[Campbell Biology P.114] L-dopa was found to be effective in treating Parkinson's disease pa... | Practice Question

L-dopa was found to be effective in treating Parkinson's disease paralysis, while its enantiomer, D-dopa, had no effect. This observation best illustrates which fundamental biological theme?

  • A: Evolution and adaptation.
  • B: Regulation and homeostasis.
  • C: Structure and function.
  • D: Energy and matter transformation.

Explanation

The differing biological effects of enantiomers L-dopa being effective, D-dopa having no effect is a classic example demonstrating that a molecule's specific three-dimensional structure is crucial for its biological function, aligning with the theme of 'structure and function.' The text for Question 11 explicitly asks to discuss how this illustrates the theme of structure and function.