$$\text{Osmolarity} = \frac{\text{Number of solute particles}}{\text{Volume of solution}}$$

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the function of the glycocalyx on the plasma membrane?

Accepted Answer

It provides highly specific biological markers for cell recognition.

Question 2

A cell placed in a hypertonic solution will:

Accepted Answer

Lose water by osmosis and shrink.

Question 3

Which membrane junction is most abundant in tissues that experience mechanical stress, such as skin and heart muscle?

Accepted Answer

Desmosome

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a passive process for membrane transport?

Accepted Answer

Primary active transport

Question 5

The sodium-potassium pump (Na+-K+ ATPase) is essential for:

Accepted Answer

Maintaining electrochemical gradients necessary for muscle and nerve function.

Question 6

Which equation best represents the relationship between osmolarity and solute concentration?

Accepted Answer

$$	ext{Osmolarity} = \frac{	ext{Number of solute particles}}{	ext{Volume of solution}}$$

Question 7

Which organelle is responsible for aerobic cellular respiration and contains its own DNA and RNA?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondrion

Question 8

A patient with Tay-Sachs disease is most likely to have a defect in which cellular organelle?

Accepted Answer

Lysosome

Question 9

Which cytoskeletal element is primarily responsible for resisting pulling forces and attaching to desmosomes?

Accepted Answer

Intermediate filaments

Question 10

During DNA replication, which enzyme is responsible for joining together short segments of the lagging strand?

Accepted Answer

Ligase

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the process of exocytosis?

Accepted Answer

Transport of substances out of the cell via vesicles.

Question 12

Which equation describes the movement of a solute down its concentration gradient during simple diffusion?

Accepted Answer

$$J = -D \frac{dC}{dx}$$

Question 13

Which of the following is a function of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum in liver cells?

Accepted Answer

Lipid and cholesterol metabolism, detoxification of drugs

Question 14

Which process is most directly responsible for the establishment of the resting membrane potential in cells?

Accepted Answer

Diffusion and active transport of ions, mainly K+

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the role of tRNA during translation?

Accepted Answer

Binds a specific amino acid and pairs with mRNA codons at the ribosome

Question 16

A cell with a surface-to-volume ratio that is too low will most likely:

Accepted Answer

Divide to increase its ratio

Question 17

Which of the following is a real-life example of vesicular transport?

Accepted Answer

Hormone secretion via exocytosis

Question 18

Which of the following statements about the fluid mosaic model of the plasma membrane is correct?

Accepted Answer

Proteins are embedded and dispersed within a double bilayer of lipids.

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why water moves into a cell placed in a hypotonic solution?

Accepted Answer

The solute concentration outside the cell is lower than inside, causing water to enter by osmosis.

Question 20

Which of the following is a correct description of the cell cycle?

Accepted Answer

Interphase includes growth, DNA synthesis, and preparation for division; mitosis is nuclear division.

Cells: The Living Units – Structure, Function, and Processes

Study Guide - Practice Questions