TRB BT Assistant - Microbiology and Applied Zoology Online Test (MCQ Quiz)

1. Who is often referred to as the 'Father of Microbiology' for his groundbreaking work on pasteurization and the germ theory of disease?

A) Robert Hooke B) Antonie van Leeuwenhoek C) Louis Pasteur D) Alexander Fleming

2. Which type of microscopy uses a beam of electrons to create a magnified image of a specimen, allowing for much higher resolution than light microscopy?

A) Phase-contrast microscopy B) Confocal microscopy C) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) D) Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)

3. The process by which microorganisms convert organic matter into simpler substances, often in the absence of oxygen, is known as:

A) Oxidation B) Fermentation C) Respiration D) Photosynthesis

4. What is the primary function of ribosomes in a bacterial cell?

A) Energy production B) Protein synthesis C) DNA replication D) Cell wall synthesis

5. Which of the following is a common method for sterilizing heat-sensitive medical equipment?

A) Autoclaving B) Dry heat sterilization C) Ethylene oxide gas sterilization D) Filtration

6. The ability of a microorganism to cause disease is termed:

A) Infection B) Pathogenicity C) Virulence D) Antigenicity

7. What is the role of bacteriophages in microbiology?

A) To break down complex organic molecules B) To infect and replicate within bacteria C) To produce antibiotics D) To form symbiotic relationships with plants

8. Which organism is a well-known example of a prokaryote?

A) Yeast B) Amoeba C) Escherichia coli D) Paramecium

9. The process of introducing a weakened or inactive form of a pathogen to stimulate an immune response is called:

A) Antibiosis B) Immunization C) Chemotherapy D) Prophylaxis

10. What is the primary target of the antibiotic penicillin?

A) Cell membrane B) Ribosomes C) Cell wall synthesis D) DNA replication

11. Which of the following is a type of symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit?

A) Parasitism B) Commensalism C) Mutualism D) Predation

12. What is the significance of the enzyme 'reverse transcriptase' in virology?

A) It degrades viral RNA B) It synthesizes DNA from an RNA template C) It promotes viral entry into host cells D) It assembles new viral particles

13. Which field of applied zoology deals with the study and control of insects that affect human health and agriculture?

A) Ichthyology B) Herpetology C) Entomology D) Ornithology

14. Mycorrhizae are symbiotic associations between fungi and:

A) Bacteria B) Algae C) Plant roots D) Insects

15. What is lyophilization, a common technique used in microbiology?

A) Heat sterilization B) Freeze-drying C) Radiation sterilization D) Chemical disinfection

16. Which type of vaccine uses a whole, but weakened, pathogen?

A) Subunit vaccine B) Live-attenuated vaccine C) Toxoid vaccine D) mRNA vaccine

17. The study of fungi is known as:

A) Virology B) Bacteriology C) Mycology D) Parasitology

18. What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

A) Producing oxygen B) Converting inorganic matter to organic matter C) Breaking down dead organic material D) Consuming primary producers

19. Which of the following is a common vector for transmitting diseases like malaria and dengue fever?

A) Tick B) Mosquito C) Flea D) Louse

20. What is the function of an autoclave in a microbiology lab?

A) To cultivate bacteria B) To observe microscopic organisms C) To sterilize equipment and media using steam under pressure D) To measure bacterial growth rates

21. The process by which a bacterial cell divides into two identical daughter cells is called:

A) Mitosis B) Meiosis C) Binary fission D) Budding

22. Which term describes microorganisms that can live and grow in environments with high salt concentrations?

A) Psychrophiles B) Thermophiles C) Halophiles D) Acidophiles

23. What is biopesticide?

A) A chemical pesticide synthesized in a lab B) A pesticide derived from natural materials like animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals C) A method of pest control using traps D) A biological agent that sterilizes pests

24. The study of protozoa is called:

A) Nematology B) Protozoology C) Arachnology D) Malacology

25. Which component of a Gram stain procedure is used to differentiate between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria?

A) Crystal violet B) Gram's iodine C) Decolorizer (e.g., alcohol) D) Safranin

26. What is an example of bioremediation?

A) Using antibiotics to kill bacteria B) Using microorganisms to clean up oil spills C) Developing new vaccines D) Genetically modifying crops for higher yield

27. Which of the following diseases is caused by a prion?

A) Influenza B) Tuberculosis C) Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) D) Malaria

28. What is the purpose of a selective medium in microbiology?

A) To allow all types of bacteria to grow B) To inhibit the growth of unwanted bacteria while allowing desired ones to grow C) To identify the exact number of bacteria in a sample D) To observe the morphology of bacterial colonies

29. Which application of applied zoology involves the study and management of fish populations for commercial or recreational purposes?

A) Apiculture B) Sericulture C) Aquaculture D) Ichthyology

30. What is the term for a virus that infects bacteria?

A) Retrovirus B) Bacteriophage C) Oncovirus D) Lentivirus

31. Which type of microscopy is commonly used to view the surface details of a specimen by scanning a beam of electrons across it?

A) Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) B) Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) C) Light Microscope D) Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)

32. The process of using living organisms to remove pollutants from the environment is known as:

A) Bioaccumulation B) Biomagnification C) Bioremediation D) Biodegradation

33. What is the main component of a bacterial cell wall that provides structural support and protection?

A) Cellulose B) Chitin C) Peptidoglycan D) Lignin

34. Which of the following is a beneficial role of microorganisms in food production?

A) Causing food spoilage B) Producing toxins C) Fermentation for products like yogurt and cheese D) Contaminating food supplies

35. What is the primary function of antibodies in the immune system?

A) To produce energy B) To synthesize proteins C) To neutralize or mark pathogens for destruction D) To replicate DNA

36. The study of viruses is called:

A) Mycology B) Bacteriology C) Virology D) Parasitology

37. Which disease is transmitted by the bacterium *Yersinia pestis*, carried by fleas on rodents?

A) Typhoid fever B) Cholera C) Plague D) Tuberculosis

38. What is the term for a microorganism that thrives in extremely hot environments?

A) Psychrophile B) Mesophile C) Thermophile D) Hyperthermophile

39. Which applied zoology field focuses on the study and management of birds?

A) Herpetology B) Ornithology C) Entomology D) Mammalogy

40. What is the key difference between a virus and a bacterium?

A) Viruses have a cell wall, bacteria do not. B) Bacteria are always pathogenic, viruses are not. C) Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, bacteria can be free-living. D) Bacteria reproduce by budding, viruses by binary fission.

41. Which technique is used to amplify specific segments of DNA?

A) Gel electrophoresis B) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) C) Centrifugation D) Spectrophotometry

42. What role do nitrogen-fixing bacteria play in the nitrogen cycle?

A) They convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3). B) They convert ammonia back into atmospheric nitrogen. C) They convert nitrates into nitrites. D) They break down organic nitrogen compounds into ammonia.

43. Which organism is a single-celled eukaryote known for its use in baking and brewing?

A) Escherichia coli B) Saccharomyces cerevisiae C) Staphylococcus aureus D) Bacillus subtilis

44. What is the process called when a virus takes over the machinery of a host cell to replicate itself?

A) Exocytosis B) Endocytosis C) Replication cycle D) Lysis

45. Which application of applied zoology concerns the study and management of bees, particularly for honey production and pollination?

A) Aquaculture B) Sericulture C) Ichthyology D) Apiculture

46. What is the general term for diseases caused by fungi?

A) Bacterial infections B) Viral infections C) Mycoses D) Protozoan infections

47. What is the function of plasmids in bacteria?

A) Essential for basic cell survival and reproduction B) Small, circular DNA molecules that often carry genes for antibiotic resistance C) The primary site of energy production D) The main component of the cell wall

48. Which of the following is an example of a zoonotic disease?

A) Common cold B) Influenza C) Rabies D) Measles

49. What is the purpose of staining in microscopy?

A) To kill the specimen B) To increase contrast and visibility of cellular structures C) To magnify the specimen beyond its natural limits D) To preserve the specimen indefinitely

50. The term 'emerging infectious disease' refers to:

A) Diseases that have been eradicated globally B) Diseases that are newly evolving or have recently appeared in a population C) Diseases that only affect animals D) Diseases caused by genetic mutations

Microbiology and Applied Zoology - Online Test

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