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AP Biology
Origins and Diversity of Life on Earth
Reading Guide – Chapter 5.1-5.2 and 26 – The Prokaryotes
Chapters 5.1-5.2, 26, and 36.4
The Structure and Ecological Importance of Prokaryotes
__________________________________________________________________________________
1. State the cell theory and the three important implications.
2. List the typical size of a:
________ Plant and animal cell
_________
Bacterial cell
________ Chloroplast
_________
Virus
________ Protein
3. Why are cells so small? Explain the importance of the surface area to volume ratio.
4. Cells specialized in absorption/neurotransmission have modifications that do what?
5. Define magnification versus resolving power. Why can electron light microscopes resolve two
points better?
6. Describe the principles, advantages and limitations of the light microscope, transmission electron
and the scanning electron microscope.
7. Summarize the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
8. Name the two major prokaryotic domains AND their characteristics. Why the division?
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AP Biology
Origins and Diversity of Life on Earth
Reading Guide – Chapter 5.1-5.2 and 26 – The Prokaryotes
PROKARYOTE STRUCTURE
9. Roughly sketch a bacterial cell, label its parts and state a function for each using the list of terms
below. Be sure to describe the composition of each, where applicable, in regards to bacterial
structure/function: cell envelope, mesosomes, cell wall, plasmid, and nucleoid.
10. Describe how the cellular structure of cyanobacteria aids in their ability to undergo photosynthesis
without true chloroplasts.
11. What are the roles of flagella, fimbriae, and sex pili in bacteria.
12. Define the role/composition of the following prokaryotic structures:
a. Peptidoglycan
b. Flagella
c. Fimbriae
d. Sex pilus
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AP Biology
Origins and Diversity of Life on Earth
Reading Guide – Chapter 5.1-5.2 and 26 – The Prokaryotes
e. Plasmid
13. Summarize the differences between gram positive and gram negative bacteria.
REPRODUCTION
14. Describe binary fission. Is this a sexual or asexual form of reproduction?
15. Does sexual reproduction occur in prokaryotes?
16. Why does the bacterial genome change so rapidly and what are three mechanisms of genetic
recombination?
17. Listed below are descriptions and examples of the different types of recombination in bacteria.
Classify each type as:
A.
B.
C.
transformation
transduction
conjugation
__________ Bacteria assimilate genetic material from surroundings
__________ Bacteria take up DNA from environment
__________ Gene transfer from one bacterium to another via bacteriophage
__________ Direct transfer of genes between two bacteria temporarily joined by sex pili
__________ DNA is transferred from one bacterium to another by a virus
__________ A plasmid is exchange between two bacteria through a pilus
__________ Bacterial strains A and B are growing together in a colony that has been infected
with viruses. After a short period of time, a new strain of bacteria is detected that
is very similar to strain A but has a few characteristics of B.
__________ The conversion of live R strain Steptococcus pneumoniae into S strain when
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AP Biology
Origins and Diversity of Life on Earth
Reading Guide – Chapter 5.1-5.2 and 26 – The Prokaryotes
heat-killed S strain is added to R strain
__________ E. coli bacteria take up plasmid using CaCl2 and heat shock.
NUTRITION
18. Prokaryotes differ greatly in the type of metabolism and nutrient requirements. Contrast obligate
and facultative anaerobes. How do these bacteria differ from aerobic organisms?
19. Define photoautotrophic and chemoautotrophic.
20. Photoautotrophic bacteria can be subdivided by whether they release what?

How do these bacteria differ in the types of photosystems and photoactive pigments they
contain?

Green sulfur and purple bacteria are examples of which type of autotroph?

Which type is more similar to plants and algae?
21. Explain the ecological significance of chemoautotrophs.
22. Define chemoheterotrophic decomposers. How is the decomposer method (call saprotrophs or
saprobes) of nutrition different from ingesting dead meat or plant material?
DETERMINING PROKARYOTE PHYLOGENY
23. What are the phenotypic features that are used to classify bacteria?
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AP Biology
Origins and Diversity of Life on Earth
Reading Guide – Chapter 5.1-5.2 and 26 – The Prokaryotes
24. What other characteristics/methods are used to classify bacteria?
25. Explain why rRNA is particulary useful for evolutionary studies.
26. What is horizontal (lateral) gene transfer?
27. What would be an evolutionary advantage of horizontal gene transfer?
28. Why does the ability of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria make rooting the tree life difficult?
DOMAIN BACTERIA
29. Read through Section 26.4 and list the names of some prokayotes that belong to the Domain
Bacteria below.
30. List characteristics of the Cyanobacteria – be sure to describe heterocysts.
a. How is photosynthesis similar to plants?
b. What is the significance of cyanobacteria to early Earth?
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AP Biology
Origins and Diversity of Life on Earth
Reading Guide – Chapter 5.1-5.2 and 26 – The Prokaryotes
c. Why are nutritional requirements of cyanobacteria so minimal?
DOMAIN ARCHAEA
31. Compare and contrast Domain bacteria and Domain Archaea.
32. Are Eukarya more closely related to the Bacteria or Archaea, and why.
33. Being as specific as possible, list the differences and similarities between Eukarya, Bacteria, and
Archaea that are used to justify the 3-Domain system.
34. List the various unique structures and functions of Archaea.
IMPORTANCE OF PROKARYOTES (ALSO SEE 36.4)
35. Summarize the importance of prokaryotes in the following capacities:
a. Nutrient cycling
b. Formation of O2 in the atmosphere of early Earth
c. Pathogens
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AP Biology
Origins and Diversity of Life on Earth
Reading Guide – Chapter 5.1-5.2 and 26 – The Prokaryotes
36. How is nitrogen ‘fixed’? What is the name of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in the nodules on
the roots of legume plants?
37. Diagram the N-cycle, detailing the role of plants and bacteria in the cycle.
38. What are lichens? Describe their ecological importance.
39. Define pathogen. Why do pathogens affect only specific tissues?
40. How do bacterial toxins affect host cells? Give an example.
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