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What are at least 3 organisms that need oxygen to survive

User Honesta
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Final answer:

Humans, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and larger animals with complex respiratory systems like those with gills or lungs, are organisms that require oxygen to survive due to their metabolic functions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Organisms that need oxygen to survive can be classified as obligate aerobes. Humans are a prime example, as they use oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor in the process of cellular respiration to produce energy in the form of ATP. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, known for causing tuberculosis, also falls into this category. They cannot survive without oxygen due to their dependence on aerobic respiration.

Microaerophiles are another group of organisms needing oxygen, albeit at lower concentrations compared to the atmospheric levels. They use special enzymes like peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase to detoxify reactive oxygen species that are harmful to cells. Finally, larger animals, as mentioned, cannot rely on diffusion alone due to increased diffusion distances and have evolved complex respiratory systems, such as gills or lungs, to meet their oxygen demands.

User Pixelbrackets
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