Imagine you are on a team designing a moon base that will be self-contained and self-sustaining. Once supplied with building materials, equipment, and organisms from Earth, the base will be expected to function indefinitely. One of the team members has suggested that everything sent to the base be sterilized so that no bacteria of any kind are present. Do you think this is a good idea? Predict some of the consequences of eliminating all bacteria from an environment.

Which of the following experiments could test the hypothesis that bacteria cause ulcers in humans? (Assume each experiment includes a control group.) Explain what evidence would be provided by the results of the experiment.

a. Identify the microbes found in the stomachs of ulcer patients.

b. Treat a group of ulcer patients with antibiotics.

c. Place a group of ulcer patients on a strict low-acid diet.

d. Obtain stomach fluid from ulcer patents and feed it to mice.

In a process known as 'coral bleaching,' high water temperatures cause corals to expel the dinoflagellates that normally reside within their cells. How might coral bleaching affect coral reefs?

Probiotics, foods and supplements that contain living microorganisms, are thought to cure problems of the digestive tract by restoring the natural balance of its microbial community. Sales of these products total billions of dollars a year. Explore the topic of probiotics and evaluate the scientific evidence for their beneficial effects. A good starting point is the website of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates advertising claims of health benefits of dietary supplements. U.S. Food and Drug Administration website, www.fda.gov/food/dietary-supplements.

The buildup of CO₂ in the atmosphere resulting from the burning of fossil fuels is regarded as a major contributor to global warming. Diatoms and other microscopic algae in the oceans counter this buildup by using large quantities of atmospheric CO₂ in photosynthesis, which requires small quantities of iron. Experts suspect that a shortage of iron may limit algal growth in the oceans. Some scientists have suggested that one way to reduce CO₂ buildup might be to fertilize the oceans with iron. The iron would stimulate algal growth and thus the removal of more CO₂ from the air. A single supertanker of iron dust, spread over a wide enough area, might reduce the atmospheric CO₂ level significantly. Do you think this approach would be worth a try? Why or why not?