methanogen

—methanogenic, adj.

/me than"euh jeuhn, -jen'/, n.

any of a diverse group of widely distributed archaebacteria that occur in anaerobic environments, as the intestinal tracts of animals, freshwater and marine sediments, and sewage, and are capable of producing methane from a limited number of substrates, including carbon dioxide and hydrogen, acetate, and methylamines: an important source of natural gas.

[1975-80; METHANE- + -O- + -GEN]

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