Test Bank – Biology Life on Earth with Physiology, 11th Edition (Audesirk, 2017)

Suppose that a meteorite crashes into Earth and a sample of it is taken to a local research lab for

analysis. Embedded several inches within the rocky structure, a microscopic cluster of dormant,

spore-like structures is found. The scientists culture some of this material in a standard

microbiological nutrient broth, and they are surprised to find many single-celled "organisms" moving

around, growing, and reproducing in the broth. The "organisms" behave the same in both daylight and

dark conditions, do not require oxygen, and thrive under a wide range of temperatures and pH levels.

They stop moving, growing, and reproducing, however, when fewer nutrients are available in the

medium