What describes a cell's reaction to being placed in a hypertonic solution?
- A. The cell will shrink as water is pulled out of the cell to equalize the concentrations inside and outside of the cell.
- B. The cell will swell as water is pulled into the cell to equalize the concentrations inside and outside of the cell.
- C. The cell will remain the same size since the concentrations inside and outside the cell are equal to begin with.
- D. The pH inside the cell will drop in order to equalize the pH inside and outside the cell.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A cell placed in a hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration outside the cell compared to inside. This creates a concentration gradient that causes water to move out of the cell through osmosis to equalize the concentrations on both sides. As a result, the cell will shrink or undergo plasmolysis, as water is pulled out of the cell. Choice B is incorrect because a hypertonic solution causes water to move out of the cell, leading to shrinkage rather than swelling. Choice C is incorrect as a hypertonic solution results in a concentration gradient that leads to water leaving the cell, causing it to shrink. Choice D is incorrect because pH is not directly affected by being placed in a hypertonic solution; the change in solute concentration primarily impacts water movement.
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Which of the following chambers of the heart receives blood returning from the lungs during pulmonary circulation?
- A. left atrium
- B. right atrium
- C. left ventricle
- D. right ventricle
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A, the left atrium. During pulmonary circulation, oxygenated blood returns from the lungs to the heart and enters the left atrium through the pulmonary veins. The left atrium then contracts, pushing this oxygen-rich blood into the left ventricle. The left ventricle subsequently pumps this oxygenated blood out to the rest of the body through the aorta. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body, the left ventricle receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium, and the right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation, respectively.
Which of the following contains a single immature egg cell that is released during ovulation?
- A. oocytes
- B. follicles
- C. ovaries
- D. fallopian tubes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Follicles are the structures in the ovaries that contain the oocytes (immature egg cells). During ovulation, a single mature egg cell is released from a mature follicle in the ovary. The other options (A. oocytes, C. ovaries, D. fallopian tubes) do not specifically refer to the structure that contains the immature egg cell that is released during ovulation.
Chromatids divide into identical chromosomes and migrate to opposite ends of the cell in which of the following phases of mitosis?
- A. metaphase
- B. anaphase
- C. prophase
- D. telophase
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: During anaphase of mitosis, the sister chromatids detach from each other and migrate to opposite poles of the cell. This process ensures that each daughter cell ultimately receives an identical set of chromosomes, as the chromatids separate and become individual chromosomes again. This is a crucial step in ensuring accurate distribution of genetic material during cell division. In metaphase, the chromosomes align at the cell's equator but do not separate yet. Prophase is the phase where chromatin condenses into chromosomes and the nuclear envelope breaks down. Telophase is the final phase where the nuclear envelope reforms around the separated chromosomes.
Two mice are both heterozygous for two traits: white fur (Ww) and short fur (Ss). Their offspring are most likely to have which of the following genotypes for these traits?
- A. wwss
- B. WWSS
- C. WwSs
- D. WWSs
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When two mice that are heterozygous for white fur (Ww) and short fur (Ss) mate, they can produce offspring with different combinations of the two traits. The Punnett square for this cross shows that the most likely genotype for the offspring is WwSs. In this case, each offspring receives one allele for white fur (W) and one for short fur (S) from each parent, resulting in a heterozygous genotype for both traits. Choice A (wwss) is incorrect as it represents a homozygous recessive genotype for both traits. Choice B (WWSS) is also incorrect as it represents a homozygous dominant genotype for both traits. Choice D (WWSs) is incorrect as it represents a genotype where one trait is homozygous dominant (W) and the other is heterozygous (S), which is not the most likely outcome based on the given parental genotypes.
Which of the following is a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in adaptive immunity by seeking out, attacking, and destroying targeted pathogens?
- A. memory B cells
- B. neutrophils
- C. antibodies
- D. cytotoxic T cells
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is cytotoxic T cells. Cytotoxic T cells are a type of white blood cell that is crucial in adaptive immunity. They are specialized in recognizing and destroying infected or abnormal cells in the body. Neutrophils are primarily involved in innate immunity, providing rapid response to infections. Antibodies are proteins produced by B cells and are essential in specific immune responses, but they do not directly attack pathogens. Memory B cells are part of the adaptive immune response, responsible for mounting a quicker and stronger response upon re-exposure to a pathogen. However, they do not directly seek out and destroy pathogens like cytotoxic T cells do.