A variety of microorganisms live as symbionts in the human digestive tract. What determines whether their relationship with the human is parasitic or mutualistic?

a their size compared to human cells

b their reproductive rate compared to the replication rate of human cells

c. whether or not they gain energy from food that the human eats

d whether their actions harm or benefit the human host

Question

Kristina Griffith

Biology

22 September, 08:06

A variety of microorganisms live as symbionts in the human digestive tract. What determines whether their relationship with the human is parasitic or mutualistic?

a their size compared to human cells

b their reproductive rate compared to the replication rate of human cells

c. whether or not they gain energy from food that the human eats

d whether their actions harm or benefit the human host

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Yazmin · Answer 1

Answer: D, whether their actions harm or benefit their human host.

Explanation: The nature of the relationship between the host and microorganism can be categorized based on whether the actions of the microorganism harm or benefit the host.