In recent years, honeybee colonies throughout North America have been decimated by colony collapse disorder (CCD), which results in the rapid deaths of worker bees. First noticed by beekeepers in 2004, the disorder has been responsible for the loss of 50% to 90% of beekeeping operations in the United States. Evidence suggests that CCD is caused by a pathogen. Diana Cox-Foster and her colleagues (D. Cox-Foster et al. 2007. Science 318:283–287) used a metagenomic approach to try to identify the causative agent of CCD by isolating DNA from normal honeybee hives and from hives that had experienced CCD. A number of different bacteria, fungi, and viruses were identified in the metagenomic analysis. The following table gives the percentage of CCD hives and non-CCD hives that tested positive for four potential pathogens identified in the metagenomic analysis. On the basis of these data, which potential pathogen appears most likely to be responsible for CCD? Explain your reasoning. Do these data prove that this pathogen is the cause of CCD? Explain. Potential pathogen CCD hives infected (n = 30) Non-CCD hives infected (n = 21) Israeli acute paralysis virus 83.3% 4.8% Kashmir bee virus 100% 76.2% Nosema apis 90% 47.6% Nosema cernae 100% 80.8%
In recent years, honeybee colonies throughout North America have
been decimated by colony collapse disorder (CCD), which results in the
rapid deaths of worker bees. First noticed by beekeepers in 2004, the
disorder has been responsible for the loss of 50% to 90% of beekeeping
operations in the United States. Evidence suggests that CCD is caused
by a pathogen. Diana Cox-Foster and her colleagues (D. Cox-Foster et
al. 2007. Science 318:283–287) used a metagenomic approach to try to
identify the causative agent of CCD by isolating DNA from normal
honeybee hives and from hives that had experienced CCD. A number of
different bacteria,
analysis. The following table gives the percentage of CCD hives and
non-CCD hives that tested positive for four potential pathogens
identified in the metagenomic analysis. On the basis of these data, which
potential pathogen appears most likely to be responsible for CCD?
Explain your reasoning. Do these data prove that this pathogen is the
cause of CCD? Explain.
Potential pathogen CCD hives infected
(n = 30)
Non-CCD hives infected
(n = 21)
Israeli acute
paralysis virus 83.3% 4.8%
Kashmir bee virus 100% 76.2%
Nosema apis 90% 47.6%
Nosema cernae 100% 80.8%
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps
