Question

Why is it possible for different microorganisms to extract energy not only from carbohydrates and other biological molecules but from a large variety of substances, such as petroleum, methane, benzene, toluene and even inorganic molecules, such as hydrogen, sulfur, ammonia, and iron?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Due to lack of food availability of a specific type the microbial strains might have undergone with adaptation due to natural selection. This resulted in switching to multiple sources of chemical substances as a source of food and energy.