Before You Begin
Question #45136
The Question
A novel, non-biodegradable lipophilic pollutant enters a terrestrial food web. This chemical acts as a potent mimic of the endopeptidases responsible for cleaving the C-peptide during insulin maturation. Considering the principles of energy flow and biomagnification, which of the following represents the most likely consequence for the apex predators in this ecosystem?
Options
- A.
They will suffer from severe hypoglycemia and metabolic exhaustion due to unregulated activation of insulin, exacerbated by the minimal energy flux reaching their trophic level.
- B.
They will develop severe hyperglycemia because the pollutant prevents the formation of disulfide bridges between the A and B chains of insulin.
- C.
Primary producers will experience the highest metabolic disruption, as the 10% law dictates that maximum toxicant energy is retained at the first trophic level.
- D.
They will exhibit an accumulation of inactive proinsulin in their pancreatic β-cells, leading to a compensatory but energetically costly increase in basal metabolic rate.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Comparative_Analysis
Sharpen your ability to evaluate multiple scenarios and distinguish between competing potential answers.
Concepts Behind This Question
Trophic_Level|10_percent_law|Endocrine_disruption
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Integrating Human Physiology/Biotechnology (Insulin maturation via C-peptide removal) with Ecology (Biomagnification and Lindeman's 10% law).
The primary trap is the 'Functional Confusion' where students might reflexively associate any pancreatic disruption with Diabetes/Hyperglycemia (Option B or D), failing to realize that an enzyme mimic for cleavage would cause an overproduction of active insulin, leading to fatal hypoglycemia.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Biotechnology and Its Applications - Class 12 |
| Concept | Insulin Chain Maturation |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |