Question

Which among the following statements are correct?
A. Compared to many other organisms, bacteria as a group show the most extensive metabolic diversity.
B. Mycoplasma die in the absence of oxygen.
C. Cyanobacteria often form blooms in polluted water bodies.
D. No pathogenic mycoplasmas have been found so far.

Answer 1

Bacteria show a wide range of metabolic diversity. For example, in terms of nutrition, they could be autotrophic, chemotrophic and heterotrophic. Hence, we see a wide range of metabolic activities.

In the presence of high amount of nutrients and suitable abiotic factors in polluted water bodies (eutrophication), there is a luxuriant growth of the cyanobacteria. This often leads to the formation of blooms in the water bodies which can lead to the death of aquatic animals like the fishes.

Mycoplasmas are organisms that completely lack a cell wall. They are the smallest living cells known and can survive without oxygen. Many mycoplasmas are pathogenic for animals and plants.