Question

1. Draw a graph of growth rate vs temperature for a mesophile.

2. Why do halophiles produce compatible solutes?

Answer 1

Q1.

Q2. Halophiles are bacterias that are adapted to high salt environment. Osmolarity of the fluid is high in the medium outside the cells of these bacteria. To prevent loss of water from inside the cell due to high osmolarity outside the cell, the bacteria produces compatible solutes (osmolytes) to increase the osmolarity of fluid inside the such that it becomes isotonic with the fluid outside the cell and prevents loss of water from inside the cell.