Question

Halophiles grow in concentrated salt solutions due to
A. Bacteriorhodopsin
B. Branched hydrocarbon in phospholipids
C. Active absorption
D. Accumulation of KCl

Answer 1

Hint: Halophiles are the organisms that live in the highly saline conditions. The word ‘halophile’ comes from the greek word which means ‘salt loving’.

Complete Answer:
- Halophiles can be found in the water bodies which are five times saline more than oceans such as the Great salt lake in Utah, the Dead sea, etc.
 Example – Halobacterium, Halococcus, Wallemia, Nitzschia, etc.
 Halophiles can be found in three domains-
1. Archaea
2. Bacteria
3. Eukarya
- They are fermenters, iron reducers and sulphide oxidizers.
- Halophiles grow in concentrated salt solution due to accumulations of salt like NaCl (Sodium Chloride) and KCl (Potassium Chloride).
- The tolerance parameters and salt requirements of Halophiles depend upon the temperature, pH, and medium of growth.
- Halophiles require a low amount of nutrients in order to survive.
- These microorganisms can be aerobic, anaerobic, heterotrophic, phototrophic as well as chemotrophic.

Hence, option D is the correct answer for this question.

Note: As we know that all the fuel we use like LPG, coal , petrol, etc all are renewable resources that means they will end one day and cannot be renewed or made in a laboratory. So the continuous use of these resources will one day finish them. Also these resources cause pollution. So, it is necessary to switch to biofuels which are eco friendly and non-renewable. These halophiles microorganisms can be used for making biofuels because of the presence of high salt concentration in them.