Free Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells MCQs with Answers

80 Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells MCQs from Biology, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

Prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus and complex membrane-bound organelles, whereas eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus, specialized organelles and a cytoskeleton. Comparisons include DNA organization, ribosomes, cell walls, size, division and examples such as bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi, plants and animals.

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80 questions · page 2 of 4

  • A. Peptidoglycan
  • B. Proteins
  • C. Glycoproteins
  • D. Polysaccharides

Explanation: Archaeobacterial cell walls lack peptidoglycan, the characteristic polymer of ordinary bacterial cell walls; they may instead contain…

Correct answer: Peptidoglycan
  • A. Cocci
  • B. Bacilli
  • C. Mycobacterium
  • D. Mycoplasma

Explanation: Mycoplasma lacks a cell wall and is surrounded mainly by a plasma membrane containing sterols, making it naturally resistant to…

Correct answer: Mycoplasma
  • A. Flagella
  • B. Pili
  • C. Both of these
  • D. None of these

Explanation: Pili, especially short fimbriae, help bacteria attach to host cells and other surfaces by means of specific surface-binding proteins.

Correct answer: Pili
  • A. Cell membrane
  • B. Cell wall
  • C. Capsule
  • D. Basal body

Explanation: A bacterial flagellum is anchored in the envelope by a basal body, which connects the hook and filament to the cell and acts as part of…

Correct answer: Basal body
  • A. Lophotrichus
  • B. Monotrichous
  • C. Peritrichous
  • D. Amphitrichous

Explanation: A bacterium with tufts of flagella at both poles is amphitrichous, since “amphi” indicates both ends.

Correct answer: Amphitrichous
  • A. Cocci
  • B. Bacilli
  • C. Streptobacilli
  • D. Vibrio

Explanation: Cocci are spherical bacteria and are commonly non-motile, so they usually lack flagella, although exceptions exist.

Correct answer: Cocci
  • A. Necleotide
  • B. Plasmid
  • C. Mesosome
  • D. Ribosome

Explanation: Plasmids are small, usually circular DNA molecules that replicate independently of the bacterial chromosome and may carry genes for…

Correct answer: Plasmid
  • A. Glycogen
  • B. Lactic acid
  • C. Ammonia
  • D. Urea

Explanation: Many bacteria release organic acids such as lactic acid as metabolic waste products, particularly during fermentation when oxygen is…

Correct answer: Lactic acid
  • A. Campylobactor
  • B. spirocheta
  • C. E-coli
  • D. Pseudomonas

Explanation: Campylobacter is microaerophilic, meaning it grows best at an oxygen concentration below that of normal air.

Correct answer: Campylobactor
  • A. Heterotrophic bacteria
  • B. Chemosynthetic bacteria
  • C. Photosynthetic bacteria
  • D. Saprotrophic bacteria

Explanation: Purple non-sulphur bacteria use light energy to make ATP, so they are classified as photosynthetic bacteria, although many obtain organic…

Correct answer: Photosynthetic bacteria
  • A. Heterotrophic bacteria
  • B. Chemosynthetic bacteria
  • C. Saprophytic bacteria
  • D. Parasitic bacteria

Explanation: Parasitic bacteria obtain nutrients from a living host and depend on that host for at least part of their nutrition.

Correct answer: Parasitic bacteria
  • A. Hetrotrophic bacteria
  • B. Chemosynthetic bacteria
  • C. Saprophytic bacteria
  • D. Parasitic bacteria

Explanation: Nitrifying bacteria obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic nitrogen compounds such as ammonia or nitrite, so they are chemosynthetic…

Correct answer: Chemosynthetic bacteria
  • A. Aerobic bacteria
  • B. Anaerobic bacteria
  • C. Facultative bacteria
  • D. Microaerophilic

Explanation: E. coli is a facultative anaerobe because it can respire aerobically when oxygen is available but can also grow without oxygen by…

Correct answer: Facultative bacteria
  • A. Lag phase
  • B. Log phase
  • C. Stationary phase
  • D. Death / decline phase

Explanation: During the log phase, bacteria divide at a rapid and relatively constant rate, producing exponential population growth.

Correct answer: Log phase
  • A. Gram +ve.
  • B. Gram - ve.
  • C. Acid fast
  • D. Cellulose rich

Explanation: Cyanobacteria have a Gram-negative-type cell envelope, with a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane.

Correct answer: Gram - ve.
  • A. Binary fission
  • B. Mitosis
  • C. Meiosis
  • D. Conjugation

Explanation: Cyanobacteria are prokaryotes and reproduce asexually, commonly by binary fission or fragmentation.

Correct answer: Binary fission
  • A. 100
  • B. 200
  • C. 300
  • D. 400

Explanation: Standard introductory microbiology texts commonly state that about 200 bacterial species are known to cause disease in humans.

Correct answer: 200
  • A. Diplococci
  • B. Octococci
  • C. Tetrad
  • D. Sarcina

Explanation: A group of eight cocci arranged as a cubical packet is called a sarcina, produced by division in three planes.

Correct answer: Sarcina
  • A. Vibrio
  • B. Spirillum
  • C. Spirochete
  • D. Coccus

Explanation: Spirilla are rigid, thick-walled, spiral-shaped bacteria and usually move with polar flagella.

Correct answer: Spirillum
  • A. Coccus
  • B. Bacillus
  • C. Vibrio
  • D. Spirochete

Explanation: Bacillus anthracis was among the earliest bacteria isolated and studied in pure culture, especially through Robert Koch's work on anthrax.

Correct answer: Bacillus