Question

Which of the following is a primary metabolite?

• A. Antibiotics
• B. Ethanol
• C. Penicillin
• D. Taxol

Hint:

• Primary metabolites Essential for growth, development, reproduction. Produced during active growth. Examples: amino acids, alcohols, organic acids, vitamins, nucleotides.
• Secondary metabolites Not essential for growth. Often have ecological roles or specialized functions. Examples: antibiotics, pigments, toxins, alkaloids.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

In biotechnology, primary metabolites are compounds that are directly involved in the normal growth, development, and reproduction of organisms. They are typically produced during the active growth phase of an organism and include substances such as amino acids, nucleotides, and ethanol.

Let's analyze the given options:

Option	Analysis
Antibiotics	These are secondary metabolites, typically used by organisms as defense mechanisms and not required for growth.
Ethanol	This is a primary metabolite involved in anaerobic respiration, a normal metabolic process.
Penicillin	It is a type of antibiotic, thus a secondary metabolite.
Taxol	Taxol is a secondary metabolite used in defense and not essential for organism growth.

From this analysis, Ethanol is the correct answer as it is a primary metabolite.