In the lab, you isolate a chlorella mutant that is unable to switch xanthophyll pigments into the inactive, non-heat-dissipating form. If you released that mutant into a small pond shaded by trees, would the mutation spread, and why?

Option B, no, because the xanthophylls prevent the production of reactive oxygen species.

Explanation:

Complete question

In the lab, you isolate a chlorella mutant that is unable to switch xanthophyll pigments into the inactive, non-heat-dissipating form. if you released that mutant into a small pond shaded by trees, would the mutation spread, and why?

a) yes, because the xanthophylls prevent the production of reactive oxygen species.

b) no, because the xanthophylls prevent the production of reactive oxygen species.

c) no, because xanthophyll dissipates absorbed light as heat, and in low light environments, such dissipation would decrease photosynthesis and therefore growth.

d) yes, because the heat released by the xanthophylls would warm up the cells and enhance photosynthesis.

e) no, because mutations never spread in nature

Solution

Xanthophylls are oxygenated carotenoids which are very essential for photosynthesis of plant. They play a major role in harvesting light and in photoprotection. The structure of xanthophyll consists of conjugated double bonds and they are good at facing  reactive oxygen species (such as cholera vector) thereby damaging their DNA, restricting the cellular pathways by damaging the oxidation pathway. Hence, in presence of reactive oxygen species the light received by xanthophylls is not used to in photosynthesis but in quenching the reactive oxygen species .

Hence, option B is correct