Question

1. # of pathways to use: 4. Scenario 1 : a microbe that requires oxygen and sugars for its metabolism, also requires to maximize its fast growth specially because sugar availability comes as short pulses where it lives. This microbe really needs to be in surfaces because of O₂ but does not fix CO₂ with sunlight, and when things get tough can switch its metabolism off to form spores.

2. # of pathways to use: 3-4. Scenario 2: a microbe to be taken to a new colony in Mars where there will be not sugars, low oxygen, no organic nitrogen, but yes minerals nutrients and a low but possible way to acquire water. Need to handle well tanning given high sun light exposure, can survive well in dry desert-like conditions scavenging any little water by condensation of air humidity and living inside rocks.
3. # of pathways to use: 4. Scenario 3: A microbe that lives in the Gastrointestinal tract where a lot of sugars come its way but the fight to get oxygen is very harsh and then many times it needs to switch to alternative metabolism that does not require oxygen since environment is very frequently anoxygenic.
4. # of pathways to use: 3. Scenario 4: a microbe that can be fed with landfill gas plus O₂ from the air, it has the advantage to connect their catabolism and anabolism with the same substrate hence became independent of sugar presence, no need of light or accessory ways to harvest light.
5. # of pathways to use: 4. Scenario 5: a microbe that lives in sediments of shallow lakes of Arizona, in such lakes some lights penetrates but there is no oxygen detectable. The light is not too strong for overexcitation, also uses an accessory simple mechanism for harvesting extra energy from light. The sediments have a rotten egg smell coming from different forms of sulfur and sulfide.

Using the given scenarios Solve how some pathways would fit together in order to derive energy in the given scenario,

Answer 1

In different scenarios, different pathways fit together to derive energy for the microbes. For example, the microbe in Scenario 1 requires oxygen and sugars for metabolism and fast growth, while the microbe in Scenario 2 can survive in low oxygen and no sugar conditions by scavenging water and living inside rocks.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Scenario 1, the microbe requires oxygen and sugars for metabolism and fast growth. It needs to be in surfaces because of oxygen, but does not fix carbon dioxide with sunlight. It can switch off its metabolism to form spores when conditions are tough.

In Scenario 2, the microbe will be taken to Mars where there will be no sugars, low oxygen, and no organic nitrogen. It can survive in dry desert-like conditions by scavenging water and living inside rocks.In Scenario 3, the microbe lives in the gastrointestinal tract where it fights to get oxygen but has a lot of sugars available. It can switch to alternative metabolism that does not require oxygen when the environment is anaerobic.In Scenario 4, the microbe can be fed with landfill gas and oxygen from the air. It has the advantage of connecting its catabolism and anabolism with the same substrate, becoming independent of sugar presence.In Scenario 5, the microbe lives in sediments of shallow lakes where there is some light but no detectable oxygen. It uses an accessory mechanism for harvesting extra energy from light and can thrive in an environment with sulfur and sulfide.