Question 1

Several fluorogenic dyes can be used simultaneously in a sample as long as they each emit light at a different measurable wavelength.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

In microbial ecology studies,the FISH technique identifies organisms based on

Accepted Answer

A)  the presence of green fluorescent protein.
B)  fluorescence of unique cofactors or pigments under certain wavelengths of UV light.
C)  hybridization of a fluorescent probe to specific ribosomal RNA sequences.
D)  the presence of luciferase.E) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 3

How do viability stains usually distinguish between living cells and dead cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  The chemical fluoresces only when bound to ribosomes that are actively synthesizing proteins.
B)  The chemical stain is taken up by living cells and once metabolized becomes fluorescent.
C)  The dye specifically targets intact cytoplasmic membranes.
D)  The dye's fluorescence is quenched by dead cells.E) All of the above
F) A) and C)

Question 4

Strict anaerobic organisms are not suited for GFP reporters due to the protein requiring oxygen to fluoresce.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

In an agar dilution tube,microbial colonies grow

Accepted Answer

A)  at the bottom of the tube.
B)  on the sides of the tube,although some may be at the surface.
C)  embedded in the agar,rather than growing on the surface.
D)  on the surface,but some creep down the sides away from the surface.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 6

Amplification of chromosomal DNA from a single-cell is accomplished by

Accepted Answer

A)  randomly initiating DNA replication throughout the chromosome.
B)  creating thousands of primers that will prime DNA replication throughout the chromosome.
C)  creating complementary DNA from transcripts of a single-cell.
D)  cloning fragments of the chromosome from the single-cell into a multi-copy plasmid.E) C) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 7

One way to study a microbial ecosystem is to isolate microorganisms from it and study their properties in laboratory culture.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Single-cell genomics may help us

Accepted Answer

A)  predict which microbes will be abundant based on the environmental conditions.
B)  understand the physiology of uncultured microbes.
C)  develop better enrichment culture methods.
D)  understand the physiology of uncultured microbes and develop better enrichment culture methods.E) A) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 9

Which of the following techniques can link prokaryotic phylogeny and function?

Accepted Answer

A)  DAPI staining
B)  stable isotope probing
C)  environmental genomics
D)  environmental genomics and stable isotope probingE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 10

Culture-independent approaches avoid issues associated with

Accepted Answer

A)  detecting very rare phylotypes.
B)  conflating phylogenetic and functional diversity.
C)  growing organisms in the lab.
D)  next generation sequencing.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 11

Genomic analysis of Prochlorococcus has revealed

Accepted Answer

A)  the presence of bacteriorhodopsin.
B)  variations in ribosomal genes within the same phylotype.
C)  complete congruence of genes and genome structure within the same phylotype.
D)  variation in functional genes within phylotypes,but high levels of gene conservation between cultured representatives and environmental populations.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 12

When laser tweezers are used,the laser beam traps

Accepted Answer

A)  isolated single-copy genomes.
B)  a single microbial cell.
C)  a single microbial colony on a plate.
D)  multiple cells of the same type.E) B) and C)
F) C) and D) B

Question 13

Why is it necessary to have a standard for the interpretation of stable isotope ratios?

Accepted Answer

A)  A standard is necessary to calculate how much radioactivity was added to a sample.
B)  A standard is necessary to determine the stable isotope ratio in the absence of biological activity.
C)  A standard is necessary to determine the weight of each isotopes.
D)  A standard is necessary to determine the age of the sample.E) A) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 14

The rolled tube method is most commonly used for isolating which grouping of microorganisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  anaerobes
B)  chemolithotrophs
C)  chemoorganotrophs
D)  aerobesE) A) and B)
F) B) and D)

Question 15

In natural samples it is often difficult to differentiate live cells from dead cells or cells from nonliving matter.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The science of microbial ecology deals with

Accepted Answer

A)  how microbial communities interact with each other and their environment.
B)  microbial activity and biodiversity.
C)  microbial gene regulation mechanisms in response to environmental change.
D)  how the activity and biodiversity of microbial communities affect microbial interactions with each other and the environment.E) A) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 17

The methodology of microbial ecology includes

Accepted Answer

A)  enrichment and isolation of specific microbes.
B)  cell-staining methods.
C)  gene,transcript,and protein characterization.
D)  enrichment and isolation of specific microbes,cell-staining,and gene,transcript,and protein characterization.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C) D

Question 18

Metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics are favored over metagenomics when ________ is of more interest than ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  gene presence / phylogeny
B)  phylogeny / gene presence
C)  function or gene expression / gene presence
D)  gene presence / function or gene expressionE) B) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 19

For what purpose would a microbial ecologist use a microsensor?

Accepted Answer

A)  to determine the concentration of cells in small increments in a sediment or water column
B)  to determine the expression of a particular gene in a microbial community
C)  to quantify the uptake of a radioactive material
D)  to determine the concentration of O₂,N₂O,or other chemical species in small increments in a sediment or water columnE) C) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 20

By using simple microscopy techniques,it is possible to determine if a culture is contaminated with another organism.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Exam 18: Methods in Microbial Ecology

Several fluorogenic dyes can be used simultaneously in a sample as long as they each emit light at a different measurable wavelength.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In microbial ecology studies,the FISH technique identifies organisms based on

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How do viability stains usually distinguish between living cells and dead cells?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Strict anaerobic organisms are not suited for GFP reporters due to the protein requiring oxygen to fluoresce.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In an agar dilution tube,microbial colonies grow

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Amplification of chromosomal DNA from a single-cell is accomplished by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One way to study a microbial ecosystem is to isolate microorganisms from it and study their properties in laboratory culture.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Single-cell genomics may help us

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following techniques can link prokaryotic phylogeny and function?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Culture-independent approaches avoid issues associated with

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Genomic analysis of Prochlorococcus has revealed

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When laser tweezers are used,the laser beam traps

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Why is it necessary to have a standard for the interpretation of stable isotope ratios?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The rolled tube method is most commonly used for isolating which grouping of microorganisms?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In natural samples it is often difficult to differentiate live cells from dead cells or cells from nonliving matter.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The science of microbial ecology deals with

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The methodology of microbial ecology includes

Correct AnswerverifiedD

Metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics are favored over metagenomics when ________ is of more interest than ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

For what purpose would a microbial ecologist use a microsensor?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

By using simple microscopy techniques,it is possible to determine if a culture is contaminated with another organism.

Correct AnswerverifiedTrue

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B

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D

Metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics are favored over metagenomics when is of more interest than .

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True