A Researcher Discovers a New Microfossil

question 131

Multiple Choice

A researcher discovers a new microfossil. At first, he is uncertain whether this organism was a bacterium, archaeon, or protist. After careful study, he determines that this organism was a protist. What features were present in this microfossil that lead the researcher to this conclusion?

• A)DNA survived in this microfossil over the millennia; its DNA sequence was likely similar to those present in certain modern-day protists.
• B)This microfossil was of an organism that had a distinct endomembrane system (i.e., nuclear membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, etc.).
• C)The microfossil contained evidence of mitochondria and/or chloroplasts.
• D)This microfossil contained morphologically complex cell walls.
• E)All of these choices are correct.

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Definitions:

Brightness

A perception of how luminous an object appears; often influenced by the relative intensity of light it emits or reflects.

Hue

The dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light; what we know as the color names blue, green, and so forth.

Accommodation

The cognitive process of adjusting one's understanding to incorporate new information.

Cornea

The transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber, contributing to the eye's optical power.