Suppose That a Microorganism Is Discovered on a Distant Planet

question 96

Multiple Choice

Suppose that a microorganism is discovered on a distant planet.Which investigation could be expected to yield information that could either support or refute the hypothesis that life originated only once in the universe?

• A) Study of the organism's ability to synthesize new molecules
• B) Investigation into the ability of the organism to reproduce itself
• C) Identification of the molecule(s) that encode the organism's biological information
• D) Evaluation of the organism's rate of nutrient intake
• E) Analysis of the organism's cell surface area-to-volume ratio

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Definitions:

Hemagglutinin Stalk

A structural component of certain viruses that plays a critical role in the virus's ability to bind and enter host cells.

HIV Tree

Refers to a phylogenetic tree representing the evolutionary relationships among various strains of the HIV virus.

Virulence

Describes the ability of a pathogen to cause disease.

Enzyme

Biological molecules that significantly speed up the rate of virtually all of the chemical reactions that take place within cells.