Facultative anaerobe
Facultative Anaerobe
Facultative anaerobes (pronunciation: fuh-KUL-tuh-tiv an-uh-ROHB) are organisms that can survive in both oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor environments. The term is derived from the Latin words facultas, meaning "ability", and anaerobius, meaning "living without air".
Definition
Facultative anaerobes are a type of microorganism that can live and grow in the presence of oxygen (aerobic conditions) or in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic conditions). They do this by adjusting their metabolism to suit the environment they are in.
Characteristics
Facultative anaerobes are capable of aerobic respiration when oxygen is present, but can switch to anaerobic respiration or fermentation when oxygen is scarce. This adaptability gives them a survival advantage in fluctuating environments.
Examples
Examples of facultative anaerobes include certain species of bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus, and some types of yeast. These organisms are often found in environments where oxygen levels can vary, such as soil and water, and in the human body, where they can cause infections under certain conditions.
Related Terms
- Aerobe: An organism that can survive and grow in an oxygenated environment.
- Anaerobe: An organism that can survive and grow in an environment without oxygen.
- Obligate anaerobe: An organism that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen.
- Microaerophile: An organism that requires oxygen to survive, but at lower concentrations than are present in the atmosphere.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Facultative anaerobe
- Wikipedia's article - Facultative anaerobe
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