Multiple Choice
How do herbivores obtain the nitrogen they need?
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35. Soil
Nitrogen Fixation
Multiple Choice
Which of the following is one of the key components of the nitrogen cycle?
A
Photosynthesis
B
Glycolysis
C
Transcription
D
Nitrogen fixation
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the nitrogen cycle: The nitrogen cycle is a biogeochemical process that describes how nitrogen moves through the atmosphere, soil, water, and living organisms. It includes processes like nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, and denitrification.
Identify nitrogen fixation: Nitrogen fixation is the process by which atmospheric nitrogen (N₂), which is inert and unusable by most organisms, is converted into ammonia (NH₃) or related compounds that can be used by plants and other organisms.
Recognize the role of nitrogen fixation: Nitrogen fixation is primarily carried out by certain bacteria and archaea, either free-living in the soil or in symbiotic relationships with plants (e.g., Rhizobium bacteria in legume root nodules). These microorganisms use the enzyme nitrogenase to catalyze the conversion of N₂ into ammonia.
Compare the options: Photosynthesis, glycolysis, and transcription are unrelated to the nitrogen cycle. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy, glycolysis is a metabolic pathway for breaking down glucose, and transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from DNA.
Conclude that nitrogen fixation is the correct answer: Based on the explanation above, nitrogen fixation is a key component of the nitrogen cycle, as it allows atmospheric nitrogen to be converted into a form usable by living organisms.
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