Question

table 1 figure 1 figure 2 silver ants a class studied organisms in the saharan desert that live in extreme temperatures. a student in the class became interested in the silver ants (cataglyphis bombycina) because they have several interesting adaptations that allow the ants to forage for food during the hottest parts of the day. a table of these adaptations is shown. table 1. silver ant adaptations 1. heat - shock proteins (h - sps) - hsp transcription is triggered by changes in the shapes of other proteins because of an increase in temperature. - hsps help to restore proteins to their original shapes so they can continue to function in higher temperatures. 2. physical speed - the silver ant can gallop up to 855 millimeters per second. - galloping allows the silver ant to move quickly without all legs touching the sand at the same time. - a silver ant is covered with triangular the presence of heat - shock proteins in the mitochondria of silver ants is important because the heat - shock proteins - a. are broken down in the mitochondria to provide energy to support life processes during high temperatures b. increase the rate of reproduction of mitochondria during heat stress, resulting in higher energy production c. protect other proteins in the mitochondria from heat stress, resulting in a constant supply of energy to support life processes d. prevent the mitochondria from reaching temperatures above 54°c while the ants are on the surface of the desert

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option using the info about heat - shock proteins (HSPs) from the table:

• Option A: HSPs don't get broken down for energy. Their role is to help other proteins function, so A is wrong.
• Option B: HSPs don't increase mitochondria reproduction. They focus on protein function, so B is wrong.
• Option C: The table says HSPs restore proteins to their original shapes so they can function at high temps. This means HSPs protect other mitochondrial proteins from heat damage, ensuring a steady energy supply (since functional proteins are needed for energy - producing processes in mitochondria). This matches the role of HSPs.
• Option D: There's no info that HSPs prevent mitochondria from reaching above 54°C. The focus is on protein function, not temperature limitation of mitochondria, so D is wrong.

Answer:

C. protect other proteins in the mitochondria from heat stress, resulting in a constant supply of energy to support life processes