A Molecular Microbiologist Identified a Unique Sequence of DNA Causing

question 34

Essay

A molecular microbiologist identified a unique sequence of DNA causing an amino acid shift mutation within the gene encoding for peptidoglycan transpeptidase in a clinical strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Summarize what this molecule does and hypothesize what benefit it could have to an organism.

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Definitions:

Public Good

An item or service delivered at no cost to all individuals in a society, facilitated by either public authorities or a charitable organization or person.

Rival in Consumption

A characteristic of a good where its consumption by one person reduces its availability for another person.

Substitutes

Goods or services that can replace each other in use or consumption, where an increase in the price of one leads to an increase in demand for the other.

Nonrival in Consumption

Nonrival in Consumption describes a good where one individual's consumption does not reduce availability to others, such as a public broadcast.