You receive a sample slide of an organism. While observing it under a microscope, you notice that the organism is single-celled and green in color. There are multiple individual organisms on the slide. Based on this initial information, you guess that it is either a bacterium or a protist. Which trait is least likely to help you identify the correct group of this organism? (1 point)

Question

Responses

the absence of cell structure membranes
the absence of cell structure membranes

the presence of different cell shapes
the presence of different cell shapes

the absence of a nucleus
the absence of a nucleus

the presence of cell structures in the cell
the presence of cell structures in the cell
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Answer 1

To determine whether the organism is a bacterium or a protist, we need to consider the distinguishing traits between these two groups.

Bacteria are typically prokaryotic, meaning they lack a true nucleus and have no membrane-bound organelles, while protists are eukaryotic, possessing a nucleus and various cell structures.

Among the traits listed:

1. The absence of cell structure membranes - This would suggest a prokaryote (bacterium), as bacteria do not have membrane-bound organelles.
2. The presence of different cell shapes - This does not specifically help in differentiating between bacteria and protists since both can exhibit varied shapes.
3. The absence of a nucleus - This trait would indicate that the organism is a bacterium since bacteria are prokaryotic and lack a nucleus.
4. The presence of cell structures in the cell - Eukaryotes (protists) have membrane-bound organelles, whereas bacteria do not, so this would help indicate a protist.

The trait least likely to help identify the correct group would be the presence of different cell shapes because both bacteria and protists can have varying cell shapes, making it non-specific for identification.