Amanda is a microbiologist who studies the pathogenic bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes. In what ways are they (Amanda and the bacteria) similar?

Question

A.  Both have cell walls.
B.  Both have linear chromosomes.
C.  Both have mitochondria for ATP production.
D.  Both are capable of sexual reproduction.
E.  Both obtain carbon from consuming organic molecules.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about eukaryotes and prokaryotes? How does it relate to the question?
 
Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
 
Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

E.  Both obtain carbon from consuming organic molecules.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o How are bacteria and eukaryotes (specifically, humans) similar?
· What type of thinking is required?
        o This question is an “apply” question, so it is asking for you to find similarities and differences between two different concepts (bacteria and eukaryotes) that you learned about individually.
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about eukaryotes and prokaryotes? How does it relate to the question?
        o Humans are a group of eukaryotes. In general, eukaryotes have linear chromosomes made of DNA. Do bacteria have chromosomes? Are they linear or circular?
        o Mitochondria are organelles that produce the molecule ATP. ATP can be broken apart to release energy anywhere it is needed in the cell. Do eukaryotes have mitochondria? Do bacteria?
        o Sexual reproduction involves the production of gametes (cells that contain half the copies of chromosomes of the normal cells). Two gametes fuse to form a zygote, which has half of its DNA from one parent and half of its DNA from another parent. Conjugation is similar to sexual reproduction, but is not true sexual reproduction. Which organisms do sexual reproduction? Which organisms use meiosis to produce gametes?
        o Cell walls are rigid structures outside of the plasma membrane. They help protect the cell and keep the cell from exploding in hypotonic solutions. Cell walls can be made of many things, including cellulose, lignin, silica, and peptidoglycan. Do bacteria have cell walls? Do humans have cell walls?
        o Organisms can get nutrients a variety of ways, including heterotrophy and autotrophy. Heterotrophs get energy and raw materials by consuming other organisms. Autotrophs produce their own energy. For example, plants use the sunlight to make energy and get their carbon from carbon dioxide. They do not need to consume other organisms to get these things. How do humans get energy and raw materials? How do bacteria do these things?
 
Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o Make a Venn diagram showing how eukaryotes and bacteria are similar and different. You should end up with some grey areas. For example, some eukaryotes and some bacteria are autotrophs while others are heterotrophs. Make another Venn diagram showing similarities and differences between humans and Streptococcus pyogenes. Use this diagram to answer the question.
 
Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o This question asked you to find similarities between humans and the pathogenic bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes.
        o If you got the correct answer, great job!
        o If you got an incorrect answer, where did you get stuck?
            · Did you remember that bacteria do not have organelles? Humans and other eukaryotes have mitochondria, but bacteria do not.
             · Did you recognize that both humans and S. pyogenes are heterotrophs? This means they consume other organisms (organic molecules) to obtain energy and raw materials, including carbon.