Question

Describe how to detect the presence of a non-culturable prokaryote in an environmental sample.

a) Observe cell division under a microscope
b) Perform PCR amplification of specific genes
c) Cultivate in nutrient-rich media
d) Assess growth on agar plates

Answer 1

To detect non-culturable prokaryotes in an environmental sample, molecular biology techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to detect the presence of a non-culturable prokaryote in an environmental sample, molecular biology techniques are used. One common method is Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), which amplifies specific portions of prokaryotic DNA to demonstrate their existence.

This technique can make billions of copies of a DNA segment in a process called amplification. By amplifying selected portions of DNA, such as 16S rRNA genes, microbiologists can detect and identify non-culturable prokaryotes in the sample.