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Facultative vs. Obligate

The main difference between Facultative and Obligate is that the Facultative organisms can obtain energy from any three methods of respiration that are aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, and fermentation, whereas Obligate organisms can get energy from only one process of respiration that is aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, or fermentation.

Key Differences

The facultative parasite can live without the host, while obligate cannot live without a host.
The facultative organism can survive in the absence of oxygen; on the other hand, the obligate organism cannot survive in the lack of oxygen.
Facultative organisms include the only single type that is facultative anaerobes; on the other side of the coin, obligate organisms include two types that are obligate aerobes and obligate anaerobes.
The efficiency of energy production is very high in the facultative organism, whereas the ability of energy production is deficient in the obligate parasite.
Samantha Walker
Apr 27, 2020
Facultative organisms can obtain energy from any three methods of respiration that are aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, and fermentation, whereas obligate organisms can get energy from only one process of respiration that is aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, or fermentation.
Samantha Walker
Apr 27, 2020
Facultative organisms can survive in more than one specific condition; on the opposite side; the obligate parasite can survive in a particular situation.
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Facultative organisms are found throughout the liquid medium but mostly near the surface of the medium; on the other hand, obligate aerobes are found near the surface, whereas obligate anaerobes are found at the bottom of the liquid medium.
The facultative parasite can live independently in half of its life; on the other hand, the obligate parasite cannot live as independently.
Facultative organisms can live inside or outside the host; on the flip side, obligate organisms can live only in the host.

Comparison Chart

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Facultative organisms can obtain energy from any three methods of respiration that are aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, and fermentation
Obligate organisms can get energy from only one process of respiration that is aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, or fermentation

Condition

It can live in more than one specific conditions
It can live only a particular condition

Types

It includes only one type that is facultative anaerobes
It consists of two types that are known as obligate aerobes and obligate anaerobes
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Importance of Oxygen

It can live in the presence or absence of oxygen
It cannot live in the lack of oxygen

Habitat

It can live inside and outside of the host
Obligate anaerobes can live only inside the host, and obligate aerobes live outside the host
Harlon Moss
Apr 27, 2020

Parasites

Facultative parasites can live without the host
Obligate parasites cannot live without the host
Aimie Carlson
Apr 27, 2020

In a Liquid Medium

It is present throughout the medium but mostly near the surface
Obligate aerobes are found near the surface of a liquid medium, and obligate anaerobes are found at the bottom of the liquid medium

The Efficiency of Energy Production

It has high energy production efficiency
It has low energy production efficiency
Aimie Carlson
Apr 27, 2020

Facultative and Obligate Definitions

Facultative

Of or relating to a mental faculty.
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Obligate

To compel or constrain by a social, legal, or moral requirement.

Facultative

Capable of occurring or not occurring; contingent.

Obligate

To cause to be grateful or indebted; oblige
We will always be obligated to you for your kindness.

Facultative

Not required or compulsory; optional.

Obligate

To commit (money, for example) in order to fulfill an obligation.

Facultative

Granting permission or authority.

Obligate

Able to exist or survive only in a particular environment or by assuming a particular role
An obligate parasite.
An obligate anaerobe.

Facultative

(Biology) Capable of functioning under varying environmental conditions. Used of certain organisms, such as bacteria that can live with or without oxygen.

Obligate

An obligate organism.

Facultative

Of or relating to faculty, especially to mental faculty.

Obligate

To bind, compel, constrain, or oblige by a social, legal, or moral tie.

Facultative

Not obligate; optional, discretionary or elective.

Obligate

To cause to be grateful or indebted; to oblige.

Facultative

That grants permission or power to do something.

Obligate

To commit (money, for example) in order to fulfill an obligation.

Facultative

(biology) Able to perform a particular life function, or to live generally, in more than one way.
Facultative feeder

Obligate

(biology) Requiring a (specified) way of life, habitat, etc..

Facultative

At which a given function is positive.

Obligate

Indispensable; essential; necessary; obligatory; mandatory; unavoidably invoked.
In addition to being the obligate food source for monarch caterpillars, milkweeds also provide abundant nectar for the adult butterflies.
In some languages such signaling is optional, whereas in others it is obligate.

Facultative

Having relation to the grant or exercise faculty, or authority, privilege, license, or the like hence, optional; as, facultative enactments, or those which convey a faculty, or permission; the facultative referendum of Switzerland is one that is optional with the people and is necessary only when demanded by petition; facultative studies; - opposed to obligatory and compulsory, and sometimes used with to.

Obligate

To bring or place under obligation, moral or legal; to hold by a constraining motive.
That's your true plan - to obligateThe present ministers of state.

Facultative

Of such a character as to admit of existing under various forms or conditions, or of happening or not happening, or the like;

Obligate

To bind or firmly hold to an act; to compel; to constrain; to bind to any act of duty or courtesy by a formal pledge.
That they may not incline or be obligated to any vile or lowly occupations.

Facultative

Pertaining to a faculty or faculties.
In short, there is no facultative plurality in the mind; it is a single organ of true judgment for all purposes, cognitive or practical.

Obligate

Force or compel somebody to do something;
We compel all students to fill out this form

Facultative

Of or relating to the mental faculties

Obligate

Commit in order to fulfill an obligation;
Obligate money

Facultative

Able to exist under more than one set of conditions;
A facultative parasite can exist as a parasite or a saprophyte

Obligate

Bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted;
He's held by a contract
I'll hold you by your promise

Facultative

Granting a privilege or permission or power to do or not do something;
A facultative enactment

Obligate

Restricted to a particular condition of life;
An obligate anaerobe can survive only in the absence of OXYGen

Facultative

Not compulsory;
Facultative courses in the sciences

Facultative vs. Obligate

A facultative organism can live in more than one particular habitats, while the obligate organism can live only in one specific environment. Facultative organisms can obtain energy from any three methods of respiration that are aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, and fermentation, whereas obligate organisms can get energy from only one way of respiration that is aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, or fermentation. The efficiency of energy production in facultative is high, whereas the energy production in obligate is low.

Facultative organism includes only one type that is known as facultative anaerobes, while obligate organism consists of two types that are identified as obligate aerobes and obligate anaerobes. Facultative organisms can live with or without the excess of oxygen; on the other side, obligate organisms cannot live without the excess of oxygen. All the facultative organisms can survive in both the external and internal environments of the host; on the other hand, obligate anaerobes can live only inside the host and obligate aerobes to live outside the host in the external environment.

Facultative parasites spend their half-life as a parasite and half as an independent, whereas obligate parasite spends their whole life as a parasite. A facultative parasite can live without the host; on the other side of the coin, obligate parasites cannot live without the host. Facultative organisms are mainly present throughout the liquid medium but almost near the surface, while obligate anaerobes are present at the bottom of the liquid medium, and obligate aerobes are present near the surface of the liquid medium.

What is Facultative?

Facultative organisms are organisms that can produce their energy. It can live without the oxygen, but if the oxygen is present in the medium, then it can utilize it. Facultative organisms can live in more than one specific condition. It can produce its energy by any of the three methods, such as aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, and fermentation.

It can also live without the host and can spend most of its life as independently. Facultative organisms contain only a single type known as facultative anaerobes. Facultative anaerobes are found near the surface of the liquid medium. It includes facultative fungi, facultative bacteria, and facultative protozoans.

What is Obligate?

Obligate organisms are organisms that cannot produce their energy. That’s why its energy production efficiency is very low. It also cannot survive in the absence of an excess of oxygen. The obligate parasite can live only in specific conditions. It can produce its energy only by one of the three methods, such as aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, and fermentation.

Obligate organisms include two types that are obligate aerobes and obligate anaerobes. Obligate aerobes can live only inside the host, and obligate anaerobes can live outside the host. It spends all of its life as a parasite. Obligate aerobes are found at the surface of the liquid medium, whereas obligate anaerobes are found at the bottom of the liquid medium. It includes obligate fungi, obligate bacteria, obligate protozoa.

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