GRE Subject Test: Biology : Divisions of Life and Viruses

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Prokaryotic Reproduction And Physiology

What is the significance of endospores?

Possible Answers:

They are produced by gram-positive bacteria which can survive extreme conditions

They allow fungi to survive in extreme climates

They allow gram-negative bacteria to reproduce

They allow fungi to store nutrients that can survive extreme conditions

Correct answer:

They are produced by gram-positive bacteria which can survive extreme conditions

Explanation:

Endospores are produced by gram-positive bacteria and can lie dormant for years. Endospores are crucial to growth of gram-positive bacteria because they resist harsh conditions such as extreme temperatures, ultraviolet radiation, and many chemicals. Endospores are not used by fungi by any means. They are also uninvolved in the reproductive processes of bacteria. 

Example Question #1 : Identifying Bacteria

What is the difference between gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria?

Possible Answers:

Gram-positive bacteria belong exclusively to the domain archaea

Gram-negative bacteria belong exclusively to the domain archaea

Gram-negative bacteria contain large amounts of peptidoglycan, while gram-positive bacteria contain only trace amounts

Gram-positive bacteria contain large amounts of peptidoglycan, while gram-negative bacteria contain only trace amounts

Correct answer:

Gram-positive bacteria contain large amounts of peptidoglycan, while gram-negative bacteria contain only trace amounts

Explanation:

The main reaction that happens during a gram stain is the detection of the presence of peptidoglycan. Most bacterial cell walls contain peptidoglycan, but in varying amounts. If the cell contains large amounts of peptidoglycan, it will retain the crystal violet dye and display a purple coloration (this is gram-positive). If the cell does not contain a large quantity of peptidoglycan, it will display the counterstain and appear pink (this is gram-negative).

The gram-stain does not dictate whether or not a species belongs to the domain archaea. Archaea cell walls do not contain peptidoglycan and will not react to the stain. Note that archaea and bacteria are different domains altogether, though they share some similar characteristics.

Example Question #22 : Divisions Of Life And Viruses

Which type of bacteria is referred to as "rod-shaped?"

Possible Answers:

Cocci

Vibrios

Bacilli

Spirilla

Spirochetes

Correct answer:

Bacilli

Explanation:

There are three principal forms of bacteria. Spherical bacteria are termed cocci. Rod-shaped bacteria are called bacilli. Spiral bacteria are rigid (spirilla), flexible (spirochetes), or curved (vibrios). 

Example Question #2 : Identifying Bacteria

When seen under the microscope using a gram stain, the bacteria that causes strept throat whould have which of the following appearances?

Possible Answers:

Clusters of pink spheres

Chains of purple spheres

Purple rod-shaped organisms

Purple spiral-shaped organisms

Pink comma-shaped organisms

Correct answer:

Chains of purple spheres

Explanation:

Streptococcus, the causative agent of strep throat, is a genus of gram-postitive (purple staining) cocci (spheres), in which the cells tend to form chains. Bacteria are described by a combination of their response to gram stain and their appearance. For example, "gram-positive streptococcus" indicate chains of spheres that stain purple. 

Example Question #3 : Identifying Bacteria

The Gram stain distinguishes between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Which of the following is true about the Gram stain?

Possible Answers:

Peptidoglycan is stained through a Gram stains, and Gram-positive bacteria are more virulent than Gram-negative bacteria

Peptidoglycan is stained through a Gram stain, and Gram-negative bacteria are more virulent than Gram-positive bacteria

Peptidoglycan is stained through a Gram stain, and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria have comparable virulence

Lipopolysaccharides are stained through a Gram stain, and Gram-negative bacteria are more virulent than Gram-positive bacteria

Lipopolysaccharides are stained through a Gram stain, and Gram-positive bacteria are more virulent than Gram-negative bacteria

Correct answer:

Peptidoglycan is stained through a Gram stain, and Gram-negative bacteria are more virulent than Gram-positive bacteria

Explanation:

The peptidoglycan layer of bacteria retains the Gram stain. In general, Gram-negative bacteria are more virulent than Gram-positive bacteria. This is due in part to an outer layer of lipopolysaccharides present on Gram-negative bacteria that invokes immune responses (particularly via a component called lipid-A), and are somewhat more difficult to target with antibiotics.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Protista

Apart from the fact that they are all eukaryotes (and therefore found within the Eukarya domain), there is no single trait that is common to all protist species. Which of the following is true of MOST protists?

Possible Answers:

They prefer to live in water-rich environments

They reproduce sexually

They can cause disease

They can photosynthesize

Correct answer:

They prefer to live in water-rich environments

Explanation:

Though all of these answers are true of at least some protists, the most generally applicable statement is that protists generally prefer to live in environments that contain plenty of water. Species within the kingdom Protista are believed to have given rise to the other kingdoms of Eukarya (these other kingdoms being Fungi, Animals and Land Plants), so the incredible diversity found within Protista is not particularly surprising. 

Example Question #1 : Protista

Which of the following is not true of protists?

Possible Answers:

A "protist" is broadly recognized as a eukaryote that is not an animal, fungus, or plant

All protists are unicellular by definition

Malaria, red algae, green algae, and dinoflagellates are all examples of protists

Protists are diverse in part due to endosymbiosis, a process by which small, unicellular organisms are engulfed by larger unicellular organisms and eventually evolve to become organelles

Correct answer:

All protists are unicellular by definition

Explanation:

All of these answers are true, except the statement that protists are definitionally unicellular. Protists are an incredibly diverse group of organisms that are difficult to classify because of the vast differences that exist between protist species; it is easier to classify protists based on what they are not, rather than what they are. Multicellular protists include species of seaweeds called kelp. Though kelp resemble plants, they are actually multicellular groups of protists that lack true stems, roots or leaves (though kelp often have structures resembling these plant structures).

Endosymbiosis is an intriguing theory that seeks to explain the presence of complex structures such as mitochondria and chloroplasts inside of plant and animal cells. Mitochondria's similarities to free-living proteobacteria, and chloroplasts' similarities to free-living cyanobacteria suggest that at one point these structures were organisms that became engulfed by larger cells. According to the theory of endosymbiosis, mitochondria and chloroplasts lived inside their hosts in a symbiotic relationship, eventually evolving to lose their capacity to live independently and becoming organelles that support their host cell.

Example Question #1 : Protista

In the mixotroph protist Euglena, which structural components indicate that is it an autotroph?

Possible Answers:

Chloroplasts

Plasma membrane

Flagellum

Red eye spot

Oral groove

Correct answer:

Chloroplasts

Explanation:

The presence of chloroplasts indicate that Euglena is able to photosynthesize. These organelles contain pigments that are necessary for the conversion of light energy to chemical energy. The ability to use non-chemical energy (in this case light) to generate chemical energy is the defining characteristic of autotrophs.

The red eye spot, while it is involved in the complex of organelles that sense light, gives no information about trophic mode: many organisms sense and respond to light, but are not autotrophic.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Protista

Which of the following is/was not caused by protists?

Possible Answers:

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

The Irish potato famine

Red tides

Malaria 

Correct answer:

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Explanation:

For the most part, protists are very valuable to humans. They form the base of a large portion of aquatic food chains, and without them many ecosystems would collapse. However, some protist species have caused—and continue to cause—profound problems to humans. Of the given answers, the only one not caused by a species of protist is AIDS. AIDS is caused by a retrovirus, which means that it is an RNA virus that uses reverse transcription to replicate itself in a host cell. 

Example Question #1 : Fungi

A fungus that always reproduces asexually is most likely classified as __________.

Possible Answers:

Deuteromycetes

Zygomycetes

Microsporidia

Asomycetes

Basidomycetes

Correct answer:

Deuteromycetes

Explanation:

Fungi are typically characterized based on reproductive methods and structures. All fungi can reproduce asexaully, but only deuteromycetes lack a sexual reproduction phase, only reproducing asexually.

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