Reading Passage Question
The fact that bacteria are capable of chemical communication first emerged from investigations into marine bacteria able to glow in the dark. In 1970 Kenneth H. Nealson and John Woodland Hastings of Harvard University observed that luminous bacteria in culture do not glow at a constant intensity. In fact, they emit no light until the population reaches a high density.
Nealson and Hastings knew the light resulted from chemical reactions catalyzed by the enzyme luciferase. They postulated that this enzyme was ultimately controlled not by some mechanism inside each bacterial cell but by a molecular messenger that traveled between cells. Once inside target cells, the messenger, which the researchers called autoinducer, could induce expression of the genes’ coding for luciferase and for the other proteins involved in light production; that is, autoinducer could stimulate synthesis of the encoded proteins and, thus, of light. Their theory met with skepticism at first but has since been confirmed and expanded.
“The fact that bacteria are capable of chemical communication”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 2 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solution and Explanation
- According to the passage, Nealson and Woodland’s research was instrumental in indicating that
- bacteria communicate through molecular messengers that travel between cells.
- luminous bacteria glow not at a constant density but at various densities.
- bacteria are genetically coded by the autoinducer.
- the molecular messenger luciferase causes bacteria to glow at high densities.
- the autoinducer, not the enzyme luciferase as was previously believed, produces the luminosity of certain marine bacteria.
Answer: A
Explanation: Luminous bacteria in culture do not shine at a consistent intensity, as noted by Harvard University scientists Kenneth H. Nealson and John Woodland Hastings in 1970. In actuality, they don't even begin to generate light until the population is very dense. Nealson and Hastings were aware that the light was a product of chemical processes that the luciferase enzyme catalysed. They proposed a chemical messenger that moved between cells. Rather than a mechanism found inside each bacterial cell. It was ultimately responsible for controlling this enzyme.
- Which of the following are characteristics of the autoinducer involved in light production by marine bacteria?
- It catalyzes chemical reactions in bacterial cells.
- It stimulates synthesis of certain proteins.
- It acts as a messenger between enzymes and bacteria.
- I and II only
- II and III only
- II only
- III only
- I, II, and III
Answer: C
Explanation: The messenger, which the researchers named autoinducer, was able to boost the creation of the encoded proteins. Therefore, light once it reached the target cells. This allowed it to trigger expression of the genes encoding for luciferase. Other light-producing proteins. Initially questioned, their idea has now been elaborated upon and verified.
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