Which statement describes cytoplasmic incompatibility caused by Wolbachia?

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Multiple Choice

Which statement describes cytoplasmic incompatibility caused by Wolbachia?

Cytoplasmic incompatibility is a reproductive manipulation by the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia that is transmitted through the egg’s cytoplasm. Infected males produce sperm modified by Wolbachia, and when they mate with uninfected females, embryos often fail to develop, leading to reduced offspring viability. In contrast, females carrying Wolbachia can rescue this modification, so crosses with infected females tend to be viable. This pattern explains why crosses between infected and uninfected individuals show fewer or less viable offspring, making the statement about reduced offspring viability the best description. It’s not about increasing fecundity, it isn’t universal reproductive failure, and it’s not a viral infection.

Cytoplasmic incompatibility is a reproductive manipulation by the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia that is transmitted through the egg’s cytoplasm. Infected males produce sperm modified by Wolbachia, and when they mate with uninfected females, embryos often fail to develop, leading to reduced offspring viability. In contrast, females carrying Wolbachia can rescue this modification, so crosses with infected females tend to be viable. This pattern explains why crosses between infected and uninfected individuals show fewer or less viable offspring, making the statement about reduced offspring viability the best description. It’s not about increasing fecundity, it isn’t universal reproductive failure, and it’s not a viral infection.

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