If You Wanted to Use Fungi to Improve the Environment

question 37

Multiple Choice

If you wanted to use fungi to improve the environment, which of the following research goals would make the most sense?

• A) Discover the lignin-digesting enzymes of fungi, and use them to digest plant tissues left over from food-crop residues to reduce landfill waste.
• B) Discover the enzymes that the fungal partner in lichens uses to break down rock so that large rock expanses can be turned into agricultural lands.
• C) Discover the enzymes that fungi use to break down plant matter and use them to increase decomposition rates in order to slow global warming.
• D) Develop a strain of fungus that produces enzymes that absorb oxygen and will help slow global warming.

---

Definitions:

Population

The total number of individuals inhabiting a particular territory or geographic area, often analyzed in terms of density, distribution, and composition.

Percentage

A proportion or share in relation to a whole, represented as a fraction of 100.

Industrialized Societies

Societies characterized by large-scale industries, advanced technology, and a focus on manufacturing goods for consumption.

Fertility Rates

The average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime in a specific population.