Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution
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Correct Answer: Option (D) — Bacteria, microalgae and fungi
Concept & Option Breakdown
Standard Reference VerifiedIndustrial biotechnology extensively uses multiple microbial groups:
- Bacteria: Used for industrial fermentations, recombinant protein production, organic acids (lactic, acetic), antibiotics, and bioremediation.
- Microalgae: Cultivated for biofuels, aquaculture feeds, carotenoids, and single-cell proteins.
- Fungi (including yeasts): Indispensable for brewing, baking (Saccharomyces), enzyme production, organic acids (citric acid by Aspergillus), and antibiotics (penicillin by Penicillium). Therefore, the most comprehensive category (Bacteria, microalgae, and fungi) represents the complete spectrum of industrial microorganisms.
When options are nested/subsets of one another, the most comprehensive and inclusive option is generally the correct UPSC choice.
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