Question
UPSC Prelims 2021 Question:
Consider the following
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Virus
Which of the above can be cultured in artificial/synthetic medium?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Option 1: 1 and 2 only
Detailed Solution
Explanation:
- Microbes like bacteria and many fungi can be grown on nutritive media to form colonies that can be seen with the naked eye. Thus, both bacteria and fungi can be cultured in artificial/synthetic medium. So, points 1 and point 2 are correct.
- Viruses are totally dependent on a host cell for replication (i.e., they are strict intracellular parasites). Since viruses lack metabolic machinery of their own and are totally dependent on their host cell for replication, they cannot be grown in synthetic culture media. So, point 3 is not correct
Therefore, option (1) is the correct answer.
Subject: Science & Technology | Recent Developments
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Last updated on March, 2026
