bmic topic 3.1 microbial nutrition

what are essential nutrients?

substances that is required for growth but cannot be synthesised by the organism and thus must be provided in the medium

what are the types of nutrients?

macronutrients micronutrients organic nutrients inorganic nutrients

what are macronutrients?

required in large quantities

what are the elements in macronutrients?

C N H O S P

what are C N H O needed for?

the synthesis of cell molecules such as proteins and DNA

what are micronutrients

required in minute quantities, includes trace elements and growth factors

what are organic nutrients?

growth factors and organic carbon sources

what are inorganic nutrients?

mineral salts

what are carbon sources?

heterotrophs autotrophs

what are heterotrophs?

organisms that use reduced, performed organic substances as a carbon source

most bacteria except photosynthetic, protozoa and fungi are heterotrophs

what are autotrophs?

organisms that can use CO2 as their sole source of carbon.

photosynthetic bacteria and algae are autotrophs

what are the energy sources?

phototrophs and chemotrophs

what are phototrophs?

use light as their energy source

what are chemotrophs?

obtain energy from the oxidation of organic or inorganic compounds

what are prototrophs?

microorganisms that can synthesise all the growth factors they require

what are auxotrophs?

require certain growth factors to be included in the growth medium and are often mutants which does not exist naturally.