Question

In an experiment, a microbiologist put equal numbers of each of the following organisms into a flask of sterile broth, consisting mostly of sugar and a few amino acids. She then placed the flask in the dark. Which of the organisms would be most likely to survive?
a. chemoheterotrophic bacteria
b. cyanobacteria
c. photoheterotrophs
d. thermoacidophilic bacteria
e. photoautotrophs

Answer 1

Answer:

a. chemoheterotrophic bacteria

Explanation:

The chemoheterotrophic bacteria are the ones that cannot make their own organic nutrients by simpler inorganic substances. These bacteria use the organic compounds present in their environment as a source of energy. They derive carbon, hydrogen, and electrons from these organic nutrients only. Since the bacterial samples were kept in dark, no phototrophs would be able to survive. The presence of organic nutrients such as sugars would allow the chemoheterotrophs to survive under the given conditions.