Question

Siamese cats have dark fur on their face, ears, legs and tail. On the core of their bodies they have lighter colored fur. The color of the fur is determined by an enzyme. On the cooler parts of the body the enzyme causes darker fur. On the warmer parts of the body the enzyme does not function.

Which of the following best explains the relationship between temperature and this enzyme?
A. The enzyme functions best in high temperatures.
B. The enzyme functions in a specific temperature range.
C. The enzyme is denatured in cold temperatures.
D. Cool temperatures allow the enzyme to break down dark pigments.

Answer 1

The enzyme that determines the color of Siamese cats' fur functions in a specific temperature range, resulting in darker fur on cooler parts of their bodies. This is similar to how temperature-sensitive proteins work in other animals.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relationship between temperature and the enzyme that determines the color of Siamese cats' fur is that the enzyme functions in a specific temperature range. In this case, the enzyme does not function in the warmer parts of the body, allowing for lighter colored fur, while it functions in the cooler parts, resulting in darker fur. This is similar to how other temperature-sensitive proteins work in animals like arctic foxes and rabbits. In these cases, the protein product of the gene does not fold correctly at colder temperatures, causing a change in coloration.

Answer 2

The enzyme functions in a specific temperature range. When it's too, it will denature. It works best at higher temperature until it reaches the optimum temperature.