Question

Plasmodium is an organism with both sexual and asexual life cycles. Describe the most likely cause of a heritable phenotypic change in some members of a population of asexually reproducing organisms. Explain how repeated exposure of the artesunate-sensitive Plasmodium strain to increasing concentrations of artesunate led to the development of the artesunate-resistant Plasmodium strain.

Answer 1

Answer:

Mutation.

Explanation:

Mutation in the organism's DNA that is passed on to the offspring is that main cause of heritable phenotypic change in some members of a population that reproduces asexually. Repeated exposure of Plasmodium that is sensitive to artesunate strain to increasing dosage of artesunate led to the development of resistance in plasmodium because the genetic mutation occur in the plasmodium that provide resistance against artesunate.