Question

Which group of prokaryotes aids digestion in cattle, deer, and other animals that obtain nutrition from cellulose?

Answer 1

Answer:

Methanogens are group of prokaryotes that aids digestion in cattle, deer, and other animals that obtain nutrition from cellulose.

Explanation:

Methanogens are microorganisms capable of methane production. They belong to the domain Archaea. Methanogenic archaea which reside primarily in the rumen produces methane through the reduction of methanol with hydrogen. Methane produced by the methanogens aids in keeping the hydrogen concentrations low in the rumen, this allows the growth of other species which in turns enable more efficient fermentation.

The majority of the anaerobic microbes which occupy the rumen initiate the fermentation process thereby assisting the cellulose breakdown. Methanogens uses the end products of fermentation as substrates to reduce carbon dioxide, formic acid, or methylamines to methane.

Some terms explained:

Prokaryotes:  are unicellular organisms and they do not have nucleus that houses their genetic material. Examples are organisms like bacteria, methanogens.

Ruminant: They include cattle, deer, goat. They have a unique digestive system which comprises of four-compartment stomach (rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum). With the help of microbes in the specialized somach, they are able to ferment ingested forages to aquire nutrients.