A fungus species is observed to undergo asexual reproduction at some times and sexual reproduction at other times.A researcher hypothesizes that the nutrient levels available to the fungus may be responsible for this effect.Which data could be used to test this hypothesis?
A) Compare the genome of a mutant that is not able to switch from asexual to sexual reproduction to the genome of the normal fungus.
B) Observe the sexual behavior of the fungus grown in a laboratory under various conditions such as pH, temperature, and water availability.
C) Find samples of the fungus growing in the wild, record their reproductive behavior, and collect samples of the substrate they are growing on for chemical analysis.
D) Collect information from cells about which genes are being expressed under the two types of reproductive behaviors.
E) Grow fungi on high levels of nutrients in the lab, and observe reproductive behavior before and after adding additional nutrients.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Option C would provide information on the nutrient levels available to the fungus in the wild and how they relate to its reproductive behavior. Options A and D would provide information on the genetics of the fungus, but not necessarily its response to nutrient levels. Option B only considers environmental factors and does not specifically address nutrient levels. Option E would test the effect of nutrient levels, but does not consider the wild conditions that the fungus experiences.

A Fungus Species Is Observed to Undergo Asexual Reproduction at Some