Cold temperatures are considered microbiostatic, whereas excessive heat is consi
ID: 133111 • Letter: C
Question
Cold temperatures are considered microbiostatic, whereas excessive heat is considered microbiocidal. This is due to the fact that
Select one:
a. cold temperatures freeze and therefore kill the cell, whereas excess heat keeps the cell metabolically active but not dividing.
b. in cold temperatures, the energy of activation is not sufficient to drive chemical reactions regardless of the presence of enzymes, whereas excessive heat denatures enzymes and/or incinerates the cell causing irreparable damage.
c. cold temperatures halt binary fission and is therefore considered a sterilant, whereas heat does not kill spores so it is not an effective method of control.
d. cold temperatures denature enzymes causing irreparable damage to the cell, whereas heat limits the energy of activation available to drive chemical reactions.
Explanation / Answer
Answer. Option b
Low temperature acts as microbiostatic because the microbes remains inactive as they cannot reproduce at such lower temperature.
Microbiocidal conditions are created when the high temperature is done. Proteins are sensitive to high temperature because permanent damage occur to their structure as a result they die. This method is quite effective than the previous one.