What is a property of a pathogenic bacterium?
A)It may produce a protein that interferes with basic cellular functions.
B)There may not be a non-pathogenic strain of the same species.
C)It probably conducts photosynthesis.
D)It probably fixes nitrogen.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pathogenic bacteria often have the ability to produce proteins or toxins that interfere with basic cellular functions of the host organism, which contributes to their ability to cause disease.

Answer: B
 Unlike non-pathogenic bacteria, there may not be a non-pathogenic strain of the same species of pathogenic bacteria. This is because the genes responsible for causing disease are often unique to the pathogenic strain.

Answer: C and D are incorrect
 Conducting photosynthesis or fixing nitrogen are not necessarily properties of pathogenic bacteria. These are metabolic processes that some bacteria may perform, but they do not necessarily contribute to the ability of the bacteria to cause disease.

What Is a Property of a Pathogenic Bacterium