Read the passage and then answer the question. Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli, is one of the most widely studied bacterial species, in part because it can be grown easily inside a lab . When most people think of E. coli, however, they likely picture widespread recalls of produce and other food products due to contamination by this bacterium. Indeed, certain strains of E. coli can be harmful or even fatal to humans. Other strains , however, exist in com mensalism with humans and other animals. For example, a number of harmless strains flourish in human and animal intestines. What is the meaning of commensalism as used in the passage? a relationship between organisms that helps them both a relationship between organisms that helps one without benefiting or harming the other a relationship between organisms in which one thrives while the other is adversely affected a relationship between organisms that is mutually harmful

Question

Read the passage and then answer the question. Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli, is one of the most widely studied bacterial species, in part because it can be grown easily inside a lab . When most people think of E. coli, however, they likely picture widespread recalls of produce and other food products due to contamination by this bacterium. Indeed, certain strains of E. coli can be harmful or even fatal to humans. Other strains , however, exist in com mensalism with humans and other animals. For example, a number of harmless strains flourish in human and animal intestines. What is the meaning of commensalism as used in the passage? a relationship between organisms that helps them both a relationship between organisms that helps one without benefiting or harming the other a relationship between organisms in which one thrives while the other is adversely affected a relationship between organisms that is mutually harmful

Answer 1

B. a relationship between organisms that helps one without benefiting or harming the other.

Answer 2

## Step 1The problem involves understanding the meaning of the term 'commensalism' as used in the context of the given passage. The passage discusses the relationship between humans and certain strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli). ## Step 2According to scientific definitions, commensalism refers to a relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits while the other is neither harmed nor helped. This definition is consistent with the context in which the term is used in the passage.## Step 3Based on the above understanding, we can conclude that the meaning of commensalism in the passage is the one that aligns with the scientific definition.

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