Question

question 2 (2 points)
** (rhetorical synthesis question)
while researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• organisms release cellular material into their environment by shedding substances such as hair or skin.
• the dna in these substances is known as environmental dna, or edna.
• researchers collect and analyze edna to detect the presence of species that are difficult to observe.
• geneticist sara oyler-mccance’s research team analyzed edna in water samples from the florida everglades to detect invasive constictor snake species in the area.
• the study determined a 91% probability of detecting burmese python edna in a given location.

the student wants to present the study to an audience already familiar with environmental dna. which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

○ a an analysis of edna can detect the presence of invasive species that are difficult to observe, such as constrictor snakes.
○ b sara oyler-mccance’s research analyzed edna in water samples from the florida everglades for evidence of invasive constrictor snakes, which are difficult to observe.
○ c sara oyler-mccance’s research analyzed environmental dna (edna)-that is, dna from cellular materials released by organisms- in water samples from the florida everglades.
○ d researchers found burmese python edna, or environmental dna, in water samples; edna is the dna in released cellular materials, such as shed skin cells.

Explanation:

The audience is already familiar with eDNA, so we don't need to define it. We should focus on the relevant study details. Option b presents the key points: the researcher (Sara Oyler - McCance), the method (analyzing eDNA in water samples from Florida Everglades), and the purpose (finding evidence of invasive constrictor snakes which are hard to observe) without re - explaining eDNA. Option a is too general. Option c redefines eDNA which is not needed. Option d also redefines eDNA and is less focused on the study's purpose for the audience.

Answer:

b. Sara Oyler - McCance’s research analyzed eDNA in water samples from the Florida Everglades for evidence of invasive constrictor snakes, which are difficult to observe.