Questions and Answers

What makes bacteria important to the cycle of life?

What are some examples of bacteria that can form an endospore? How long is it generally viable?

Explain the life cycles of a bacterial endospore.

What are examples of coccus, spirillum, and bacillus bacteria?

What are the external influences that may affect the genetic make-up of a bacterial cell?

Describe the four mechanisms used by bacterial species to generate resistance to antibiotics.

Viral transfer of genes between bacteria is called _________.

What bacterium causes syphilis?

How can specialized transduction contribute to the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in a bacterial population?
A) The phage causes the destruction of any antibiotic present during the specialized transduction process.
B) The prophage takes an antibiotic resistance gene with it and is packaged with the newly synthesized viral DNA.
C) The phage lyses the bacterium and releases resistance genes into the local environment, which can then be taken up by recipient cells.

What is the function of the conjugation pilus?
A) It converts F- cells into F+ cells.
B) It carries the chromosome of F- cells.
C) It contains an F plasmid.
D) It pulls the F+ and F- cells together.