Extremophiles are microorganisms that can survive and proliferate in extreme environments. One group of such microorganisms are lithotrophs. These are found deep beneath the Earth's surface, living on rocks under anaerobic conditions and surviving on CO2 as their sole source of carbon. Imagine that you are studying a newly discovered lithotroph and are trying to determine what it uses as a source of electrons for reducing CO2 and for producing energy. Which one of the following conditions must be met for a molecule to serve as a useful electron donor? Oxidation of the molecule occurs with a decrease in free energy. Oxidation of the molecule occurs with an increase in free energy. O Reduction of the molecule occurs with a decrease in free energy. Reduction of the molecule occurs with an increase in free energy.

Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (MindTap Course List)
5th Edition
ISBN:9781305117396
Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
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Chapter13: Early Life Forms And The Viruses
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Extremophiles are microorganisms that can survive and proliferate in extreme environments. One group of such microorganisms are lithotrophs. These are found deep
beneath the Earth's surface, living on rocks under anaerobic conditions and surviving on CO2 as their sole source of
carbon.
Imagine that you are studying a newly discovered lithotroph and are trying to determine what it uses as a source of electrons for reducing CO2 and for producing energy.
Which one of the following conditions must be met for a molecule to serve as a useful electron donor?
Oxidation of the molecule occurs with a decrease in free energy.
Oxidation of the molecule occurs with an increase in free energy.
Reduction of the molecule occurs with a decrease in free energy.
O Reduction of the molecule occurs with an increase in free energy.
Transcribed Image Text:Extremophiles are microorganisms that can survive and proliferate in extreme environments. One group of such microorganisms are lithotrophs. These are found deep beneath the Earth's surface, living on rocks under anaerobic conditions and surviving on CO2 as their sole source of carbon. Imagine that you are studying a newly discovered lithotroph and are trying to determine what it uses as a source of electrons for reducing CO2 and for producing energy. Which one of the following conditions must be met for a molecule to serve as a useful electron donor? Oxidation of the molecule occurs with a decrease in free energy. Oxidation of the molecule occurs with an increase in free energy. Reduction of the molecule occurs with a decrease in free energy. O Reduction of the molecule occurs with an increase in free energy.
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