Facultative aerobes
Facultative Aerobes
Facultative aerobes (pronunciation: fuh-KUL-tuh-tiv AIR-ohbs) are organisms that can survive in both aerobic (presence of oxygen) and anaerobic (absence of oxygen) environments. The term is derived from the Latin words 'facultas', meaning ability, and 'aer', meaning air, signifying the organism's ability to adapt to different oxygen conditions.
Definition
A Facultative aerobe is a type of microorganism that makes energy by cellular respiration when oxygen is present but is also capable of switching to fermentation or anaerobic respiration when oxygen is absent. This adaptability provides a survival advantage in fluctuating environmental conditions.
Characteristics
Facultative aerobes can use oxygen for aerobic respiration to produce energy but can also survive in environments where oxygen is not available. They do this by switching to anaerobic respiration or fermentation. This flexibility allows them to inhabit a wide range of environments, from oxygen-rich to oxygen-poor.
Examples
Examples of facultative aerobes include certain species of bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and some types of yeast. These organisms are often found in environments where oxygen levels can fluctuate, such as soil and water.
Related Terms
- Aerobe: An organism that requires oxygen to live and grow.
- Anaerobe: An organism that can survive and grow in an environment without oxygen.
- Microorganism: A microscopic organism, such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus.
- Cellular respiration: The process by which cells use oxygen to break down glucose and produce energy.
- Fermentation: A metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Facultative aerobes
- Wikipedia's article - Facultative aerobes
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