Many parasitic members of the excavates lack plastids and have highly reduced mitochondria. Which of the following statements explains these observations?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The lack of plastids and highly reduced mitochondria in parasitic members of the excavates suggests that these parasites live in dark, low-oxygen conditions and therefore loss of genes for these organelles did not result in lower fitness. This is likely due to the fact that they are able to obtain their nutrients from their hosts and do not require as much energy production or photosynthesis. A and D are not supported by the information given in the question, and B does not explain why these parasites would lack plastids and have highly reduced mitochondria.

Many Parasitic Members of the Excavates Lack Plastids and Have