Question

This bacterium derives nutrition by digesting human intestinal contents (in other words, food). Humans lacking this bacterium have no measurable reproductive advantage or disadvantage relative to humans who harbor this bacterium. Consequently, the bacterium can be properly described as which of the following? 1. symbiont 2. endotoxin 3. mutualist 4. commensal

1 and 2
4 only
2 and 3
2 and 4
1 and 4

Answer 1

1 and 4

Step-by-step explanation:

• This particular example is one of commensalism- a relationship where one organism benefits (in this case, the bacterium) and the other organism doesn't derive any benefit or harm (in this case, the human)
• Commensalism is a type of symbiosis (a close and long term relationship between two different biological organisms)