Let’s see how you did! If you didn’t get a few of these, don’t let it stress you out – it just means you need to play with more experiments in this area. We’re all works in progress, and we have our entire lifetime to puzzle together the mysteries of the universe!


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Answers:
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  1. What do we call cells without nuclei? prokaryotes
  2. How many cells are bacteria made of? 1
  3. What is the difference between spirilla, bacilli, and cocci bacteria? They each have a different shape
  4. How is a bacterium’s cell wall like your skin? They both provide protection from outside objects
  5. How does penicillin work? It destroys the proteins that make bacteria’s cell walls
  6. What do ribosomes do? Make proteins
  7. Where is DNA usually found in prokaryotes? Either in the nucleoid region or in plasmids
  8. How do autotrophs get the energy they need to survive? They convert the sun’s energy into energy they can use
  9. What is a chemotroph? An organism that gets energy by breaking down chemical compounds
  10. How do bacteria that are chemotrophs help other organisms? Some of the elements broken down, including nitrogen, are needed for other organisms to survive
  11. How are mutualistic and parasitic bacteria similar?  How are they different? Both mutualistic and parasitic bacteria live in other organisms, but the mutualistic bacterium is helpful while the parasitic bacterium is harmful
  12. What process do bacteria use to reproduce? Binary fission
  13. How do decomposer bacteria help other organisms? They remove dead material from soil
  14. Name three foods made using bacteria. Yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut
  15. What are three ways to reduce the risk of food poisoning from bacteria? Wash your hands, clean down cooking surfaces, fully cook meat and eggs
  16. Name three ways archaea are similar to bacteria. They are microscopic single-celled prokaryotes
  17. How is the cells wall of archaea different than the cell walls of bacteria? They are made of a different protein
  18. How do most archaea get energy? From breaking down chemicals (they are chemotrophs)
  19. What is one way archaea help other organisms? They provide chemicals needed for life and help in digestion
  20. Why is budding considered asexual reproduction? It involves only a single parent
  21. What are some places thermophiles live? Geysers, hot springs, near volcanoes
  22. Why did scientists think for many years that nothing could live in the Dead Sea? They thought it was too salty
  23. How do some methanogens help cows? They live in their gut and break down cellulose, which is found in the plants the cows eat
  24. Why would a scientist studying global warming be interested in swamps where methanogens are found? Methanogens produce methane, which is a greenhouse gas and causes global warming
  25. Name two “non-extreme” places where archaea are found. In the ocean amongst plankton and in soil

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