Agrobacterium Infects Plants and Causes Them to Form Tumours

question 19

Multiple Choice

Agrobacterium infects plants and causes them to form tumours. You determine that tumour formation requires a large amount of the plant's energy for tissue formation. How might this change the number of offspring a plant produces and what is the most likely explanation for this change?

• A) The number of offspring should increase because in general, illness increases the reproductive output of organisms.
• B) The number of offspring should increase because the bacteria will provide energy for the plant.
• C) The number of offspring should decrease because the plant will divert energy from reproduction to tumour formation.
• D) There should be no effect of infection on offspring production because energy for reproduction is independent of infection.

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Definitions:

Null Hypothesis

A default statement that there is no effect or no difference, used as a starting point for statistical testing.

Main Effects

The individual impacts of multiple independent variables on a dependent variable in an experimental setting, rephrased from main effect.

Factorial Design

An experimental strategy where two or more factors are varied, allowing researchers to study their individual effects and interactions.

Null Hypothesis

A hypothesis that assumes no significant difference or effect within the context of the study.