Carotenoids- a family of natural pigments

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Carotenoids- a family of natural pigments

by arora007 » Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:44 am
Carotenoids, a family of natural pigments,
form an important art of the colorful signals
used by many animals. Animals acquire
carotenoids either directly (from the plants
(5) and algae that produce them) or indirectly (by
eating insects) and store them in a variety of
tissues. Studies of several animal species
have shown that when choosing mates, females
prefer males with brighter carotenoid-based
(10) coloration. Owens and Olson hypothesize that
the presence of carotenoids, as signaled by
coloration, would be meaningful in the context
of mate selection if carotenoids were either
rare or required for health. The conventional
(15) view is that carotenoids are meaningful
because they are rare: healthier males can
forage for more of the pigments than can their
inferior counterparts. Although this may be
true, there is growing evidence that carotenoids
(20) are meaningful also because they are required:
they are used by the immune system and for
detoxification processes that are important
for maintaining health. It may be that males
can use scarce carotenoids either for immune
(25) defense and detoxification or for attracting
females. Males that are more susceptible to
disease and parasites will have to use their
carotenoids to boost their immune systems,
whereas males that are genetically resistant
30) will use fewer carotenoids for fighting disease
and will advertise this by using the pigments
for flashy display instead.

Information in the passage suggests that which of the following is true of carotenoids that a male animal uses for detoxification processes?
A. They were not acquired directly from plants and algae.
B. They cannot be replenished through foraging.
C. They cannot be used simultaneously to brighten coloration.
D. They do not affect the animal's susceptibility to parasites.
E. They increase the chances that the animal will be selected as a mate.


OA is C

Can somebody explain why E cannot be an answer. Which words/lines indicate the answer ??
Last edited by arora007 on Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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by birlaka82 » Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:58 pm
I also got this wrong, but after a closer look I realised question was asking something else.

Question asks- Information in the passage suggests that which of the following is true of carotenoids that
a male animal uses for detoxification processes?

It is specifically asking a Q about Carotenoids used for Detoxification purposes.

Whereas information about the mating things which is given in the passage is "Studies of several animal species
have shown that when choosing mates, females prefer males with brighter carotenoid-based coloration"

Carotenoids used for Detoxification purposes do not increase chances of mating. they at best strengthen body's immune system.

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by adi_800 » Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:15 pm
Got wrong... explanatn needed..
I too donno where whatever mentioned in option C is present?

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by paddle_sweep » Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:32 am

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by debmalya_dutta » Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:56 pm
I went for C...


Note that we are interested in the carotenoids used for detoxication

The conventional
(15) view is that carotenoids are meaningful
because they are rare: healthier males can
forage for more of the pigments than can their
inferior counterparts. Although this may be
true, there is growing evidence that carotenoids
(20) are meaningful also because they are required:
they are used by the immune system and for
detoxification processes that are important
for maintaining health. It may be that males
can use scarce carotenoids either for immune
(25) defense and detoxification or for attracting
females.
Males that are more susceptible to
disease and parasites will have to use their
carotenoids to boost their immune systems,
whereas males that are genetically resistant
30) will use fewer carotenoids for fighting disease
and will advertise this by using the pigments
for flashy display instead.

So C says "They cannot be used simultaneously to brighten coloration" But its either or ....

E- "They increase the chances that the animal will be selected as a mate" - This is applies generally for all carotenoids. The question stem helps us to narrow down on C