Hi all, The questions concerning your paper are below. My advice is for you to try to divide them up roughly evenly among your group members. You are even welcome to post the answers independently if you'd like; just be sure to reiterate the questions. Note: I apologize that, using this format, I am unable to italicize the scientific names used below.
Please come see me if you need help!
1. Refer to the last paragraph on page 1. The authors assert that B. anthracis forms three genetically homogenous clades within the B. cereus group, yet there is substantial pleomorphism in this group. First, define pleomorphism, and then describe how the authors explain this paradox. 2. State each of Darwin’s four postulates. Fully explain how the various populations (phage-infected vs. uninfected cells) of Bacillus anthracis in the “competitive microbial environment in the worm gut” (page 17) meet each of the four postulates for evolution by natural selection. 3. The bacteriophages described in this paper are able to confer “fitness genes” (page 2) to their Bacillus hosts. What do these genes allow B. anthracis to do ecologically? Compare Figures 1 and 10 to help address this question. 4. Think about the hosts for Bacillus species. Their anatomies serve as selection pressures on Bacillus populations. Apply Darwin’s four postulates to the coevolution of Bacillus anthracis and its hosts. Bonus: Biofilms are kind of a hot topic in multiple biological disciplines right now. Define and briefly discuss biofilms. -Dr. Walker
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteThe questions concerning your paper are below. My advice is for you to try to divide them up roughly evenly among your group members. You are even welcome to post the answers independently if you'd like; just be sure to reiterate the questions. Note: I apologize that, using this format, I am unable to italicize the scientific names used below.
Please come see me if you need help!
1. Refer to the last paragraph on page 1. The authors assert that B. anthracis forms three genetically homogenous clades within the B. cereus group, yet there is substantial pleomorphism in this group. First, define pleomorphism, and then describe how the authors explain this paradox.
2. State each of Darwin’s four postulates. Fully explain how the various populations (phage-infected vs. uninfected cells) of Bacillus anthracis in the “competitive microbial environment in the worm gut” (page 17) meet each of the four postulates for evolution by natural selection.
3. The bacteriophages described in this paper are able to confer “fitness genes” (page 2) to their Bacillus hosts. What do these genes allow B. anthracis to do ecologically? Compare Figures 1 and 10 to help address this question.
4. Think about the hosts for Bacillus species. Their anatomies serve as selection pressures on Bacillus populations. Apply Darwin’s four postulates to the coevolution of Bacillus anthracis and its hosts.
Bonus: Biofilms are kind of a hot topic in multiple biological disciplines right now. Define and briefly discuss biofilms.
-Dr. Walker