You Are Maintaining a Small Population of Fruit Flies in the Laboratory

question 13

Multiple Choice

You are maintaining a small population of fruit flies in the laboratory by transferring the flies to a new culture bottle after each generation. After several generations, you notice that the viability of the flies has decreased greatly. Recognizing that small population size is likely to be linked to decreased viability, the best way to reverse this trend is to

• A) cross your flies with flies from another lab.
• B) reduce the number of flies that you transfer at each generation.
• C) transfer only the largest flies.
• D) change the temperature at which you rear the flies.
• E) shock the flies with a brief treatment of heat or cold to make them more hardy.

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Definitions:

Anatomical Dead Space

The portion of the respiratory system where air does not participate in gas exchange, including the trachea and bronchi.

Partial Pressure

Pressure exerted by a single gas in a mixture of gases.

Mixture of Gases

A combination of different gases, where each gas retains its own chemical identity and properties.

Soluble

Capable of being dissolved in a solvent, typically referring to the ability of a substance to dissolve in water.