Directions for the students: There are 4 essay questions. Please be sure to complete all of them with thorough, substantive responses. Answer them individually. Citations are required for all responses. There is no time limit.

1. Develop one argument in support of or refuting the following statement: “Viruses are living microorganisms.”
2. Discuss three examples of how humans utilize microbes and their products today.
3. Provide a concise summary of the five basic techniques used to manipulate, grow, examine, and characterize microorganisms in a laboratory.
4. Summarize three isolation techniques. Explain which method is utilized most often in a laboratory and how a colony produced by this method can be used to create a pure culture.