Question

Consider a coccus and a rod of equal volume. Which is more likely to survive in a dry environment? Explain your answer Which would be better adapted to a moist environment? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

Answer:

Coccus  is suitable for dry environment and a rod is better adapted for moist environment.

Explanation:

The probability of Coccus would be  better suitable for a environment which is dry. A sphere posses less surface area for the volume, as such,  moisture which is  lost through osmosis  is less in dry environment conditions.

During a moist environment, the ratio of the surface area to volume of a rod shaped bacterium is high, which allow higher efficiency to transfer water and solutes into and outside of the cell, and to make possible for a cell which is in rod shaped, have a metabolic rate higher.