Lesson 3.2.1.2.1

3.2.1.2.1 Prokaryotic cells and viruses Quiz: AQA Biology, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.2.1.2.1, Prokaryotic cells and viruses: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Biology (7402), Unit 2: Cells, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. How is primary genomic DNA arranged in a typical prokaryotic cell?

    • Histone-bound loops
    • Double-membrane nucleus
    • Linear chromosomes
    • Circular DNA molecule

  2. What is the main chemical component of the cell wall of a bacterium?

    • Chitin, a polysaccharide
    • Phospholipid bilayer
    • Cellulose, a polysaccharide
    • Murein, a glycoprotein

  3. What is a plasmid in a prokaryotic cell?

    • Protein coat
    • Small circular DNA
    • Phospholipid membrane
    • Large linear chromosome

  4. What is the outer protein coat of a virus particle called?

    • Capsid
    • Murein
    • Cytoplasm
    • Flagellum

  5. Which structural feature makes viruses classified as acellular?

    • Lack of proteins
    • Lack of cells
    • Presence of capsids
    • Lack of DNA

  6. What is the main function of viral attachment proteins?

    • Hydrolysing cell walls
    • Replicating viral RNA
    • Forming capsid layers
    • Binding host receptors

  7. Which size of ribosome is present in prokaryotic cells?

    • 60S
    • 50S
    • 80S
    • 70S

  8. What does a host cell do after viral nucleic acid enters?

    • Replicates viral components
    • Produces bacterial murein
    • Executes binary fission
    • Destroys viral capsids

  9. Why do antibiotics targeting murein synthesis not affect viruses?

    • Viruses digest antibiotics
    • Viruses undergo fission
    • Viruses lack murein
    • Viruses have 80S ribosomes

  10. Why do antibiotics targeting 70S ribosomes leave human cytoplasmic ribosomes unharmed?

    • Human cells lack ribosomes
    • Antibiotics cannot enter cells
    • Human ribosomes are 70S
    • Human ribosomes are 80S

  11. A bacterium is 2 micrometres long. What is its length in millimetres?

    • 0.02 mm
    • 0.2 mm
    • 0.002 mm
    • 2000 mm

  12. Which structure is found in a prokaryotic cell but is absent from a virus particle?

    • Genetic material
    • An attachment protein
    • Ribosomes
    • A capsid

  13. Which type of nucleic acid can form a viral genome?

    • RNA only
    • DNA only
    • Proteins only
    • DNA or RNA

  14. Why can viruses not replicate by binary fission?

    • They lack capsids
    • They are acellular
    • They contain RNA
    • They undergo mitosis

  15. Why may daughter bacteria receive differing numbers of plasmids during fission?

    • Unequal nuclear division
    • Mitotic spindle errors
    • Random cytoplasm division
    • Plasmid DNA degradation

  16. Why do viral attachment proteins target specific host cell types?

    • Complementary receptor shapes
    • Identical lipid layers
    • Matching capsid proteins
    • Specific enzyme secretion

  17. Where are respiratory enzymes located in aerobic prokaryotic cells?

    • Mitochondrial matrix
    • Cell-surface membrane
    • Nuclear envelope
    • Capsule outer layer

  18. Why are viruses classified as non-living particles?

    • Cannot metabolise independently
    • Contain protein capsids
    • Cannot cause infection
    • Lack genetic material

  19. Which bacterial structure helps evade host immune cell recognition?

    • 70S ribosome
    • Flagellum
    • Plasmid
    • Capsule

  20. Where does gene transcription occur in a prokaryotic cell?

    • Nucleolus
    • Nucleus
    • Cytoplasm
    • Mitochondria

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