Question

Microbiology question!

6. Microbes may have the ability to use aerobic cellular respiration, alcohol fermentation, and/or anaerobic respiration. Provide an example of a microbe that might be able to do this Explain how this occurs and describe when one pathway may be used over another. Which is most efficient? (5 pts)

Answer 1

Aerobic respiration is take place in presence of oxygen. When oxygen is present, organism then can convert their stored food or glucose to produce energy in the form of ATP. Aerobic respiration is carried out in thee stages- Glcolysis,Krebs Cycle and Electron transport chain. Almost all eukaryotic organisms are able to carry out aerobic respiration. Some bacteria like Bacillus or Nocardia can perform aerobic respiration.

On the other hand Anaaerobic respiration takes place if there is not enough oxygen is avaible in the environment. During anaerobic respiration, glucose is breakdown to produce lactic acid and small amount of ATP is generated. Some bacteria like E.coli, Listeria or Clostridium are able to perform anaerobic respiration.

Whereas, when glucose or other sugars like sucrose or fructose converts to ethanol, and produce ATP as energy the process is called alcohol fermentation. During this process carbon di oxide is also formed as the by product of the reaction. Now, as alcohol fermentation is also takes place in absence of oxygen so we can include them under anaerobic process. Microorganisms like yeasts are able to convert flucose to ethanol by this fermentation process.

We can conclude that for aerobic respiration, oxygen is required. Whereas, when the oxygen level is very low or absent, then anaerobic respiration takes place. Anaerobic respiration can generate wither lactic acid or ethanol.