AP Biology : AP Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #22 : Microorganisms And Viruses

Which of these is not a characteristic of prokaryotic organisms?

Possible Answers:

Nucleus

Lipid bilayer

Cell wall

Ribosomes

DNA and RNA

Correct answer:

Nucleus

Explanation:

A membrane-bound nucleus is not present in prokaryotic organisms. All other structures can be found in prokaryotes.

Example Question #911 : Ap Biology

Antibiotic susceptibility tests were developed by disc method.

What is the zone of inhibition in this method?

Possible Answers:

The periphery where the bacteria is growing

The area of clearing of the bacteria surrounding the disc

The growth media under the antibiotic disc

The total area of the petri dish

The number of bacteria per milliliter of broth culture spread onto the plate

Correct answer:

The area of clearing of the bacteria surrounding the disc

Explanation:

The zone of inhibition is the zone around the disc that the antibiotic killed the bacteria.

Example Question #912 : Ap Biology

A student notices that she can lyse plant cells under a microscope using an enzyme she found in class. She performs some additional experiments and determines that the enzyme is breaking down the cell wall of these cells causing them to lyse. She thinks that this same enzyme could be used to lyse bacterial cells. Will this enzyme work on bacteria? Why or why not?

Possible Answers:

Yes, because bacteria have cells walls that are made up of the same molecules as plant cell walls

No, because the bacteria are too small for this enzyme to affect it

No, because bacteria don't have cell walls

No, because bacteria have cell walls that are made up of chitin

No, because the plant cell wall and bacterial cell what are made up of different molecules

Correct answer:

No, because the plant cell wall and bacterial cell what are made up of different molecules

Explanation:

Bacteria have a cell wall made up of peptidoglycan, while plant cells have a cell wall made up of cellulose. The enzyme used by this student is cleaving the cellulose in the plant cell wall, causing these cells to lyse. This enzyme would not be able to cleave peptidoglycan because the molecules are structurally and chemically different.

Example Question #913 : Ap Biology

The lack of a nucleus in bacterial cells allows what two cellular processes to occur in tandem?

Possible Answers:

Glycolysis and the Krebs cycle

Translation and protein export

ATP synthesis and translation

Transcription and translation

Transcription and protein folding

Correct answer:

Transcription and translation

Explanation:

Since DNA is not separated from the cytosol in bacterial cells, nascent messenger RNAs that are being transcribed by RNA polymerase can be bound by ribosomes and translation can be initiated before the entire mRNA is even transcribed. All other processes listed may occur simultaneously in prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic cells.

Example Question #914 : Ap Biology

Bacteria normally reproduce asexually by binary fission. However bacteria can directly transfer DNA between each other in a form of sexual reproduction. What is this process called?

Possible Answers:

Transformation

Transduction

Conjugation

Meiosis

Crossing over

Correct answer:

Conjugation

Explanation:

There are three processes in which bacteria can acquire new novel genes/alleles for genes. Transformation happens when bacteria uptake naked DNA from the environment and assemble it into their genome. Transduction happens when a phage transfer DNA from one bacteria to another. Transduction is the direct transfer of DNA from a donor bacteria to a recipient bacteria and is often referred to as "bacterial sex."

Example Question #915 : Ap Biology

In eukaryotic cells, the electron transport proteins are located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Where are they located in bacterial cells?

Possible Answers:

In the nuclear membrane

In the cytosol

In the plasma membrane

In the cell wall

In the periplasm

Correct answer:

In the plasma membrane

Explanation:

Since bacterial cells lack mitochondria, the proteins that make up the electron transport chain reside in the plasma membrane and pump protons from the cytosol into the periplasm. There is no nuclear membrane in bacterial cells since bacteria lack nuclei.

Example Question #916 : Ap Biology

In aerobic bacteria, in what part of the cell is the electron transport chain located?

Possible Answers:

The mitochondrial inner membrane

The cell wall

The nucleoid

The cytosol 

The plasma membrane

Correct answer:

The plasma membrane

Explanation:

In the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells, the electron transport chain is located in the inner membrane. Mitochondria are believed to be descended from bacteria that were long ago engulfed by other prokaryotic cells, producing the first eukaryotic cells. The outer membrane of mitochondria can be thought of being derived from the vesicle that was used to engulf the bacterial cell, and the inner membrane can be thought of being derived from the plasma membrane of the original bacterium.

Example Question #31 : Microorganisms And Viruses

Gram-negative bacteria are __________ than Gram-positive bacteria to most antibiotics because __________.

Possible Answers:

less resistant . . . they lack the lipopolysaccharide layer that retains the Gram stain and would protect their plasma membrane from the antibiotics

more resistant . . . they have an outer membrane made of lipopolysaccharide that blocks the peptidoglycan cell wall from the Gram stain and protects it from antibiotics

more resistant . . . they have an outer membrane made of lipopolysaccharide that blocks the cellulose cell wall from the Gram stain and protects it from antibiotics

less resistant . . . they lack the peptidoglycan layer that retains the Gram stain and would protect their plasma membrane from the antibiotic

more resistant . . . they have an outer membrane made of peptidoglycan that blocks the lipopolysaccharide cell wall from the Gram stain and protects it from antibiotics

Correct answer:

more resistant . . . they have an outer membrane made of lipopolysaccharide that blocks the peptidoglycan cell wall from the Gram stain and protects it from antibiotics

Explanation:

In Gram staining, the dye is retained by the peptidoglycan cell wall, which in Gram-positive bacteria, is very thick and is the outermost layer of the bacterial cell. This peptidoglycan cell wall is also what is targeted by most antibiotics. In Gram-negative bacteria, there is a layer of peptidoglycan but it is very thin and is protected from both the Gram stain and most antibiotics by an outer membrane made of lipopolysaccharides. One of the incorrect answers mentions a cell wall made of cellulose, but that is what makes up the cell walls of plants, not bacteria.

Example Question #917 : Ap Biology

Which of the following is the term used to describe reproduction in bacteria?

Possible Answers:

Binary fission

Translation

Transduction

Transformation

Conjugation

Correct answer:

Binary fission

Explanation:

Binary fission is the process by which bacteria use to reproduce. Transduction and conjugation and transformation are all processes by which bacteria exchange genetic material (usually in the form of plasmids). Reproduction occurs rapidly though binary fission.

Example Question #918 : Ap Biology

Which of the following items is not found in prokaryotic cells?

Possible Answers:

Microtubules

Mitochondria

Cell wall

Vesicles

Ribosomes

Correct answer:

Mitochondria

Explanation:

The correct answer is mitochondria. This organelle is found in eukaryotic cells, which means that prokaryotic cells generate ATP through other means. All other items listed are found in prokaryotic cells.

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