Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Decontamination is the reduction or removal of unwanted chemical or biological agents to make an area safe. This includes cleaning, disinfecting, or sterilizing to eliminate harmful substances. Choice A is incorrect as decontamination doesn't necessarily involve killing all microorganisms. Choice C is incorrect as it focuses on stopping growth, not removing existing contaminants. Choice D is incorrect as it specifically mentions vegetative organisms, which may not cover all types of contaminants that need to be removed during decontamination. Thus, the correct answer is B as it accurately describes the process of decontamination.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: incidence. Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a disease occurring within a specific time period in relation to the healthy population. It helps in understanding the risk of developing the disease. Prevalence (B) is the total number of existing cases at a given point in time. Virulence (C) is the severity of the disease once contracted. Mortality (D) refers to the number of deaths due to the disease, not the new cases. Therefore, the correct term for new cases is incidence.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Bordetella pertussis. Glossy smooth colonies growing on casein-charcoal agar resembling mercury drops indicate Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough. The presence of short Gram-negative bacteria further supports this identification. Option B, Haemophilus influenzae, typically grows as small, round, translucent colonies on chocolate agar. Option C, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, forms gray colonies on tellurite agar. Option D, Klebsiella pneumoniae, appears as mucoid colonies on MacConkey agar.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell contact for the transfer of genetic material, typically through a pilus. This process is well-documented in bacterial genetics. Transformation (A) involves uptake of free DNA from the environment. Transduction (B) is genetic transfer by a viral vector. Replication (C) is the process of producing identical copies of DNA or RNA. Therefore, the correct answer is D (conjugation) as it specifically refers to the one-way transfer of genetic material through direct cell-to-cell contact.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: peroxisomes. Peroxisomes contain enzymes involved in breaking down fatty acids and detoxifying harmful substances. They do not contain digestive enzymes. Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes involved in breaking down waste materials. Chloroplasts are involved in photosynthesis and do not contain digestive enzymes. Mitochondria are involved in energy production and do not contain digestive enzymes. Therefore, the correct answer is peroxisomes.