Microbial Nutrition and Growth

Macronutrients

Nutrients required in relatively large quantities that play principal roles in cell structure and metabolism.

Micronutrients

Trace elements present in much smaller amounts, involved in enzyme function and maintenance of protein structure.

Saprobes

Organisms that obtain nutrients from decomposing organic matter; important for recycling nutrients into ecosystems.

Parasites

Organisms that live on or in a host and may cause harm by obtaining nutrients from the host.

Diffusion

The movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Osmosis

The movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane, from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration.

Isotonic Solution

A solution where the solute concentration is equal to that of the cell's internal environment, resulting in no net movement of water.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution with a lower solute concentration compared to the cell's interior, leading to water entering the cell and