Certain types of bacteria can metabolize alkanes: they prefer even-numbered carbon chains as they are easier to degrade than odd-numbered chains.
sˈɜːʔn̩ tˈaɪps ʌv bæktˈɪɹiə kæn mətˈæbəlˌaɪz ˈælkeɪnz: ðeɪ pɹɪfˈɜːɹ ˈiːvənnˈʌmbɚd kˈɑːɹbən tʃˈeɪnz æz ðeɪ ɑːɹ ˈiːziɚ tə dᵻɡɹˈeɪd ðɐn ˈɑːdnˈʌmbɚd tʃˈeɪnz.