Why would natural selection favor reduced parasitic bacterial genomes?
A)The parasitic lifestyle eliminates metabolism leading to gene loss.
B)Parasites have reduced metabolic needs leading to gene loss.
C)Parasitic bacteria are primitive and never had metabolic genes.
D)Transposons have caused mutagenesis and genes have been lost.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Parasites typically live within a host where they have reduced metabolic needs since their host provides nutrients for them. As a result, parasites may lose genes that are no longer necessary for their survival within the host. This reduction in genome size can be beneficial for the parasite as it may allow for more efficient replication and transmission within the host population, thereby increasing the likelihood of its survival and reproduction.

Why Would Natural Selection Favor Reduced Parasitic Bacterial Genomes