Basis of differentiation | Aerobic bacteria | Anaerobic bacteria |
Definition | Aerobic microorganisms are organisms that need oxygen to survive | Anaerobic bacteria are the microbes that are able to perform cellular respiration without oxygen |
Final electron acceptors | Oxygen is the final electron acceptor | Sulfur, nitrate, carbon dioxide, and sulfur are some of the final electron acceptors |
Toxicity to oxygen | Are not toxic to oxygen | Are highly toxic to oxygen |
Efficiency of energy production | Energy generation is high | Energy generation is low |
Required media for microbial growth | Requires oxygen-rich media | Obligate anaerobes require oxygen-free media for their growth |
Presence of oxygen detoxifying enzymes | Occurs in aerobic bacteria | Is not present in anaerobic bacteria |
Processes involved | TCA cycle, glycolysis, and electron transport chain | Glycolysis and fermentation |
Types | Obligate aerobes, facultative aerobes, aerotolerant aerobes and microaerophiles | Obligate and facultative |
Growth | Aerobic bacteria grow at the top of the test tube | Anaerobic bacteria grow at the bottom of the test tube |