Question

An example of chemosynthetic bacteria is:
A) E. coli
B) Sulfur bacteria
C) Nitrobacter
D) Both B&C

Answer 1

Hint: Chemosynthetic bacteria include a group of autotrophic bacteria that uses chemical energy to produce their own food.

Complete answer:
Chemosynthesis is the biological conversion of one or more carbon molecules usually carbon dioxide or methane and nutrients into organic matter by the use of energy from the chemical reaction between the inorganic molecules such as (hydrogen gas or hydrogen sulfide) or methane rather than sunlight, as in photosynthesis, examples are sulfur bacteria and Nitrobacter... So, these bacteria like photosynthetic bacteria need a carbon source to suggest carbon dioxide as well as energy sources in order to manufacture their own food. For the most part, these bacteria are Arabic and therefore rely on oxygen to complete this process successfully. However, some species such as sulfur bacteria have been associated with anaerobic chemosynthesis. Because of their ability to manufacture their own food using chemical energy, these organisms can survive in a variety of habitats and environments including harsh environments with extreme conditions as free-living organisms or in association with other organisms such as through symbiosis with other organisms. Unlike photosynthesis which is common in eukaryotic organisms and cyanobacteria, chemosynthetic reactions are mostly carried out by prokaryotic microorganisms particularly bacteria and archaebacteria.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘D’.

Note:Nitrobacter is a genus comprising Rd shaped gram-negative and chemoautotrophic bacteria. It plays a major role in nitrogen cycle by oxidizing nitrite into nitrate in soil and marine systems. Sulfur reducing bacteria get their energy by reducing element sulfur to hydrogen sulfide. These bacteria can be used in industrial processes to produce hydrogen sulfide for the precipitation of metals.