The term microbiota refers to which of the following?

• A. The community of microorganisms living in a particular environment, such as the human gut.
• B. The structural components of a bacterial cell wall.
• C. The process by which bacteria reproduce through binary fission.
• D. The genetic material of all microorganisms in a specific environment.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Begin by understanding the term 'microbiota'. It refers to the community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that inhabit a particular environment.
2. Consider the context in which microbiota is often discussed, such as the human gut, skin, or other ecosystems where these microorganisms live symbiotically.
3. Differentiate microbiota from other terms like 'microbiome', which refers to the genetic material of all microorganisms in a specific environment.
4. Recognize that microbiota does not refer to the structural components of a bacterial cell wall or the process of bacterial reproduction through binary fission.
5. Conclude that the correct definition of microbiota is the community of microorganisms living in a particular environment, such as the human gut.