Question

Nylon-eating bacteria were discovered growing in ponds containing waste products from a nylon manufacturer. Further study revealed that the enzymes the bacteria used to digest the waste products were different from enzymes produced by other bacteria. Also, the enzymes were not effective on any material other than the nylon waste products. Nylon is an artificial product that was invented in 1935. What does this information MOST likely suggest about the development of the bacteria?

Select one:


a. Bacteria that can digest nylon have a reproductive advantage in the pond.


b. The availability of food forced a change in the living things in the area.


c. Bacteria can create enzymes to digest anything in their environment.


d. Natural selection eliminated the other bacteria in the pond ecosystem.

Answer 1

Answer:

d. Natural selection eliminated the other bacteria in the pond ecosystem.

Explanation:

Natural selection is a type of selection in which nature selects the most suited species or organisms for a particular environment. In this pond environment, only nylon eating bacteria survive due to the availability of food in the form of nylon while all other bacteria die due to the unavailability of food or they are unable to consume nylon in the pond. So that's why nylon eating bacteria survived and other bacteria removed from the pond.