The plasmodial and cellular slime molds differ in a number of features. Select the following choice that is not a difference.

Question

A.  aggregation of individuals when conditions worsen
B.  ability to form spore-producing structures
C.  ability to form an acellular plasmodium
D.  ability to form individual amoebas
E.  synchronization of mitosis

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 these two organisms? 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

B.  ability to form spore-producing structures

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o The question asks you to compare and contrast the traits of plasmodial slime mold and cellular slime mold.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o This question is an “apply” question. You need to take the traits from each group and compare them.
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about these two organisms? How does it relate to the question?
        o Plasmodial slime mold has many nuclei in a single, giant cell, while cellular slime mold has one nucleus per cell. What are other differences between the two groups? Are there any similarities?
 
Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o The best way to answer this question is to make two lists, one with the traits for plasmodial slime mold and one with the traits of cellular slime mold. You can use the options from the question to make your list, but don’t depend on them at first. Figure out at least two similarities between the two taxa. Are either of those similarities an option?
        o Alternately, make a table with the options on the left and a column for each taxon. Figure out which of the two taxa has each characteristic. For example, cellular slime mold individuals aggregate when conditions worsen. Do plasmodial slime mold individuals do the same? Eventually, you will get to an option that applies to both taxa.
 
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 compare and contrast plasmodial slime mold with cellular slime mold.
        o If you got the correct answer, great job!
        o If you got an incorrect answer, where did you get stuck?
            · Did you have trouble finding similarities between the two groups? Learning to compare and contrast groups is a great way to remember they characteristics. You will remember traits of plasmodial slime mold better if you can remember how it is similar to other protists and how it is different from other protists.