adjective indicating a bacterium is able to grow in either the presence or absence of an environmental factor (i e for oxygen, facultative anaerobe; for growth inside cells, facultative intracellular)
Of such a character as to admit of existing under various forms or conditions, or of happening or not happening, or the like; Having the power to live under different conditions; as, a facultative parasite, a plant which is normally saprophytic, but which may exist wholly or in part as a parasite; opposed to obligate
Having the capacity to live under more than one specific set of environmental conditions, as an animal or plant that can live in either a wetland or upland environment (opposed to obligate)
Facultative reinsurance means reinsurance of individual risks by offer and acceptance wherein the reinsurer retains the "faculty" to accept or reject each risk offered
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
Indicates that a bacterium is able to grow in the presence or absence of an environmental condition (e g , facultative aerobe can grow in environments with or without oxygen)
Facultative bacteria can use either molecular (dissolved) oxygen or oxygen obtained from food material such as sulfate or nitrate ions In other words, facultative bacteria can live under aerobic or anaerobic conditions
Literally means "optional"; an adjective used to describe that an environmental factor is optionally (not necessarily) required for an organism to grow For example, a facultative anaerobe can normally grow in the presence of oxygen but alternatively, it can also grow without oxygen
A group of microorganisms which prefer or preferentially use molecular oxygen when available, but are capable of suing other pathways for energy and synthesis if molecular oxygen is not available
not compulsory; "facultative courses in the sciences" granting a privilege or permission or power to do or not do something; "a facultative enactment" able to exist under more than one set of conditions; "a facultative parasite can exist as a parasite or a saprophyte" of or relating to the mental faculties