Question 1: Define a bacterial cell and describe its primary function.

Answer: A bacterial cell is a microscopic, single-celled organism that can carry out all life processes independently. Its primary function is to survive, reproduce, and sometimes cause infections.

Question 2: Name three main structural components of a bacterial cell and briefly describe their functions.

Answer: Cell wall (provides shape and protection), cell membrane (controls what enters and exits), cytoplasm (contains genetic material and enzymes for metabolism).

Question 3: Which structure in a bacterial cell contains the genetic material?

Answer: Nucleoid region

Question 4: Fill in the blank: Bacterial cells reproduce mainly through a process called ________.

Answer: binary fission

Question 5: Explain how bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics.

Answer: Bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics through genetic mutations or acquiring resistance genes from other bacteria. These changes enable bacteria to survive despite the presence of antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.

Question 6: Calculate the surface area to volume ratio of a spherical bacterial cell with a diameter of 2 micrometers. Use the formulas: Surface Area = 4πr², Volume = (4/3)πr³. Show your work with units.

Answer: Radius r = 1 μm Surface Area = 4π(1)² = 4π ≈ 12.57 μm² Volume = (4/3)π(1)³ = (4/3)π ≈ 4.19 μm³ Surface area to volume ratio = 12.57 / 4.19 ≈ 3.00 μm⁻¹

Question 7: Which safety precautions should be followed when studying bacteria in a laboratory setting? List at least two.

Answer: Wearing gloves and lab coats to prevent infection; sterilizing work surfaces and equipment to prevent contamination.

Question 8: Describe a scenario where understanding bacterial cell structures is important in developing new antibiotics.

Answer: Knowing the structure of bacterial cell walls, such as the presence of peptidoglycan, helps scientists design antibiotics like penicillin that target cell wall synthesis, leading to bacterial death.

Question 9: Which of the following is NOT a typical component of bacterial cells?

Answer: Nucleus

Question 10: Explain why bacteria are considered to be prokaryotic cells and contrast this with eukaryotic cells.

Answer: Bacteria are prokaryotic because they lack a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Their genetic material is located in a nucleoid region. In contrast, eukaryotic cells have a defined nucleus and compartmentalized organelles, making them structurally more complex.