SCI 115 Week 8 Discussion STR

Pick one of the following topics and write a primary post of at least 125 words addressing that topic. Also, please make a substantive reply to one of your fellow students.

Topic 1. The Hawaiian Bobtail Squid and its bacterial endosymbiont. In a 4 minute video clip (1), Bonnie Bassler explains the relationship between the Hawaiian Bobtail squid and it’s endosymbiont, the bacterium Vibrio fisheri. Answer the following two questions about this arrangement:

• (a) What are the main characteristics of the partnership between these two species?
• (b) How does each species benefit?

Topic 2. Virus Reassortment and the Alaska Connection Read the article from MIT News (2) about tracking the spread of bird flu. Address the following:

• (a) The article (2) describes genetic reassortment of influenza viruses. Explain how genetic reassortment works and what the significance of it is for humans and for domestic fowl.
• (b) The article (2) explains that one way that influenza strains enters North America is through Alaska. Explain how that works and what the significance of it is for humans and for domestic fowl.

Topic 3. Endophytes that benefit plants. Read reference (3) or reference (4) or another article of your choosing.

• (a) Describe what an endophyte is and give a specific example
• (b) Provide an example of at least one beneficial effect of certain endophytes on their plant hosts.

References:

1. iBioEducation, 2013, Quorum sensing in bacteria – Bonnie Bassler, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LebqwdQSFHE

2. Anne Trafton, March 17, 2017, Tracking the spread of bird flu, http://news.mit.edu/2017/tracking-spread-bird-flu-alaska-north-america-0317

3. Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, December 18, 2015, Endophytic fungi in elm trees help protect them from Dutch elm disease, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151218085929.htm

4. Claire O’Connell, April 7, 2016, Plants get by with a little help from their microbial friends. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/plants-get-by-with-a-little-help-from-their-microbial-friends-1.2593676