Question

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 bombycinus) 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 (hsps)

• 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.

1. 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

directions: select the correct answers.
heat - shock proteins are present in all organisms; however, silver ants can withstand body temperatures up to ten degrees higher than other ant species. which two results might scientists expect when the body temperature of ants reaches 50°c?
all protein function will be impaired in all types of ants.
fewer proteins will begin to denature in silver ants than in other types of ants.
heat - shock proteins are more effective for heat protection of silver ants than they are for other types of ants.
due to the high temperature, reactions within silver ants will no longer need enzymes, while other ant types will.
there is enough thermal energy for the reactions to occur without the use of heat - shock proteins in all types of ants.

Explanation:

1. Analyze each option:

• Option 1: "All protein function will be impaired in all types of ants." Silver ants have adaptations (heat - shock proteins) to handle high temperatures, so not all protein functions will be impaired in silver ants. Eliminate this option.
• Option 2: "Fewer proteins will begin to denature in silver ants than in other types of ants." Silver ants have heat - shock proteins that help restore proteins to their original shapes. So, compared to other ants without such effective adaptations, fewer proteins in silver ants will denature at high temperatures (like 50°C). This is a valid result.
• Option 3: "Heat - shock proteins are more effective for heat protection of silver ants than they are for other types of ants." The text says silver ants can withstand higher body temperatures, and their heat - shock proteins (HSPs) help restore proteins. So HSPs in silver ants are more effective for heat protection. This is a valid result.
• Option 4: "Due to the high temperature, reactions within silver ants will no longer need enzymes, while other ant types will." Enzymes are essential for biochemical reactions in all organisms, including silver ants at high temperatures. Eliminate this option.
• Option 5: "There is enough thermal energy for the reactions to occur without the use of heat - shock proteins in all types of ants." Silver ants need heat - shock proteins, and other ants without such adaptations would have protein denaturation issues, so reactions still need heat - shock proteins or would be impaired. Eliminate this option.

Answer:

B. Fewer proteins will begin to denature in silver ants than in other types of ants.
C. Heat - shock proteins are more effective for heat protection of silver ants than they are for other types of ants.