Question

A mixed culture of Escherichia coli and Penicillium chrysogenum is inoculated onto the following culture media. On which medium would you expect each to grow? Why?
a. 0.5% peptone in tap water
b. 10% glucose in tap water

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Understand the nutritional requirements and growth preferences of Escherichia coli and Penicillium chrysogenum. E. coli is a bacterium that typically requires organic nitrogen sources like peptone and can grow in relatively simple media. Penicillium chrysogenum is a fungus that generally prefers carbohydrate-rich environments and can tolerate higher sugar concentrations. Step 2: Analyze medium (a) which contains 0.5% peptone in tap water. Peptone provides peptides and amino acids, serving as a nitrogen and carbon source suitable for bacterial growth. Since E. coli can utilize peptone effectively, it is expected to grow well on this medium. Penicillium may not grow well here because the medium lacks sufficient carbohydrates. Step 3: Analyze medium (b) which contains 10% glucose in tap water. This medium is rich in sugar but lacks nitrogen sources like peptone. Penicillium chrysogenum can utilize high glucose concentrations for growth, as fungi often thrive in carbohydrate-rich environments. E. coli, however, may not grow well due to the absence of nitrogen sources necessary for protein synthesis. Step 4: Summarize the expected growth: E. coli is expected to grow on the 0.5% peptone medium due to available nitrogen and carbon sources, while Penicillium chrysogenum is expected to grow on the 10% glucose medium due to its ability to metabolize high sugar concentrations. Step 5: Conclude by explaining that the differences in metabolic capabilities and nutrient requirements between bacteria and fungi determine their growth on these selective media.

A mixed culture of Escherichia coli and Penicillium chrysogenum is inoculated onto the following culture media. On which medium would you expect each to grow? Why?
a. 0.5% peptone in tap water
b. 10% glucose in tap water

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

Key Concepts

Nutritional Requirements of Microorganisms

Osmotic Pressure and Its Effect on Microbial Growth

Selective Growth Media and Microbial Competition

A mixed culture of Escherichia coli and Penicillium chrysogenum is inoculated onto the following culture media. On which medium would you expect each to grow? Why?a. 0.5% peptone in tap waterb. 10% glucose in tap water

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

Key Concepts

Nutritional Requirements of Microorganisms

Osmotic Pressure and Its Effect on Microbial Growth

Selective Growth Media and Microbial Competition

A mixed culture of Escherichia coli and Penicillium chrysogenum is inoculated onto the following culture media. On which medium would you expect each to grow? Why?
a. 0.5% peptone in tap water
b. 10% glucose in tap water