Question

What result would you predict if you were to transfer the bacteria of part A to a medium containing only unsaturated fatty acids without making any other changes in the culture conditions? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

If bacteria from part A were transferred to a medium containing only unsaturated fatty acids without any other changes in the culture conditions, the bacteria may not be able to grow or survive due to the structural and functional differences between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the bacteria from part A were transferred to a medium containing only unsaturated fatty acids without any other changes in the culture conditions, it is likely that the bacteria would not be able to grow as well or may not be able to survive at all.

This is because unsaturated fatty acids have double bonds in their hydrocarbon chains, which can affect the structure and fluidity of the plasma membrane.

In contrast, bacteria like E. coli are adapted to the presence of saturated fatty acids in their plasma membrane, which provide greater stability and contribute to maintaining the integrity and function of the membrane.