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Prions, infectious protein particles, can induce conformational changes in normal proteins, leading to diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. While exhibiting self-propagation, prions lack genetic material. Do prions challenge the conventional definition of living organisms, and why?
No, because they are composed of organic molecules.
Yes, because they lack heritable genetic material yet exhibit a form of 'reproduction'.
No, because they interact with living organisms.
Yes, because they cause disease.
Imagine a synthetic life form created in a lab that uses a novel information storage molecule distinct from DNA or RNA, but still exhibits heritability and undergoes evolution. Which of the following aspects of the current definition of life would MOST require reconsideration in light of this discovery?
The requirement for cellular structure
The dependence on carbon-based chemistry
The specific molecular basis of heredity
The ability to respond to environmental stimuli
While creating a phylogenetic tree for a genus of insects, a taxonomist finds conflicting information between a recently published monograph and a classical museum catalogue. Which resource should be prioritized and why?
The museum catalogue, due to its historical precedence and established nomenclature.
The monograph, as it likely incorporates newer molecular data and revised classifications.
Equal weight to both, synthesizing the information.
Neither, consult a field guide for practical identification.
