What are the differences between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Aerobic bacteria

Anaerobic bacteria

Definition

Aerobic microorganisms are organisms that need oxygen to survive

Anaerobic bacteria are the microbes that are able to perform cellular respiration without oxygen

Final electron acceptors

Oxygen is the final electron acceptor

Sulfur, nitrate, carbon dioxide, and sulfur are some of the final electron acceptors

Toxicity to oxygen

Are not toxic to oxygen

Are highly toxic to oxygen

Efficiency of energy production

Energy generation is high

Energy generation is low

Required media for microbial growth

Requires oxygen-rich media

Obligate anaerobes require oxygen-free media for their growth

Presence of oxygen detoxifying enzymes

Occurs in aerobic bacteria

Is not present in anaerobic bacteria

Processes involved

TCA cycle, glycolysis, and electron transport chain

Glycolysis and fermentation

Types

Obligate aerobes, facultative aerobes, aerotolerant aerobes and microaerophiles

Obligate and facultative

Growth

Aerobic bacteria grow at the top of the test tube

Anaerobic bacteria grow at the bottom of the test tube

Basis of differentiation	Aerobic bacteria	Anaerobic bacteria
Definition	Aerobic microorganisms are organisms that need oxygen to survive	Anaerobic bacteria are the microbes that are able to perform cellular respiration without oxygen
Final electron acceptors	Oxygen is the final electron acceptor	Sulfur, nitrate, carbon dioxide, and sulfur are some of the final electron acceptors
Toxicity to oxygen	Are not toxic to oxygen	Are highly toxic to oxygen
Efficiency of energy production	Energy generation is high	Energy generation is low
Required media for microbial growth	Requires oxygen-rich media	Obligate anaerobes require oxygen-free media for their growth
Presence of oxygen detoxifying enzymes	Occurs in aerobic bacteria	Is not present in anaerobic bacteria
Processes involved	TCA cycle, glycolysis, and electron transport chain	Glycolysis and fermentation
Types	Obligate aerobes, facultative aerobes, aerotolerant aerobes and microaerophiles	Obligate and facultative
Growth	Aerobic bacteria grow at the top of the test tube	Anaerobic bacteria grow at the bottom of the test tube