Think About What You Know About the Comparative Genomics of Plants

Multiple Choice

Think about what you know about the comparative genomics of plants (such as Arabidopsis) and animals (such as the nematode C. elegans) and imagine the following scenario. If a plant were to acquire mobility, such that it could more easily escape adverse conditions and enemies, genes involved in which of the following functions would most likely be lost over evolutionary time?

A) Photosynthesis
B) Cell signaling
C) Plant defense
D) Cell growth
E) Metabolism