GRE Subject Test: Biology : Archaea

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Understanding Archaea

What comprises the cell wall of archaea?

Possible Answers:

Glycogen 

Chitin

Peptidoglycan

Cellulose

Pseudopeptidoglycan 

Correct answer:

Pseudopeptidoglycan 

Explanation:

The correct answer is pseudopeptidoglycan. This is molecularly different than peptidoglycan, which comprises the bacterial cell wall. However, both pseudopeptidoglycan and peptidoglycan cell walls are similar in function, shape and structure. Cellulose comprises the cell walls of plants, chitin comprises the cell walls of fungi and glycogen is the animal form of stored glucose, and is found in the liver and skeletal muscle.

Example Question #11 : Divisions Of Life And Viruses

Which of these choices is not a characteristic present in archaea?

Possible Answers:

Glycerol diethers in lipid bilayers

Cell walls are made of peptidoglycan

Chromosomes and plasmids are circular

70S ribosome

S-layer

Correct answer:

Cell walls are made of peptidoglycan

Explanation:

Only bacterial have peptidoglycan cell walls. The other traits are typical of at least some known archaea. The s-layer involves crystalline arrays of proteinaceous subunits, which are common to some archaea and bacteria.

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