Question

Application of heat to living cells can result in all of the following EXCEPT:

a. damage to nucleic acids.
b. alteration of membrane permeability.
c. breaking of hydrogen bonds.
d. denaturation of enzymes.
e. increasing thermal death time by preserving the integrity of cells.

Answer 1

The application of heat to living cells can damage them in various ways but does not increase thermal death time by preserving cell integrity; in fact, it has the opposite effect.

Step-by-step explanation:

Heating cells can damage nucleic acids, alter membrane permeability, break hydrogen bonds, and cause the denaturation of enzymes. However, one outcome that is not a result of the application of heat is 'increasing thermal death time by preserving the integrity of cells.' On the contrary, applying heat often decreases the time until cells die, as higher temperatures damage cellular components and disrupt critical biological processes.