BIOL 43800 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Nasa Earth Observatory, Water Vapor, Water Cycle
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I need help on this microbiology question:
Contrary to our favorite science fiction books and movies, the chances of us finding another planet with a civilization comparable to, or even more advanced than our own, seems highly unlikely. But, through your work as a microbiologist at NASA, you have been able to help change our views as to what forms of life we should be looking for on planets in our solar system and around neighboring stars. Instead of radio signals or errant transmissions, we have begun looking for planets that have environments similar to those capable of sustaining life as we know it here on Earth. To determine what we could find out there, you have begun studying different unique and atypical environments found here on Earth. Although the harsh conditions of hot springs or undersea sulfur vents seem incompatible with most forms of life, organisms known collectively as "extremophiles" have still managed to survive and adapt to these extreme conditions. You believe extremophiles may help you gain insight into the potential metabolic requirements, processes, and challenges of extraterrestrial life. Thus far in your search, you have identified some prokaryotic cells that have evolved to survive in the extreme conditions of sulfur vents on the sea floor. These vents are found at great depths, where the crushing pressure and lack of light and oxygen are prohibitive to many forms of life. Bacteria that are not considered extremophiles reside in most ecological niches on this planet. There are some common criteria for the environment that would sustain these bacteria. Availability of water, pH that lies between 5 and 9, temperatures that will remain steady and below boiling; these are some of the characteristics that bacteria will require in their environment if they are to succeed. But in the environment of the ocean floor vents, not only is the pH of the water very low, but also the water temperature is unusually high due to the geologic activity that fuels the vents. Organisms that are adapted to such harsh conditions have necessarily evolved enzymes able to function beyond average optima, as well as a chemosynthetic metabolism capable of using vent organic and inorganic compounds as energy sources.
Part A - Comparable Earth Environments to Be Found on Another Planet
You identify the prokaryotic cells you've found as a species of bacteria. These bacteria appear to be living off of nutrients and sulfur compounds released from the vents on the sea floor. Over time, the bacteria must have evolved extreme metabolic and enzymatic capabilities to allow them to tolerate and even benefit from the extreme depths, the lack of oxygen, the low pH of the surrounding waters, high temperatures due to volcanic releases, and the unique nutrient source of the vents.
Choose the characteristics and their impact on enzyme activity that are not correct from the following statements. (more than one may be chosen)
Archaea are able to tolerate highly acidic pH environments and have proteins that will not denature in the low-pH environments that the bacteria are found in. |
Archaea are able to colonize water that is at or above the boiling temperature due to high levels of disulfide bridges that maintain the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme. |
Archaea are only able to survive exceedingly well at high temperatures due to the amount of activation energy required by their enzymes. |
Archaea are able to grow in extremely shady or low-light conditions that allow for optimal enzyme activity. |
mutations symbioses random distributions |
plants and animals sedimentary rock andfossil fuels atmosphere |
holds that something isright when it produces the greatest benefit for the greatest numberof people is not an ethicalstandard cannot be used toestimate the value of natural resources |
mutation and habitatselection mutation and globalclimate change extinction andspeciation |
be prudent and efficientin the use of natural resources consider the environmentthe ultimate servant of mankind maintain the environmentin a pristine, unaltered state |
protect areas againstdevelopment while allowing public access harvest naturalresources maintain the naturalenvironment in a pristine, unaltered state |
energy flow in anecosystem population density natural resourcefluctuations |
an educated guess thatexplains a phenomenon or answers a question an instrument that isused to examine environmental conditions the design of anexperiment that can be used for the process of science |
the importance ofconsidering environmental impacts on all living things the importance ofeconomics in environmental decisions the dual-natured view ofhumans and animals as environmental controls |
the idea that theincrease in human population would lead to famine and war the concept that humanpopulation growth would lead to greater industry and prosperitythrough education instituting fertilizeruse for agriculture |
the study of organismsand their interactions with each other and the environment a subfield ofenvironmentalism the study of the E. colifamily of bacteria |
testing hypotheses builton observation, and revising them based on results intuitive understandingof natural laws and processes the ancient writings ofHeraclitus |
Wood Mammals Water |
average number of viableoffspring produced within a population potential number ofspecies in a given area limitation on the numberof species in an ecosystem |
the drinking water inelementary schools near the river became contaminated the river caught onfire the river stoppedsupporting any plant or animal life |
nitrogen fixation ionic conversation bacterial ionization |
one-third 10% 3% |
a dominant view inscience the same as ahypothesis synonymous with thescientific method |
entropy energy electricity |
a group of similarspecies that inhabit various ecosystems a group of individuals ofa single species inhabiting a particular area (crude birth rate +immigration rate) - (crude death rate - emigration rate) |