Question

Cultures of a bacterial species were incubated on the shelf of a refrigerator, out on a lab bench top, on the shelf of a 37°C incubator, and on the shelf of a 50°C incubator. After incubation, there was no growth at 37°C and 50°C, very slight growth out on the bench top, and abundant growth at refrigeration. What term could be used for this species?

Answer 1

Answer:

The term which can be used for this species is psychrophile. Psychrophilic bacteria are the bacteria which love to grow at low temperature. The optimum they like to grow is 15°c and the highest temperature they grow is 20°c.  

The minimal temperature a psychrophile grows is zero degree Celsius so a psychrophile can grow easily at refrigeration temperature which is 4°c. Phychrotrops are bacteria which can grow at cold temperature but tends to grow well above 15-20°c.

Therefore according to this question, there was no growth at 37°C and 50°C, very slight growth out on the benchtop, and abundant growth at refrigeration which determine that the species is a psychrophile.