1. The main idea of the passage is that scientists have developed a way to make bacteria glow in the dark by inserting a gene from fireflies into their DNA, which helps researchers track the bacteria's movement and activity inside living organisms.
2. The author uses the phrase "glow in the dark" to describe the bacteria because it is a simple, familiar term that clearly conveys the visual effect of the modified bacteria emitting light, making the scientific concept more accessible to general readers.
3. One benefit of using glowing bacteria in medical research is that scientists can observe where the bacteria travel and how they behave inside a living body without needing to kill or dissect the organism, allowing for real-time tracking and safer experiments.
4. The word “inserted” in paragraph 2 most likely means “placed or put something into a particular position,” referring to the process of adding the firefly gene into the bacteria’s genetic material.
5. The sentence “The bacteria were then injected into mice” supports the idea that the glowing bacteria can be used to study infections in live animals, as it shows the practical application of the technique in a controlled biological environment.
6. The author includes information about the firefly gene to explain the source of the glowing trait and to highlight how genetic engineering allows scientists to transfer useful characteristics from one species to another.
7. The main purpose of this passage is to inform readers about a scientific breakthrough—genetically modifying bacteria to glow—and to explain its potential applications in medical research.
8. A suitable title for this passage would be: “Glowing Bacteria Help Scientists Track Infections.”
9. The author’s tone can best be described as informative and enthusiastic, as the text presents scientific facts clearly while also conveying excitement about the innovation’s potential.
10. The passage suggests that future medical research may increasingly rely on genetically modified organisms to visualize biological processes in real time, leading to faster discoveries and more targeted treatments.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of nucleic acids dna the double helix worksheet answers.
