Which of the following statements is true?
a. The primary goal of a pathogen is to kill its host.
b. Evolution selects for the most virulent pathogens.
c. A successful pathogen doesn't kill its host before it is transmitted.
d. A successful pathogen never kills its host.

Question

Which of the following statements is true?

a. The primary goal of a pathogen is to kill its host.

b. Evolution selects for the most virulent pathogens.

c. A successful pathogen doesn't kill its host before it is transmitted.

d. A successful pathogen never kills its host.

Accepted Answer

Hi, everybody and welcome. Let's look at our next question. Which of the following statements is false. A the parasites and their host can co evolve together. B if microbes overpower the host defenses, it can result in a disease. C humans can initially acquire microbes during the first food intake or d some pathogens use the host's machinery to replicate. Well, let's just work our way through each of these answer. Choices. We have choice. A parasites and our host can co evolve together. Well, this is a true statement. So it won't be our answer as parasites and hosts. First parasites develop something new that gives them an advantage and then the host will evolve some sort of defense to fight against it. And very commonly, they kind of go back and forth evolving a new way to get around the other's defense. So definitely a true statement. Choice. B if microbes overpower the hosts hosts defenses, it can result in a disease. Well, this is also true. This is how disease is caused microbes get past defenses to invade the body and establish themselves without being destroyed by the immune system. Our next answer choice is choice C humans can initially acquire microbes during the first food intake. This is actually false. So this will be our answer. And the key here is that word initially, a an infant can acquire some microbes when having their first food. But this wouldn't be when they initially acquire it. That would be that occurs long before that. In fact, the fetus can acquire microbes that pass through the placenta during a pregnancy. Another important time of microbe transmission is during passage through the birth canal and a vaginal birth and then shortly after birth by skin to skin contact and breastfeeding. And in fact, these are actually all important sources. We're used to thinking of germs and babies as being a bad thing, a bad combination. But it's actually crucial to the proper functioning of the immune system to develop a proper uh natural biome. So all of these sources of beneficial bacteria or harmless bacteria are really important for proper immune functioning. So again, that's long before the baby ever has its first food. So that's why this statement is false. And in choice d some pathogens use the host machinery to replicate. This is true and therefore not our correct answer. That is one of the mechanisms by which pathogens spread. And in fact, viruses are sort of being obligate parasites. They don't have everything they need to exist on their own and need to use the host machinery to replicate themselves. So our answer here of the statement that is false is choice. C humans can initially acquire microbes during the first food intake. See you in the next video.

Which of the following statements is true?
a. The primary goal of a pathogen is to kill its host.
b. Evolution selects for the most virulent pathogens.
c. A successful pathogen doesn't kill its host before it is transmitted.
d. A successful pathogen never kills its host.

Verified Solution

Key Concepts

Pathogen-Host Relationship

Virulence and Evolution

Transmission Success

Which of the following statements is true?a. The primary goal of a pathogen is to kill its host.b. Evolution selects for the most virulent pathogens.c. A successful pathogen doesn't kill its host before it is transmitted.d. A successful pathogen never kills its host.

Verified Solution

Key Concepts

Pathogen-Host Relationship

Virulence and Evolution

Transmission Success

Which of the following statements is true?
a. The primary goal of a pathogen is to kill its host.
b. Evolution selects for the most virulent pathogens.
c. A successful pathogen doesn't kill its host before it is transmitted.
d. A successful pathogen never kills its host.