Fill in the blank

____ bacteria can't survive without oxygen.
A. Gram-negative
B. Anaerobic
C. Gram-positive
D. Aerobic

B. Anaerobic

B. Anaerobic

The answer to the question is B. Anaerobic bacteria can't survive without oxygen. To understand why, we need to understand the difference between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.

Aerobic bacteria are organisms that require oxygen for survival and growth. They use oxygen for cellular respiration, which is the process by which they convert nutrients into energy. These bacteria have enzymes, called aerobic enzymes, that enable them to use oxygen efficiently.

On the other hand, anaerobic bacteria are organisms that do not require oxygen for survival. They do not possess the necessary enzymes to utilize oxygen, and in some cases, oxygen can even be toxic to them. Anaerobic bacteria obtain energy through alternative metabolic pathways that do not require oxygen. For example, some anaerobic bacteria can use fermentation or other anaerobic respiration methods.

To determine which bacteria can't survive without oxygen, we look at the options provided.

A. Gram-negative: This term refers to a classification of bacteria based on the structure of their cell walls. Gram-negative bacteria can be both aerobic and anaerobic, so it does not definitively answer the question.

B. Anaerobic: This term specifically refers to bacteria that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen. Therefore, this is the correct answer.

C. Gram-positive: Similar to gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria can also be both aerobic and anaerobic, so it does not definitively answer the question.

D. Aerobic: This term refers specifically to bacteria that require oxygen for their survival. It is the opposite of anaerobic. Therefore, it is not the correct answer in this case.

In summary, anaerobic bacteria cannot survive without oxygen.