Question 1

The image below is a coloured TEM of a plasmid from an Escherichia coli bacterium

(a) Briefly describe a plasmid.

Rings of DNA Found across a prokaryotic cell

(1 mark)
(b) State one function of plasmids in bacteria.

Contains genes that provide the bacteria with its essentials to survive.
(1 mark)
(c) Plasmids are located outside of the nucleoid in Escherichia coli.
(1) Briefly describe the nucleoid in Escherichia coli.

It holds the one chromosome of DNA within the bacteria

(1 mark)
(2) State one similarity and one difference between a plasmid and the chromosome in
Escherichia coli.

(2 marks)
(d) Estimate the actual length of the plasmid using the image above.
Give your answer in micrometres (µm).

0.75 micrometres

(3 marks)
Question 2
The image below is a coloured TEM showing gram-positive bacteria named Staphylococcus aureus.

(a) State the shape of a Staphylococcus aureus bacterium.

Cocci
(1 mark)
(b) The thick cell wall is coloured blue in the image.
(1) State the composition of the cell wall in Staphylococcus aureus.

Peptidoglycan and cell membranes

(1 mark)
(2) State two functions of the cell wall in Staphylococcus aureus.

Maintain the cells shape, monitors what enters and exits the cell and also provides
it with protection
(2 marks)
(3) State the colour of Staphylococcus aureus after a Gram-stain test.

Violet/Blue/Purple all of those…

(1 mark)
(4) State two differences in the structure of the cell wall between Staphylococcus aureus and
Gram-negative bacteria.

The cell wall in a gram positive bacteria holds a cell membrane alongside a large
block of peptidoglycan on top whereas a gram negative bacteria holds a cell
membrane, a small slab of peptidoglycan and additionally another cell membrane
on top.
(2 marks)
(c) Lysozyme is an enzyme found in tears, saliva and mucus that breaks down peptidoglycan.
State how lysozyme kills Staphylococcus aureus.

It will break down its cell wall thus leaving the chromosome within vulnerable
(1 mark)
Question 3
The image below is a coloured TEM of two Escherichia coli bacteria.

(a) Escherichia coli are Gram-negative bacilli bacteria.

(1) State the shape of Escherichia coli cells.

(1 mark)
(2) Briefly describe the cell wall of Escherichia coli.

(1 mark)
(b) The long, thin thread-like structures are flagella.
(1) Describe the structure and composition of a flagellum in Escherichia coli.

(2 marks)
(2) State the function of flagella in Escherichia coli.

(1 mark)
(c) The spiky filaments on the sides of the bacteria are fimbriae and pili.
(1) State the primary function of fimbriae in in Escherichia coli.

(1 mark)
(2) Name the substance that is exchanged between the two cells via pili.

(1 mark)
Question 4
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells contain similarities and differences.
(a) Complete the table below by stating whether the following structures are present in
prokaryotes only (P), eukaryotes only (E) or both (B).
Three of the boxes have been completed for you.

Structure Found in
Cell wall B
Mitochondrion E
Fimbriae P
Cytoplasm B
Chloroplast E
Pili P
Cell wall B
Capsule P
Cilia E
Flagellum B
Golgi body E
(8 marks)
(b) DNA is present in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
(1) State the location of DNA in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

(1 mark)
(2) Describe the difference in arrangement of DNA in in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

(2 marks)

(c) Ribosomes are present in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

(1) State the function of ribosomes in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

(1 mark)

(2) State the location of ribosomes in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

(1 mark)
Question 5
The process of bacterial conjugation is illustrated in the diagram below.

(a) Describe the process of bacterial conjugation.

(2 marks)
(b) The F-plasmid is required for bacterial conjugation.
(1) Describe the function of the F-plasmid in bacterial conjugation.

(2 marks)
(2) State one change in the recipient cell after receiving an F-plasmid.

(1 mark)
(c) Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA) exchange R-plasmids during
conjugation.
(1) State the function of R-plasmids.

(1 mark)
(2) Describe the evolution of MRSA by natural selection.

The MRSA Bacteria had been killed many times previously by bacteria utilised by
scientists thus during natural selection it has gained immunity against these
antibiotics as they are used to their compositions and are aware on how to deflect
their attacks.
(2 marks)
Question 6
The image below is a coloured TEM of a bacterium named Staphylococcus epidermidis in the initial
stages of binary fission.

(a) Describe the process of binary fission in Staphylococcus epidermidis.

(4 marks)
(b) Staphylococcus epidermidis lives on human skin and is a cause of acne.
(1) Penicillin is an antibiotic used to treat infection with Staphylococcus epidermidis.
Penicillin inhibits the synthesis of peptidoglycan.
State how penicillin inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis.

(1 mark)
(2) Some strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis are resistant to penicillin.
State a feature of Staphylococcus epidermidis cells that are resistant to penicillin.

(1 mark)
(3) State two methods of minimising the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

(2 marks)
Question 7
The diagram below maps the spread of a disease called bubonic plague between 1347 and 1351.

Bubonic plague is caused by a pathogenic bacterium named Yersinia pestis that is spread by
coughing, sneezing and by the Oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) which infects rats.
(a) Define a pathogen.

(1 mark)
(b) State the two methods of transmission of Yersinia pestis.

(2 marks)
(c) Suggest two ways that Yersinia pestis spread across the ocean in 1348.

(2 marks)
(d) Yersinia pestis secretes LcrV protein that forms pores in the membranes of host cells.
(1) State whether LcrV protein is an endotoxin or an exotoxin.

(1 mark)
(2) State the benefit to Yersinia pestis of invading host cells.

(1 mark)
Question 8
The image below is a coloured SEM of a pathogen named Francisella tularensis which causes
tularaemia.

(a) The bacterium is spread by ticks and deer flies, as well as infected animals, water, food, soil
and dust.
(1) State two methods of transmission of Francisella tularensis.

(2 marks)
(2) State two methods of minimising the transmission of Francisella tularensis.

(2 marks)
(b) Francisella tularensis contains a capsule.
(1) State how the capsule enhances the ability of Francisella tularensis to cause disease.

(1 mark)
(2) State two other functions of the capsule in Francisella tularensis.

(2 marks)
(c) Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative bacterium.
(1) Describe the composition of the cell wall in Francisella tularensis.

(1 mark)
(2) The cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria contains an endotoxin named lipid A.
State why lipid A does not cause toxicity when Francisella tularensis is alive.

(1 mark)
Question 9
The diagram below is a map showing cholera deaths in a section of London in 1854.

(a) Research the name of the pathogen that causes cholera.

(1 mark)
(b) State the method of transmission of cholera using evidence from the diagram.

(1 mark)
(c) The map was used by English physician John Snow to identify the source of the pathogen.
State the name and location of the source of the pathogen and give a reason for your answer.

(2 marks)
(d) Suggest a reason why none of the workers in the Broad Street brewery contracted cholera.

(1 mark)
Question 10
The table below identifies five common species of bacteria that cause food-borne illness.

Bacterium Illness Contaminated food sources

Listeria monocytogenes
Escherichia coli Food poisoning
Clostridium perfringens Food poisoning
Clostridium botulinum
Salmonella enterica

(a) Use the link https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-poisoning/bacteria-and-viruses to complete the

table above.
(8 marks)
(b) State four ways of minimising the transmission of bacteria that cause food-borne illness.

(4 marks)
Question 11

The table below identifies four diseases transmitted by bacteria.

Disease Pathogen
Tuberculosis
Diphtheria
Whooping cough
Anthrax

(a) Complete the table by researching the pathogen responsible for each of the diseases above.

(1 mark)
(b) State the method of transmission common to all species of bacteria in the table.

(1 mark)
(c) State three ways of minimising the transmission of the four pathogens.

(3 marks)