GATE Life Sciences (XL) 2010
(Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering: Original Question Paper)
Microbiology (K) Optional Question Paper
Questions 1 – 10 carries 1 mark each
1. A electron microscope has higher resolution as compared to the light microscope. This is because:
a. The wavelength of an electron is longer than the wavelength of light
b. The wavelength of an electron is shorter than the wavelength of light
c. The electrons can penetrate the sample better
d. They use different stains
2. Bacterial cell lysis by lysozyme is due to the:
a. Hydrolysis of α-1,4-glycosidic bonds between the N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid
b. Inhibition of cell wall synthesis
c. Hydrolysis of pentapeptide bridges
d. Hydrolysis of β-1,4-glcosidic bonds between the N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid
3. The recombination frequencies between three genes x, y, and z are as follows:
X – y = 2.6%, y – z = 1.4% and x – z = 1.2%. Then the gene order is:
a. x – z – y
b. x – y – z
c. y – x – z
d. z – x – y
4. A mutant phenotype due to a nonsense mutation can be rescued by a mutation in tRNA gene. This rescue is an example of:
a. Induced mutation
b. Suppressor mutation
c. Spontaneous mutation
d. Deletion mutation
5. Ames test is performed to detect:
a. Mutagen
b. pH
c. nutrient stress
d. salinity
6. Wild type E. coli forms purple coloured colonies on EMB-lactose plate. This is due to
a. Increase in pH of the medium
b. Decrease in the pH of the medium
c. Secretion of purple coloured pigment
d. Secretion of β-galactosidase
7. The resistance of a lambda lysogenic E. coli to reinfection by lambda is mediated by:
a. Blocking entry of the incoming lambda DNA
b. Degrading the incoming lambda DNA
c. Blocking transcription of the incoming lambda DNA
d. Triggering mutation of the lambda receptor of the host
8. Pasteurization of milk is carried out by:
a. Boiling for 5 min
b. Heating at 72oC for 30 minutes
c. Heating at 63oC for 15 minutes
d. Heating at 63oC for 30 minutes
9. A growing bacterial culture with a doubling time of 20 minutes reaches cell density of 2 X 108 cells/ml in 3 hours. How much time would it take to reach the cell density of 1 X 108 cells/ml?
a. 200 min
b. 180 min
c. 160 min
d. 90 min
10. The quickest way to determine bacterial growth in terms of viable cells is through:
a. Most probable number (MPN) technique
b. Spread plate method
c. Pour plate method
d. Slide culture technique
Questions 1 – 10 carries 1 mark each
11. Match the scientist from Group I with the corresponding contribution listed in Group II
Group I Group II
P. Robert Koch 1. Discovery of endospores
Q. Walter Hesse 2. Disproved spontaneous generation
R. Louis Pasteur 3. Discovery of causative agent of tuberculosis
S. Ferdinand Cohn 4. Use of agar as solid media
5. Invention of microscope
a. P – 5, Q – 3, R – 4, S – 2
b. P – 3, Q – 4, R – 2, S – 5
c. P – 3, Q – 4, R – 1, S – 5
d. P – 3, Q – 4, R – 2, S – 1
12. Super-antigens elicit a very strong T cell response because they:
a. Bind to the specific antigen binding site on the T cell receptor (TCR)
b. Bind to the site on T cell receptor (TCR) that is outside the antigen-specific binding site
c. Directly activate the T cell without the help of antigen presenting cells
d. Directly induce cytokine secretion by macrophages
13. MHC-I groove can be located with peptides on only 8-10 amino acids because:
a. MHC-I groove is closed on both ends
b. Fragments of only 8-10 amino acids are generated in MHC-I bearing cells
c. β2-microglobulin of MHC I prevents the binding of large peptides to MHC-I
d. β polypeptides of MHC-I prevents binding of 8-10 amino acid long peptides to MHC-I
14. in a lacOc LacZ– / lacO+ lacZ+ partial diploid of the two lacZ enzymes, only the mutant enzyme (lacZ–) is synthesized constitutively. This observation shows that lacOc mutation is:
a. trans-dominant
b. trans-recessive
c. cis-dominant
d. cis-recessive
15. Which one of the following events occurs in prokaryotes but not in eukaryotes?
a. Protein phosphorylation
b. RNA polymerase and promoter interaction
c. Control of transcription by attenuation
d. Formation of Okazaki fragments
16. Match the pathogen in Group I with the corresponding disease in Group II
Group I Group II
P. Bacteria 1. Measles
Q. Virus 2. Candidiasis
R. Fungi 3. Malaria
S. Protozoa 4. Bovine spongiform encephalitis
5. Tuberculosis
a. P – 1, Q – 2, R – 4, S – 5
b. P – 1, Q – 4, R – 2, S – 3
c. P – 5, Q – 1, R – 4, S – 2
d. P – 5, Q – 1, R – 2, S – 3
17. A bacterial culture was diluted 1000 fold and 0.1 ml of this diluted sample was spread per plate on nutrient agar. In a triplicate run, the number of colonies formed is 121, 93, 86. The number of colony forming units/ml in the original bacterial culture is:
a. 106
b. 105
c. 103
d. 102
18. Match the microorganism in Group I with the application in Group II
Group I Group II
P. Aspergillus oryzae 1. Metal ore leaching
Q. Brevibacterium flavum 2. Glucoamylase producer
R. Thiobacillus ferroxidans 3. Bread making
S. Saccharomyces cervisiae 4. Glutamic acid producer
T. Rhizobium meliloti 5. Penicillium producer
6. Symbiotic nitrogen fixer
a. P – 1, Q – 6, R – 4, S – 5, T – 2
b. P – 2, Q – 4, R – 1, S – 3, T – 6
c. P – 4, Q – 1, R – 6, S – 3, T – 5
d. P – 6, Q – 2, R – 3, S – 5, T – 1
19. A mutant of E. coli grows normally on glucose or on glycerol but not on acetate. The most likely metabolic pathway that is defective in this mutant is:
a. Glyoxalate cycle
b. Hexose monophosphate shunt
c. Krebs cycle
d. Entner–Doudoroff pathway
20. Match the resistance mechanism in Group I with the antibiotic in group II
Group I Group II
P. β-Lactamase 1. Aminoglycosides
Q. Enhanced folate metabolism 2. Penicillins
R. Drug efflux 3. Sulfa drugs
S. Phosphorylation of the drug 4. Tetracyclins
T. Mutant RNA Polymerase 5. Naladixic acid
6. Rifamycin
a. P – 2, Q – 3- R – 4, S – 5, T – 6
b. P – 3, Q – 4, R – 1, S – 6, T – 5
c. P – 2, Q – 3, R – 4, S – 1, T – 6
d. P – 1, Q – 2, R – 3, S – 4, T – 6
Download all Previous GATE XL – Microbiology Question Papers
We provide absolutely free online Study Materials for GATE XL (Life Sciences) examination to support the enthusiastic students to qualify the exam. You can use our GATE XL study materials like Books to Refer, Lecture Notes, Video Tutorials, PPTs, Model Questions (MCQ), Previous Year Questions, Mock Tests etc. for your preparation. Please remember, we can only provide the material stuffs and resources, the ultimate success depends on your dedicated preparation for the GATE exam. Feel free to ask any doubts/clarifications.
Free Lecture Notes and Study Materials for GATE XL Preparation
