Question

a.

a.

Photosynthetic sea slugs steal chloroplast from algae (kleptoplasty). By describing the origin of mitochondria (and chloroplasts) and the reason for their very small genome, explain why it is predicted that the sea slugs have also stolen algal chromosomal genes.

b.

What is the difference between Wolbachia bacteria in insects and parasitic worms? What potential treatment does this provide for worm infections such as lymphatic filariasis (epephantiasis)? Explain.

Answer 1

A. The chloroplasts are plant organelles which contains chlorophyll, the photosynthetic green pigment in plants. Researchers from 1970s that this sea slugs steals the chloroplast from the algae named Vaucheria litorea. The sea slugs that embed the chloroplasts to their own digestive cells, where the organells continue to do photosynthesis upto 9 months. The sea slugs stay nourished due to the carbohydrates and lipids produced during photosynthesis.

B. Wolbachia is a type of gram- negative bacteria which infects arthropod species that includes a high proportion of insects and some nematodes. They are mainly parasitic microbes and it is considered as the most common reproductive parasite in the biosphere.

Parasitic worms also known as helminths are a common type of large microparasites by which the adults can generally be seen with the naked eye. Most of them are intestinal worms that are soil transmitted and it infects the gastrointestinal tract.

As there is no proper cure for lymphatic filariasis, most of the effective method that are known to control is its prevention. Medicines that lower the level of microfilariae present in the blood will prevent the transmission from one to another.