An organic solvent widely used in industrial processes-1,1,1- trichloroethane TCA)-is a major environmental pollutant affecting human health and damaging the ozone layer. Recently, researchers isolated the first bacteria able to degrade TCA. They found that the bacteria use hydrogen as an electron donor, TCA as electron acceptor, and acetate as a carbon source. Based on the preceding information, deduce the method used to isolate these bacteria.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Enrichment culture is a technique used to isolate microorganisms from environmental samples based on their ability to grow in a specific culture medium with a particular substrate as the sole source of energy and/or carbon. In this case, the researchers used TCA as the substrate in a culture medium to select for bacteria that can degrade TCA. The fact that they found bacteria using hydrogen as an electron donor suggests that they may have performed an anaerobic enrichment culture.

An Organic Solvent Widely Used in Industrial Processes-1,1,1- Trichloroethane TCA)-Is