Which microorganism is correctly matched with its industrial use?
(1) Streptococcus – Vinegar production
(2) Rhizobium – Antibiotic production
(3) Saccharomyces – Alcohol fermentation
(4) Penicillium – Nitrogen fixation
Answer (2)
The correct microorganism matched with its industrial use is (3) Saccharomyces – Alcohol fermentation. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used for fermenting sugars into alcohol during beer brewing and bread making. The other options are inaccurately matched with their respective uses.
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In the context of industrial uses of microorganisms, it’s important to understand which organism is used for which specific process. Below is an explanation of each option provided, along with the correct match:
Streptococcus – Vinegar production : Streptococcus is not typically used in vinegar production. Vinegar is commonly produced through the fermentation of ethanol by acetic acid bacteria such as Acetobacter .
Rhizobium – Antibiotic production : Rhizobium is mainly known for its role in nitrogen fixation in the roots of leguminous plants, not for antibiotic production. Antibiotics are commonly produced by fungi like Penicillium or bacteria like Streptomyces .
Saccharomyces – Alcohol fermentation : This is the correct match. Saccharomyces cerevisiae , also known as brewer's or baker's yeast, is widely used in the fermentation of sugars to produce alcohol. This process is fundamental in the production of alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and spirits.
Penicillium – Nitrogen fixation : Penicillium is not involved in nitrogen fixation. It is a genus of fungi well-known for its role in the production of the antibiotic penicillin.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 3: Saccharomyces – Alcohol fermentation .
This understanding is essential as microorganisms play vital roles in various industrial and biotechnological processes. Each microorganism has specific characteristics that make it suitable for certain industrial applications.
