Plastic Marine Debris Was Collected from Multiple Sites in the Ocean

question 23

Multiple Choice

Plastic marine debris was collected from multiple sites in the ocean and examined with electron microscopy and next-generation sequencing.These techniques revealed microbial communities growing on the plastics.Which of the following statements is correct regarding these communities?

• A)The community within the plastic must be very similar to the community in the surrounding ocean waters.
• B)These communities are very likely to be pure cultures, as plastics have been synthesized precisely because they are resistant to microbial degradation.
• C)There are no bacteriophage that use these microbes as hosts, as viruses are rare in marine ecosystems.
• D)At least one member of the community must synthesize an enzyme to degrade the hydrocarbon comprising the plastic.

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Definitions:

Allotropes

Different forms of the same element, with distinct physical and chemical properties, due to different arrangements of atoms or bonds (e.g., graphite and diamond are allotropes of carbon).

Carbon

A chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6, essential to all known life and the basis for organic chemistry.

Pyrimidine

A nitrogen-containing heterocyclic aromatic compound, similar to benzene and pyridine, but with two nitrogen atoms in the ring.

Aromatic

Refers to organic compounds containing one or more benzene rings or similar ring structures, characterized by their stability and unique chemical properties.