A drug that specifically inhibited the replication of the large DNA mass present in large mitochondria would be MOST effective at killing
A) euglenids.
B) ciliates.
C) Trypanosoma spp.
D) Toxoplasma spp.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Trypanosoma spp. are protozoan parasites that contain a single large mitochondrion with a complex DNA network called the kinetoplast. Inhibiting the replication of this large DNA mass would likely disrupt the parasite's energy production and lead to its death. Euglenids and ciliates typically have smaller mitochondria and multiple copies of mitochondrial DNA, so this drug would not be as effective against them. Toxoplasma spp. have relict mitochondria with reduced genome content, and it is unclear whether they even contain DNA replication machinery, so this drug would not be effective against this parasite.

A Drug That Specifically Inhibited the Replication of the Large