Suppose that a meteorite crashes into Earth and a sample of it is taken to a local research lab for analysis. Embedded several inches within the rocky structure, a microscopic cluster of dormant, spore-like structures is found. The scientists culture some of this material in a standard microbiological nutrient broth, and they are surprised to find many single-celled "organisms" moving around, growing, and reproducing in the broth. The "organisms" behave the same in both daylight and dark conditions, do not require oxygen, and thrive under a wide range of temperatures and pH levels. They stop moving, growing, and reproducing, however, when fewer nutrients are available in the medium. In this scenario, the "organisms" most closely resemble a(n)

Archaea is a domain of organisms that are single cells and lack nucleus and are prokaryotic in nature. that behave the same in day and light conditions without oxygen.

Archaea species can live under extreme conditions like temperature and pH. They can not produce their own nutrition so they depend on the medium or other modes for their nutrition.

Thus, the found organism most closely resembles the - heterotrophic species of the archaea.