The Following Questions Refer to Figure 27.1

question 16

Multiple Choice

The following questions refer to Figure 27.1.
In this eight-year experiment, 12 populations of E. coli, each begun from a single cell, were grown in low-glucose conditions for 20,000 generations. Each culture was introduced to fresh growth medium every 24 hours. Occasionally, samples were removed from the populations, and their fitness in low-glucose conditions was tested against that of members sampled from the ancestral (common ancestor) E. coli population.

Figure 27.1
-Which of the following, if it occurs in the absence of any other type of adaptation listed here, is least reasonable in terms of promoting bacterial survival over evolutionary time in a low-glucose environment?

• A) increased efficiency at transporting glucose into the cell from the environment
• B) increased ability to survive on simple sugars, other than glucose
• C) increased ability to synthesize glucose from amino acid precursors
• D) increased reliance on glycolytic enzymes
• E) increased sensitivity to, and ability to move toward, whatever glucose is present in its habitat

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Definitions:

Dependent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is observed and measured to assess the effects of the independent variable, essentially the outcome of interest.

Scientific Method

A systematic, empirical approach to research, characterized by observation, hypothesis testing, experimentation, and conclusion.

Self-correcting

Capable of making necessary adjustments or corrections on one's own to maintain accuracy or functionality.

Analysis

A detailed examination of the elements or structure of something, typically as a basis for discussion or interpretation.