Compare and contrast the human pathogens and non-pathogens in Clostridium. Propose a reason for why this differentiation is challenging to assay in the laboratory (NOT on living eukaryotic animal models)
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Irrespective of their pathogenicity is the unifying anaerobic metabolism of Clostridium. Some can ferment large polysaccharides, whereas others only ferment small sugars. What differentiates some as pathogens is not in their ability to ferment certain compounds, which would be easy to assay a Clostridium isolate for in the lab. Pathogenic clostridia produce additional compounds that act as toxins to humans. Because each Clostridium pathogen produces structurally different toxins, individually identifying all produced chemicals to determine whether each is a toxin is much more challenging.
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You discover a fungus that makes both sexual and asexual spores. The sexual spores are made in
groups of eight within a structure that bursts open to release the spores. The structures containing sexual spores are found within a multicellular structure that is about five inches tall. Into which group should you classify this fungus?
a. Glomeromycota b. Basidiomycota c. Chytridiomycota d. Zygomycota e. Ascomycota
Rosalind Franklin died from ovarian cancer at the age of 37. Her cancer was probably caused by DNA mutations that
arose from _____.
a. extensive exposure to long wavelength radiation b. contaminated DNA samples c. chemical exposure d. unrepaired DNA replication errors e. extensive exposure to x-rays
The Panama Canal was completed in 1914, and its depth is about fifty feet. After 1914, snapping shrimp species from which habitats should be most likely to form hybrids as the result of the canal?
A) A5 and B5 B) A3 and B3 C) A1 and B1 D) A1-A3 and B1-B3 have equal likelihoods of harboring snapping shrimp species that can hybridize.
A zoo is hand-rearing an endangered species of songbird. What is the best approach to help prepare the males to attract mates?
A. Expose the males to each other during the critical period to initiate development of song circuits during the critical period. B. Expose the males to female pheromones from their species to initiate development of song circuits during the critical period. C. Expose the males to a variety of birdsongs during the critical period. D. Expose the males to a mentor male bird singing their species' song during the critical period.