Question

Construct a concept map by using the terms below. Use branched arrows and/or another concept or two for better linking. Linking phrases must contain a VERB.

Respiration, Amino Acids, O2, CO2, Fermentation, Ammonia, Binary Fission, Photosynthesis, Carbohydrates, Enzymes, Nitrate, Chemolithotrophs

Answer 1

Chemolithotrophs are organisms that utilize inorganic compounds for generation of energy. They make use of inorganic compounds such as ammonia, nitrates, hydrogen sulfide, iron, etc. Chemolithotrophs include sulfur oxidizers, nitrifying bacteria, iron oxidizers and, hydrogen oxidizers.

• These organisms include the prokaryotes and undergoes reproduction through binary fission.
• The compounds are oxidized in the cell and electrons are channeled into respiratory chains, finally producing ATP. In some cases, the electron acceptor can be oxygen (in case of aerobic bacteria).
• They use carbon dioxide as their carbon source in order to produce carbohydrates and are able to fix Carbon dioxide through Calvin cycle. Hence, they can be called autotrophs.
• Chemolithotrophs include nitrifying bacteria which obtain energy by oxidation of inorganic nitrogen compounds. The process of nitrification involves oxidation of ammonia to nitrate.
• Ammonia assimilation occurs when ammonia is incorporated into cellular nitrogen. In this, the inorganic form of nitrogen is reduced to organic nitrogen compounds like amino acids which form the precursor of the formation of several proteins including the enzymes.
• Some chemolithotrophs are able to ferment organic carbon compounds like sugars to other useful forms.