MIB3703 Assignment 2 Semester 2 | Due 17 September 2025. Ensure your success with us

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MIB3703 Assignment
2 Semester 2 | Due 17
September 2025
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MIB3703 Assignment 2 Semester 2 Memo |
Due 17 September 2025
Course

 Microbial Diversity (MIB3703)
 Institution
 University Of South Africa (Unisa)
 Book
 Prescott\'s Microbiology

MIB3703 Assignment 2 Semester 2 Memo | Due 17 September 2025. All
questions fully answered.



QUESTION 1 [15] Discuss the role of light-harvesting pigments in bacteria
and compare the photosynthetic pigments and photosynthetic mechanisms
in both oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria.

The Role of Light-Harvesting Pigments in Bacteria
Light-harvesting pigments are essential for capturing solar energy and converting it into
chemical energy during photosynthesis. In bacteria, these pigments:

 Absorb photons at specific wavelengths and transfer the energy to reaction centers.
 Expand the range of usable light, allowing bacteria to exploit different ecological
niches (e.g., shaded aquatic zones).
 Protect cells from photo-oxidative damage by dissipating excess light energy.

Thus, light-harvesting pigments increase efficiency and adaptability of bacterial photosynthesis.




Photosynthetic Pigments in Bacteria
1. Oxygenic Photosynthetic Bacteria (e.g., Cyanobacteria)

 Main pigments:
o Chlorophyll a – the primary pigment in reaction centers.
o Accessory pigments: phycobiliproteins (phycocyanin, phycoerythrin) organized
into phycobilisomes.