8.1 How Bacteria Grow

What is the most common mechanism of cell replication in bacteria?

• Binary fission

• Mitosis

• Budding

• Meiosis

What defines the generation time in prokaryotes?

• Time for a single cell to become two cells

• Time required for one round of mitosis

• Time it takes for the population to double

• Time between the same points of the life cycle in two successive generations

Which phase in bacterial growth is characterized by cells preparing for growth but not yet dividing?

• Lag phase

• Log phase

• Stationary phase

• Death phase

What is the role of quorum sensing in bacterial communities?

• Nutrient absorption

• Cell-to-cell communication and coordination of cellular activities

• Replication of DNA

• Separation of daughter cells

What is the primary component of the extracellular matrix in biofilms?

• Glycoproteins

• Lipopolysaccharides

• Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)

• Peptidoglycan

During which phase does bacterial growth occur at the fastest rate?

• Stationary phase

• Lag phase

• Log phase

• Death phase

What is a colony-forming unit?

• A measure of viable bacterial numbers

• A measurement of bacterial size

• A type of bacterial cell

• A unit of genetic material

What method is used to estimate bacterial numbers in water samples?

• Most Probable Number (MPN)

• Direct microscopic count

• Turbidity measurement

• Coulter counter

What is the purpose of a calibration curve when estimating cell count from turbidity measurements?

• To determine the genetic composition of bacteria

• To identify different species of bacteria

• To measure the exact size of bacterial cells

• To correlate turbidity readings to actual cell numbers

What is the name of the protein that assembles into a Z ring to initiate cytokinesis and cell division?

• FtsZ

• MreB

• FtsA

• ZipA