Textbook Question
Cytochalasin B is a chemical that disrupts microfilament formation. This chemical would interfere with:
a. DNA replication
b. Formation of the mitotic spindle
c. Cleavage
d. Formation of the cell plate
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Ch. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 Biology: The Study of Scientific Life19
- Ch. 2 The Chemical Basis of Life17
- Ch. 3 The Molecules of Cells21
- Ch. 4 A Tour of the Cell20
- Ch. 5 The Working Cell17
- Ch. 6 How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy18
- Ch. 7 Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food15
- Ch. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance22
- Ch. 9 Patterns of Inheritance17
- Ch. 10 Molecular Biology of the Gene13
- Ch. 11 How Genes Are Controlled13
- Ch. 12 DNA Technology and Genomics23
- Ch. 13 How Populations Evolve17
- Ch. 14 The Origin of Species19
- Ch. 15 Tracing Evolutionary History18
- Ch. 16 Microbial Life: Prokaryotes and Protists16
- Ch. 17 The Evolution of Plant and Fungal Diversity15
- Ch. 18 The Evolution of Invertebrate Diversity13
- Ch. 19 The Evolution of Vertebrate Diversity18
- Ch. 20 Unifying Concepts of Animal Structure and Function11
- Ch. 21 Nutrition and Digestion16
- Ch. 22 Gas Exchange16
- Ch. 23 Circulation17
- Ch. 24 The Immune System16
- Ch. 25 Control of Body Temperature and Water Balance20
- Ch. 26 Hormones and the Endocrine System10
- Ch. 27 Reproduction and Embryonic Development12
- Ch. 28 Nervous Systems10
- Ch. 29 The Senses12
- Ch. 30 How Animals Move19
- Ch. 31 Plant Structure, Growth, and Reproduction9
- Ch. 32 Plant Nutrition and Transport12
- Ch. 33 Control Systems in Plants15
- Ch. 34 The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth's Diverse Environments15
- Ch. 35 Behavioral Adaptations to the Environment12
- Ch. 36 Population Ecology15
- Ch. 37 Communities and Ecosystems14
- Ch. 38 Conservation Biology14
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783Not the one you use?Change textbook
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Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan 10th EditionCh. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and InheritanceProblem 13
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan 10th EditionCh. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and InheritanceProblem 13Chapter 8, Problem 13
An organism called a plasmodial slime mold is one large cytoplasmic mass with many nuclei. Explain how such a 'megacell' could form.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the life cycle of plasmodial slime molds: Plasmodial slime molds begin their life as individual amoeboid cells. These cells are haploid and can exist independently, moving and feeding on bacteria and other microorganisms.
Recognize the process of syngamy: When conditions are favorable, two amoeboid cells can fuse together in a process called syngamy, which results in a diploid zygote. This zygote then undergoes multiple rounds of nuclear division without undergoing cytoplasmic division.
Identify the transition to the plasmodial stage: As the nuclei divide, the cell grows larger without dividing into smaller cells. This results in the formation of a large, multinucleate cell known as a plasmodium, which is essentially a single cell with many nuclei sharing one common cytoplasm.
Consider the role of environmental conditions: The plasmodial stage is typically favored by moist, dark environments which provide the necessary nutrients and conditions for growth. The plasmodium moves and feeds in this stage, growing larger as it ingests more food.
Examine the culmination of the plasmodial stage: When conditions become less favorable, the plasmodium can differentiate and form fruiting bodies, which will produce spores for reproduction. These spores can then be dispersed to new environments, starting the cycle anew with the germination into amoeboid cells.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Cellular Organization
Cellular organization refers to the arrangement and interaction of cells within an organism. In the case of plasmodial slime molds, individual cells can fuse to form a single large cell, or 'megacell,' which contains multiple nuclei. This unique organization allows for efficient nutrient distribution and coordination of cellular activities across the large cytoplasmic mass.
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Plasmogamy and Karyogamy
Plasmogamy is the process where the cytoplasm of two or more cells merges, leading to the formation of a multinucleate structure. In plasmodial slime molds, this occurs when amoeboid cells come together, resulting in a single cell with multiple nuclei. Karyogamy, the subsequent fusion of nuclei, may or may not occur, depending on the life cycle stage of the organism.
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Multinucleate Cells
Multinucleate cells are cells that contain more than one nucleus within a shared cytoplasm. In plasmodial slime molds, the presence of multiple nuclei allows for complex cellular functions and responses to environmental stimuli. This adaptation enhances the organism's ability to grow and thrive in various habitats, as it can efficiently manage resources and coordinate activities across its extensive cytoplasmic network.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Why are individuals with an extra chromosome 21, which causes Down syndrome, more numerous than individuals with an extra chromosome 3 or chromosome 16?
a. There are probably more genes on chromosome 21 than on the others.
b. Chromosome 21 is a sex chromosome, and chromosomes 3 and 16 are not.
c. Down syndrome is not more common, just more serious.
d. Extra copies of the other chromosomes are probably fatal.
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Textbook Question
In the light micrograph below of dividing cells near the tip of an onion root, identify a cell in interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Describe the major events occurring at each stage.
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Textbook Question
Briefly describe how three different processes that occur during a sexual life cycle increase the genetic diversity of offspring.
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Textbook Question
Discuss the factors that control the division of eukaryotic cells grown in the laboratory. Cancer cells are easier to grow in the lab than other cells.
Why do you suppose this is?
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Textbook Question
Compare cytokinesis in plant and animal cells.
In what ways are the two processes similar?
In what ways are they different?
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