Figure 5.6
-The rates of O₂ and glucose consumption by a bacterial culture are shown in Figure 5.6.Assume a bacterial culture was grown in a glucose medium without O₂.Then O₂ was added at the time marked X.The data indicate that
A)these bacteria don't use O₂.
B)these bacteria get more energy anaerobically.
C)aerobic metabolism is more efficient than fermentation.
D)these bacteria cannot grow anaerobically.

Question

Figure 5.6 
-The rates of O₂ and glucose consumption by a bacterial culture are shown in Figure 5.6.Assume a bacterial culture was grown in a glucose medium without O₂.Then O₂ was added at the time marked X.The data indicate that
A)these bacteria don't use O₂. 
B)these bacteria get more energy anaerobically. 
C)aerobic metabolism is more efficient than fermentation. 
D)these bacteria cannot grow anaerobically.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The graph shows that before time X, the bacteria were consuming glucose without the presence of O₂. After time X, when O₂ was added, the rate of glucose consumption increased, indicating that the bacteria switched to aerobic metabolism. This suggests that the bacteria can use both anaerobic fermentation and aerobic metabolism for energy production, but the latter is more efficient. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer.

Figure 5.6 -The Rates of O₂ and Glucose Consumption by a Bacterial