a. Firmicutes Firmicutes Panels (a) and (b) shown depict two scenarios for the distribution of the gut microbiota in her son. The son maintains a similar diet in both scenarios and has not undergone recent antibiotic treatment, which would decimate and/or alter the entire gut community. Biology: How Life Works Macmillan Learning Mother Other Bacteroidetes Bacteroidetes Other Firmicutes Bacteroidetes Which of the two scenarios supports the hypothesis that microbiota in the son arrive by infection? Which suggests the microbiota are inherited by offspring? O Panel (a) supports inheritance, and panel (b) supports infection. O Panel (a) supports infection, and panel (b) supports inheritance. Neither scenario suggests inheritance.

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**Text for Educational Website:**

Nodules found on the roots of leguminous plants like soybeans harbor bacteria that fix nitrogen. These nodules are an example of the intimate and specialized partnerships that have been established over time between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Coevolution maintains these types of relationships because both participants benefit. Plants receive biologically useful forms of nitrogen needed for growth, and the bacteria reside in an oxygen-free environment required by enzymes involved in the nitrogen-fixing process.

Humans also maintain intimate associations with beneficial bacteria and even archaea. In fact, the prokaryotic cells in and on human bodies outnumber the eukaryotic human cells by tenfold, according to some estimates. These microbial inhabitants help humans digest food, provide essential vitamins absorbed by the intestines, and even impact the immune system.

The microbes that coevolve with plants arrive by infection of root tissue. The microbiota that coevolve with humans colonize human tissues after birth. Consider the chart showing the distribution of the gut microbiota in a human female.

**Chart Explanation:**

The chart is a pie chart depicting the distribution of the gut microbiota in a human female, labeled as "Mother." It showcases the proportions of three major groups: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Other. 

- **Firmicutes** occupy the largest portion of the chart.
- **Bacteroidetes** represent a smaller section.
- **Other** encompasses the remaining part of the microbiota.

Panels (a) and (b) refer to two scenarios for the distribution of the gut microbiota in her son. The son maintains a similar diet in both scenarios and has not undergone recent antibiotic treatment, which would decimate and/or alter the entire gut community.
Transcribed Image Text:**Text for Educational Website:** Nodules found on the roots of leguminous plants like soybeans harbor bacteria that fix nitrogen. These nodules are an example of the intimate and specialized partnerships that have been established over time between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Coevolution maintains these types of relationships because both participants benefit. Plants receive biologically useful forms of nitrogen needed for growth, and the bacteria reside in an oxygen-free environment required by enzymes involved in the nitrogen-fixing process. Humans also maintain intimate associations with beneficial bacteria and even archaea. In fact, the prokaryotic cells in and on human bodies outnumber the eukaryotic human cells by tenfold, according to some estimates. These microbial inhabitants help humans digest food, provide essential vitamins absorbed by the intestines, and even impact the immune system. The microbes that coevolve with plants arrive by infection of root tissue. The microbiota that coevolve with humans colonize human tissues after birth. Consider the chart showing the distribution of the gut microbiota in a human female. **Chart Explanation:** The chart is a pie chart depicting the distribution of the gut microbiota in a human female, labeled as "Mother." It showcases the proportions of three major groups: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Other. - **Firmicutes** occupy the largest portion of the chart. - **Bacteroidetes** represent a smaller section. - **Other** encompasses the remaining part of the microbiota. Panels (a) and (b) refer to two scenarios for the distribution of the gut microbiota in her son. The son maintains a similar diet in both scenarios and has not undergone recent antibiotic treatment, which would decimate and/or alter the entire gut community.
**Distribution of Gut Microbiota: Inheritance vs. Infection**

The diagrams illustrate different scenarios regarding the distribution of gut microbiota in a mother and her son. Both panels depict the proportions of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and other microbiota.

**Mother's Gut Microbiota:**
- The pie chart shows the mother’s gut microbiota distribution, predominantly composed of Firmicutes (green), followed by Bacteroidetes (red), with a smaller portion labeled as Other (blue).

**Son's Gut Microbiota:**
- **Panel (a):** The distribution shows a significant portion of Firmicutes, a smaller section of Bacteroidetes, and an equal portion of Other.
- **Panel (b):** Displays a larger proportion of Firmicutes. The sections for Bacteroidetes and Other are smaller, with Other being the smallest.

**Analysis:**
- The graphs suggest varying possibilities of gut microbiota transmission from mother to son, either through inheritance or infection.
  
**Question:**
Which scenario supports the hypothesis that microbiota in the son arrive by infection? Which suggests the microbiota are inherited by offspring?

1. Panel (a) supports inheritance, and panel (b) supports infection.
2. Panel (a) supports infection, and panel (b) supports inheritance.
3. Neither scenario suggests inheritance.

**Source:**  
Biology: How Life Works  
© Macmillan Learning
Transcribed Image Text:**Distribution of Gut Microbiota: Inheritance vs. Infection** The diagrams illustrate different scenarios regarding the distribution of gut microbiota in a mother and her son. Both panels depict the proportions of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and other microbiota. **Mother's Gut Microbiota:** - The pie chart shows the mother’s gut microbiota distribution, predominantly composed of Firmicutes (green), followed by Bacteroidetes (red), with a smaller portion labeled as Other (blue). **Son's Gut Microbiota:** - **Panel (a):** The distribution shows a significant portion of Firmicutes, a smaller section of Bacteroidetes, and an equal portion of Other. - **Panel (b):** Displays a larger proportion of Firmicutes. The sections for Bacteroidetes and Other are smaller, with Other being the smallest. **Analysis:** - The graphs suggest varying possibilities of gut microbiota transmission from mother to son, either through inheritance or infection. **Question:** Which scenario supports the hypothesis that microbiota in the son arrive by infection? Which suggests the microbiota are inherited by offspring? 1. Panel (a) supports inheritance, and panel (b) supports infection. 2. Panel (a) supports infection, and panel (b) supports inheritance. 3. Neither scenario suggests inheritance. **Source:** Biology: How Life Works © Macmillan Learning
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