Q. Consider the following:- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Virus
Which of the above can be cultured in artificial/synthetic medium? (UPSC Prelims 2021)
Answer:
1 and 2 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[A] 1 and 2 only. The ability to grow a microorganism in an artificial or synthetic medium depends on whether the organism is a free-living cell or an obligate intracellular parasite.
- Bacteria (1 – Correct): Most bacteria are free-living organisms that can be grown on synthetic media such as agar plates or liquid broths. These media provide the necessary carbon, nitrogen, and mineral sources for the bacteria to multiply independently.
- Fungi (2 – Correct): Fungi, including yeasts and molds, can be easily cultured in artificial media (e.g., Potato Dextrose Agar). Like bacteria, they possess their own cellular machinery to process nutrients and grow outside a host body.
- Virus (3 – Incorrect): Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites. They lack their own metabolic machinery and can only replicate inside a living host cell (animal, plant, or bacterial). Therefore, they cannot be grown in an artificial/synthetic medium like agar. They require living tissue, such as chick embryos or cell cultures, for propagation.