Discuss some of the varied metabolic activities of bacteria. What are some inter

Question

Discuss some of the varied metabolic activities of bacteria. What are some interesting things that certain bacteria can metabolize? Are there any benefits to us from some of these metabolic activities? Discuss some of the varied metabolic activities of bacteria. What are some interesting things that certain bacteria can metabolize? Are there any benefits to us from some of these metabolic activities? Discuss some of the varied metabolic activities of bacteria. What are some interesting things that certain bacteria can metabolize? Are there any benefits to us from some of these metabolic activities?

Explanation / Answer

I will take the example of denitrifying bacteria.

All bacteria are not aerobic. Some of them are anaerobic. They use sources other than oxygen as electron acceptors. For eg: - some bacteria use nitrate as electron acceptor. These are known as denitrifying bacteria. They reduce or metabolise nitrate to nitrite, then to nitric oxide, nitrous oxide and finally to dinitrogen (N2). Now, this activity helps then to generate the proton pump for ATP generation.

But this activity is useful for humans also. Some intermediates of denitrification like nitrous oxide are components of green house gases. All green house gases combine with ozone and sunlight to form acid rain. These bacteria convert these green house gases into N2.    

second, denitrification also reduces eutrophication.

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