A microscopic organism, usually bacteria, that can survive and thrive without oxygen, getting energy from other chemical reactions instead.
From Greek ana- (without) + aero (air) + bios (life), literally 'life without air.' This microbiology term emerged in the 1800s with the study of bacteria.
Anaerobes are the rebels of the microbial world—they said 'oxygen? Who needs it?' and learned to party in the deep ocean, swamps, and even in your gut. Some are helpful (making yogurt!), and some are dangerous (like the ones that cause gangrene)!
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