The Table Shows the Biochemical Pathway of Arginine Production and Growth

Multiple Choice

The table shows the biochemical pathway of arginine production and growth of Neurospora under various conditions. Wild-type Neurospora was treated with X-rays to induce heritable mutations.Treated Neurospora was grown on minimal medium ("no addition" in the table) and minimal medium supplemented with the compounds indicated in the table.Growth is indicated as dry weight of fungal material after 5 days.Here we see the results of three mutated strains that were linked to the metabolic pathway that generates arginine.Without arginine production, Neurospora cannot grow. Considering the biochemical pathway of arginine production, what explanation could account for the ability of strains 34105 and 33442 but the inability of strain 36703 to show some growth on minimal medium?

A) The minimal medium was contaminated with arginine.
B) The minimal medium was contaminated with low levels of citrulline.
C) The minimal medium was contaminated with low levels of ornithine.
D) The minimal medium was contaminated with low levels of the precursor.
E) Another metabolic pathway provided low levels of arginine.