What is the basic unit of heredity?
- A. Chromosome
- B. Cell
- C. Gene
- D. Organ
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A gene is the basic unit of heredity that carries the instructions for making proteins, which determine an organism's traits. Genes are segments of DNA located on chromosomes within the cell. While chromosomes contain many genes, a gene itself is the fundamental unit of heredity responsible for passing on genetic information from one generation to the next. Cells are the basic structural and functional units of living organisms, but genes specifically carry genetic information. Organs are composed of tissues and serve specific functions within an organism, but they are not the basic unit of heredity.
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What is the term for the process of exchanging gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between the blood and the tissues?
- A. Inhalation
- B. Exhalation
- C. External respiration
- D. Internal respiration
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: External respiration is the correct term for the process of exchanging gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between the blood and the tissues. It specifically refers to the exchange of gases that occurs in the lungs, where oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide is released from the bloodstream to be exhaled. Inhalation and exhalation, choices A and B, are phases of the breathing process that involve the intake and expulsion of air into and out of the lungs, respectively. Internal respiration, choice D, is the process of gas exchange that happens at the cellular level between the blood and body tissues, not between the blood and the lungs or tissues as in external respiration. Therefore, external respiration is the most appropriate term for the described gas exchange process in the question.
Decomposers in an ecosystem play a vital role by:
- A. Photosynthesizing and producing organic matter
- B. Breaking down dead organisms and returning nutrients to the environment
- C. Preying on herbivores and controlling their populations
- D. Fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere and making it available to plants
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Decomposers are organisms that break down dead organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, into simpler substances. By doing so, they help to recycle nutrients back into the environment, making them available for other organisms to use. This process is essential for the functioning of ecosystems, as it ensures that nutrients are not lost but instead are continuously cycled through the ecosystem. Photosynthesis (option A) is the process by which plants and some other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, and it is not a role of decomposers. Preying on herbivores (option C) is a role typically carried out by predators, not decomposers. Fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere (option D) is a process carried out by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, not decomposers.
What is the relationship between genetic drift and the founder effect?
- A. Founder effect is a cause of genetic drift within a small population
- B. Genetic drift is a cause of the founder effect in new populations
- C. They are the same phenomenon with different names
- D. They are unrelated concepts.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: - The founder effect is a specific type of genetic drift that occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population, leading to a loss of genetic variation.
- Genetic drift, on the other hand, is a broader concept that refers to random changes in allele frequencies in a population over time due to chance events.
- Therefore, the founder effect is a specific scenario within the broader concept of genetic drift, where the establishment of a new population by a small number of individuals leads to genetic changes in the population.
In a chemical reaction, the total amount of:
- A. Matter remains the same
- B. Matter increases
- C. Matter decreases
- D. Energy remains the same
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Law of Conservation of Mass states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction, only rearranged. This principle implies that the total amount of matter before and after a chemical reaction must remain constant, supporting the correct answer choice A. Choice B is incorrect because the total amount of matter does not increase in a chemical reaction; it is conserved. Choice C is incorrect as the total amount of matter does not decrease in a chemical reaction; it is conserved. Choice D is incorrect since the conservation of energy is a different principle and does not directly relate to the total amount of matter in a chemical reaction.
What is the primary function of red blood cells in the cardiovascular system?
- A. To transport oxygen throughout the body.
- B. To fight infection and disease.
- C. To help regulate blood clotting.
- D. To remove waste products from the body.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, play a crucial role in the cardiovascular system by primarily transporting oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and organs. This essential function is carried out through the interaction of hemoglobin, a protein within red blood cells, which binds to oxygen in the lungs and releases it in the body's tissues. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Red blood cells are not actively involved in fighting infections, regulating blood clotting, or eliminating waste products from the body.
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