Metabolism of a Microbe is Best Examined by Growing the Organism

Question

Metabolism of a microbe is best examined by growing the organism in a
A) defined medium.
B) complex medium.
C) spread plate.
D) pour plate.
E) cell culture.

Accepted Answer

A defined medium contains a known composition of nutrients and is ideal for examining a microbe's metabolism because it allows for precise control of what the microbe is consuming and producing. In contrast, a complex medium contains a variety of nutrients that may not be necessary for studying a specific metabolic pathway. Spread plates and pour plates are used for bacterial enumeration and isolation, while cell culture is typically used for studying eukaryotic metabolism.