Cultures of a bacterial species were incubated on the shelf of a refrigerator, out on a lab bench top, on the shelf of a 37°C incubator and on the shelf of a 50°C incubator.After incubation, there was no growth at 37°C and 50°C, slight growth out on the bench top and abundant growth at refrigeration.What term could be used for this species?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the bacterial species exhibited abundant growth at refrigeration (which is typically around 4°C) suggests that it is adapted to these lower temperatures, and therefore would be classified as a psychrophile. The lack of growth at 37°C and 50°C rules out mesophiles and thermophiles, and there is no information provided about oxygen requirements or carbon dioxide preferences, so we cannot infer whether it is an anaerobe or capnophile. The term halophile refers to an organism that thrives in high salt concentrations, which is not relevant to this scenario.

Cultures of a Bacterial Species Were Incubated on the Shelf