Lesson 6.2.1

6.2.1 Structure of bacteria and viruses compared Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Biology, Unit 6

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 6.2.1, Structure of bacteria and viruses compared: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Biology (9BI0), Unit 6: Immunity, Infection and Forensics, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which structure is present in bacteria but completely absent in viruses?

    • Glycoproteins
    • Genetic material
    • Ribosomes
    • Capsid

  2. What shape is the main genomic DNA in a typical bacterial cell?

    • Single circular chromosome
    • Single stranded linear
    • Multiple linear strands
    • Linear double helix

  3. What main polymer makes up the cell wall of most bacteria?

    • Chitin
    • Cellulose
    • Phospholipid
    • Peptidoglycan

  4. What is the typical size range of a bacterial cell?

    • 100 to 200 nanometres
    • 10 to 50 nanometres
    • 1 to 5 micrometres
    • 0.1 to 0.5 millimetres

  5. What structure encloses the viral genome in a basic virus particle?

    • Phospholipid membrane
    • Cellulose coat
    • Protein capsid
    • Peptidoglycan wall

  6. Where are viruses capable of carrying out replication?

    • Inside host cells
    • In soil water
    • In nutrient agar
    • Extracellularly in blood

  7. Which cellular structures are responsible for protein synthesis in bacteria?

    • 70S ribosomes
    • Peptidoglycan walls
    • 80S ribosomes
    • Capsids

  8. Which viral structures help enveloped viruses attach to host cell receptors?

    • Plasmids
    • Glycoproteins
    • Mesosomes
    • Peptidoglycans

  9. Why are antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis ineffective against viruses?

    • Viruses lack walls
    • Viruses are prokaryotes
    • Viruses lack DNA
    • Viruses destroy antibiotics

  10. Which type of nucleic acid can form the genome in viruses but never in bacteria?

    • RNA
    • Plasmid DNA
    • Double-stranded DNA
    • Circular DNA

  11. Which feature classifies bacteria as prokaryotic organisms?

    • Possess linear DNA
    • Lack ribosomes
    • Lack nuclear envelope
    • Have no membrane

  12. Which microscopic feature confirms a specimen is a bacterium rather than a virus?

    • Presence of RNA
    • Presence of capsid
    • Presence of protein
    • Presence of cytoplasm

  13. Why is the classification of viruses as living organisms heavily contested?

    • Lack of DNA
    • No protein coat
    • No independent metabolism
    • Inability to mutate

  14. Which cellular structure is present in both bacterial and human cells?

    • 70S ribosomes
    • Circular DNA
    • Cell wall
    • Cell membrane

  15. A bacterium is 2 micrometres long and a virus is 100 nanometres. How many times longer is the bacterium?

    • 50 times
    • 20 times
    • 2 times
    • 200 times

  16. Which feature distinguishes a bacterial plasmid from the main bacterial chromosome?

    • Single-stranded RNA
    • Large genome strand
    • Linear protein molecule
    • Small circular DNA

  17. Which primary type of molecule makes up a viral capsid?

    • Phospholipid
    • Peptidoglycan
    • Protein
    • Cellulose

  18. Which feature is shared by both bacteria and viruses?

    • Plasma membranes
    • Genetic material
    • Cell walls
    • 70S ribosomes

  19. What cell structure difference does Gram staining reveal in bacteria?

    • Plasmid presence
    • Peptidoglycan cell wall
    • Ribosome size
    • Capsule thickness

  20. Which structures allow bacteria to synthesise their own proteins without a host?

    • Ribosomes
    • Glycoproteins
    • Reverse transcriptases
    • Capsids

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