You would like to test the hypothesis that ammonia-oxidizing Archaea are more active and abundant than ammonia-oxidizing Bacteria in coastal marine water. What technique(s) or experiment(s) could you use to test this hypothesis?
A) environmental proteomics
B) fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)
C) stable isotope probing using ¹⁵N labeled ammonia
D) stable isotope ratios of ammonia and nitrite

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Stable isotope probing using ¹⁵N labeled ammonia is the best choice for testing this hypothesis because it allows for the direct measurement of microbial activity and identification of the specific microorganisms involved in ammonia oxidation. This technique involves adding ¹⁵N labeled ammonia to the sample and tracking the incorporation of the label into microbial DNA or RNA, which can then be sequenced to determine microbial community composition and activity.

You Would Like to Test the Hypothesis That Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea