question 1

pili

Answer 1

Hair-like structures that help bacteria attach to surfaces and other bacteria.

Question 2

plasmids

Answer 2

genetic material (DNA)

Question 3

ribosomes

Answer 3

structures that make proteins

Question 4

cytoplasm

Answer 4

a gel-like material in which the ribosomes and genetic material are suspended

Question 5

cytoplasmic membrane

Answer 5

a thin layer of phospholipids and proteins that controls the movement of nutrients in and out of the cell

Question 6

cell wall

Answer 6

a rigid wall that gives the cell its structure and protects the plasma membrane

Question 7

Xapsule

Answer 7

a third layer that helps prevent the bacteria from dying out or being engulfed by larger microorganisms (only present in some types of bacteria)

Question 8

Nucleiod

Answer 8

a mass of genetic material (DNA)

Question 9

Flagellum

Answer 9

structure that helps the bacteria move around and sense their environment.

Question 10

spherical bacterial cell shape classification

Answer 10

coccus/ cocci

Question 11

rod bacterial cell shape classification

Answer 11

bacillus/bacilli

Question 12

spiral bacterial cell shape classification

Answer 12

spirillum/ spirilli

Question 13

what are the three factors that enable prokaryotes (specifically bacteria) to grow and reproduce quickly?

Answer 13

small genome, simple structure, and binary fission

Question 14

Which has more peptidoglycan in their cell walls: gram-positive bacteria or gram-negative bacteria?

Answer 14

Gram-positive bacteria contain significantly more peptidoglycan in their cell walls and therefore have cell walls that are LESS structurally complex than Gram-negative bacterial cell walls; conversely, gram-negative bacterial cell walls have less peptidoglycan in their cell walls and are thereby more structurally complex. This additional complexity in their cell walls makes gram-negative bacteria more prone to antibiotic resistance and therefore also makes gram-negative bacterial infections more dangerous.

Question 15

What color will gram-positive bacteria

Answer 15

Gram-positive bacteria will stain purple because of higher peptidoglycan content within the cell wall; conversely, gram-negative bacteria will stain pink because of lower peptidoglycan contents.

Question 16

Which types of bacteria contain lipopolysaccharides?

Answer 16

Gram-negative bacteria; located in an extra outer membrane of the bacterial cell.

Question 17

What are the three types of horizontal gene transfer used by bacteria?

Answer 17

Transformation, Transduction, and Conjugation.

Question 18

Define Transformation

Answer 18

A type of horizontal gene transfer in which a prokaryote absorbs DNA from its surrounding environment- typically left behind by other bacteria when they died.

Question 19

Define Conjugation

Answer 19

When two prokaryotic cells physically join with one another. Typically, this involves a “male” prokaryotic cell containing a plasmid termed the fertility (f) factor (F+), combining with a “female” cell which does not contain the f factor (F-). This causes the female cell to then obtain the f factor and become male.

Question 20

Define Transduction

Answer 20

refers to the exchange of DNA between prokaryotic cells made possible by phages. phages reproduce by injecting their genetic material into bacterial cells where it is eventually