Use the Graphs to Answer the Following Question

question 60

Multiple Choice

Use the graphs to answer the following question.
Mutant fruit flies that do not make antimicrobial peptides were tested for survival after infection with Neurospora crassa fungi or with Micrococcus luteus bacteria. The mutant flies were also transfected with the genes for antimicrobial peptides (drosomycin or defensin) and tested for survival.

Which of the following hypotheses is best supported using the data?

• A) adding the defensin gene to such mutants protects them from death by bacterial infection
• B) adding the drosomycin gene to such mutants protects them from death by bacterial infection
• C) wild-type flies with the full set of genes for antimicrobial peptides are highly susceptible to both fungal and bacterial pathogens
• D) the presence of any single antimicrobial peptide protects against both fungal and bacterial pathogens