General microbiology questions

  • Briefly explain the term microbiology.
  • Give a detailed definition of a microorganism.
  • Differentiate between micro- and macro- organisms.
  • State and explain the different groups of microorganisms.
  • Mention 5 branches/fields of microbiology and explain their significance to the society.
  • State and explain five areas where microbiology can be applied; and succinctly explain the importance of these field to man and his environment.
  • In a few words, describe the significance of microorganisms in industrial processes.
  • Microorganisms are ubiquitous. Explain.
  • Describe in detail the importance of microorganisms in nature.
  • Microorganisms play important roles in maintaining the flora and fauna of the environment. Explain.
  • Enumerate the significance of microorganisms.
  • Explain the roles of microbiologists in infection control measures.
  • How can microbiologists aid in ensuring food security?
  • Microorganisms can be used to clean up the environment when there is oil spill. Explain.  
  • Mention two bacteria that are the world’s largest bacteria.
  • What is applied microbiology?
  • What are probiotics?
  • Which instrument or equipment contributed the most in the development and advancement of the field of microbiology? Briefly explain your reason for this answer.
  • “Chance favours only the prepared mind in the field of observation” is a famous quote in microbiology quoted by?
  • How do pathogens differ from probiotics?
  • What is bioremediation?
  • The surface active chemical compounds produced by some microbes and which enhances the solubilization and removal of hydrocarbons and other organic compound contaminants in the environment are called?
  • Explain the terms bioaerosols, bioremediation, biodegradation, cellulolysis and biofertilizers.
  • Differentiate between biogenesis and abiogenesis.
  • Succinctly explain spontaneous generation.
  • Explain how spontaneous generation was finally invalidated?
  • State Koch’s postulate.
  • State Koch’s molecular postulates.
  • What is appertization?
  • What is pasteurization?
  • What is tyndallization?
  • Briefly describe the significance of appertization, pasteurization and tyndallization techniques in the food industry, and mention the names of the scientists who discovered them.
  • Explain the contributions of Robert Koch, Alexander Fleming, John Needham, Antonie Von Leeuwenhoek and Louis Pasteur to microbiology.
  • Who discovered the Gram staining technique?
  • The study of microbiology blossomed because of the discovery of the microscope. Explain.
  • Differentiate between variolation and vaccination.
  • Mention the first drug used for the treatment of syphilis.
  • Succinctly explain the contribution of Elie Metchnikoff, Girolamo Fracastoro, Martinus Beijerinck, Joseph Lister and Dmitri Ivanovsky to microbiology.
  • Who discovered phagocytosis?
  • Mention the two famous microbiologists whose experiments ended abiogenesis.
  • Who discovered the field of medical microbiology?
  • Succinctly explain the term fomites, and give examples?
  • Diagrammatically illustrate the scientific method used in experimentations/research.
  • Whose experiment gave rise to the central dogma of molecular biology?
  • What is aetiology?
  • Antisepsis, an infection control method is attributed to the work of?
  • What are bacteriophages?
  • Describe succinctly the germ theory of disease.

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