alleryStart learning →Which organisms carry out biological nitrogen fixation?
AProkaryotes alone, including cyanobacteria
BFungi alone, including yeasts and soil molds
CGreen plants alone, including legumes
DAnimals alone, including grazing cattle
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Prokaryotes alone, including cyanobacteria
1. Eukaryotes cannot use gaseous atmospheric nitrogen to build macromolecules.
2. Biological nitrogen fixation is carried out exclusively by prokaryotes.
3. The fixers include soil bacteria, cyanobacteria and Frankia species that partner actinorhizal plants.
4. Legumes benefit from fixation but rely on their bacterial symbionts to perform it.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 22 "Prokaryotes: Bacteria and Archaea", section 22.5 Beneficial Prokaryotes_
Keep practising Bacteriology
Browse all Bacteriology questions for NCK Licensing Exam (Nursing), or explore more Microbiology topics.
Related questions
Catch the prokaryotic parts onlySplit helpful microbes from harmfulName the microbe behind each clueBuild a biofilm stage by stageSort the two Gram stain groupsWhich structure lets some soil bacteria survive heat and drought until conditions improve?Commensal bacteria on the skin and in the gut benefit their human host in which way?How do bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa help clear mercury pollution?