Xenobiotic

Definition

A xenobiotic is a chemical compound foreign to a given biological system. These can include drugs, pollutants, and synthetic compounds that are not naturally produced by organisms in an ecosystem.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Xenobiotics often require specific microbial enzymes for degradation and detoxification.
2. Microorganisms play a crucial role in the biotransformation of xenobiotics through metabolic pathways.
3. The presence of xenobiotics can disrupt natural biogeochemical cycles by altering microbial community structures.
4. Bioremediation utilizes microbes to degrade or neutralize xenobiotics in polluted environments.
5. Persistent xenobiotics can accumulate in the food chain, impacting higher trophic levels.

Review Questions

Related terms

Biodegradation: The breakdown of organic substances by natural means, such as by microorganisms.

Bioremediation:

The use of living organisms, primarily microbes, to remove or neutralize contaminants from a polluted area.

Metabolic Pathway: A series of chemical reactions within a cell that lead to the conversion of one substance into another.