Explanation

– 1. Bacteria (Can be cultured): Most heterotrophic and autotrophic bacteria synthesize their own metabolic enzymes and can be cultured in artificial nutrient broths and agar media containing defined carbon sources, nitrogen salts, and minerals (e.g., nutrient broth, synthetic minimal medium for Escherichia coli).
– 2. Fungi (Can be cultured): Yeasts and filamentous molds thrive on synthetic and semi-synthetic microbiological culture media such as Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) and potato dextrose agar (PDA).
– 3. Viruses (Cannot be cultured in synthetic medium): Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites lacking ribosomes, metabolic machinery, and cellular organelles. They cannot replicate in synthetic chemical media alone and require living host cells (such as tissue cultures, embryonated chicken eggs, or intact host organisms) to reproduce.

Hence, only bacteria and fungi can be cultured in artificial/synthetic media — Option A.