Saturday, December 1, 2007

Concept 28.2

Question:
I. Why do some biologists describe the mitochondria of diplomonads and parabasalids as "highly reduced"?

Anwers:
a) Diplomonads and parabasalids are adapted to anaerobic environments. They lack plastids, and their mitochondria do not contain DNA, an electron transport chain, or citric-acid cycle enzymes.
b) Their mitochondria do not have DNA, an electron transport chain, or citric-acid cycle enzymes.

Question:
II. How is the structure of Trichomonas vaginalis well suited to its parasitic lifestyle inside its host's reproductive and urinary tracts?

Answer:
a) Diplomonads have multiple flagella and 2 nuclei. Parabasalids, include trichomonads, which move by means of flagella and an undulating part of the plasma membrane.
b) Its flagella and undulating membrane enable it to move along the mucus-coated lining of these tracts inside its host.

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