Facultative
Facultative
Facultative (/fəˈkʌltətɪv/; from the Latin facultas, meaning "ability") is a term used in various fields of medicine and biology. It generally refers to organisms or processes that have the ability to adjust to different conditions or environments.
Definition
In a medical context, the term "facultative" is often used to describe organisms, particularly bacteria, that can survive or function in both aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen) environments. These organisms are known as Facultative anaerobes.
In biology, "facultative" can also refer to traits or behaviors that are not essential for an organism's survival, but can be beneficial under certain conditions. For example, a Facultative carnivore is an animal that primarily eats meat, but can also survive on a plant-based diet.
Related Terms
- Facultative anaerobes: Microorganisms that can live in both oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor environments.
- Facultative heterochromatin: A type of chromatin that can switch between a condensed (inactive) and a relaxed (active) state.
- Facultative parasite: An organism that can live as a parasite or as a free-living organism.
- Facultative water: Water that is not essential to plant life, but can be beneficial in times of drought.
Etymology
The term "facultative" comes from the Latin facultas, which means "ability" or "capacity". It was first used in this context in the mid-19th century.
Pronunciation
The term "facultative" is pronounced as /fəˈkʌltətɪv/.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Facultative
- Wikipedia's article - Facultative
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