Question 1

Which of the following best describes the plasma membrane of a typical human cell?

Accepted Answer

A flexible, selectively permeable bilayer primarily made of phospholipids, with embedded proteins and cholesterol.

Question 2

A red blood cell is placed in a hypertonic solution. What is the most likely outcome for the cell?

Accepted Answer

It will shrink as water moves out of the cell by osmosis.

Question 3

Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing ATP through aerobic respiration?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondrion

Question 4

During DNA replication, which enzyme is responsible for unwinding and separating the two strands of the DNA double helix?

Accepted Answer

Helicase

Question 5

Which of the following best explains why DNA replication is described as 'semiconservative'?

Accepted Answer

Each new DNA molecule consists of one old (parental) strand and one new strand.

Question 6

A patient is diagnosed with a genetic disorder that affects the function of lysosomes. Which of the following cellular processes is most likely to be impaired?

Accepted Answer

Digestion of cellular debris and foreign substances

Question 7

Which type of cell junction is most important in preventing the leakage of substances between adjacent epithelial cells in the urinary bladder?

Accepted Answer

Tight junctions

Question 8

A scientist is studying the movement of glucose into a cell. She observes that glucose moves down its concentration gradient but requires a specific membrane protein to do so. Which transport process is she observing?

Accepted Answer

Facilitated diffusion

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the function of the Golgi apparatus?

Accepted Answer

Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for secretion or delivery to other organelles

Question 10

Which of the following equations correctly represents the hydrolysis of ATP, which provides energy for primary active transport?

Accepted Answer

$ATP + H_2O \rightarrow ADP + P_i + energy$

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the role of ribosomes in the cell?

Accepted Answer

They are the site of protein synthesis, translating mRNA into polypeptides.

Question 12

A cell is observed to engulf a bacterium by surrounding it with its plasma membrane and forming a vesicle. Which process is being described?

Accepted Answer

Phagocytosis

Question 13

Which of the following statements about the sodium-potassium pump is correct?

Accepted Answer

It requires ATP to move sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell against their gradients.

Question 14

During which phase of the cell cycle does DNA replication occur, and where in the cell does this process take place?

Accepted Answer

S phase; nucleus

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the function of microvilli on the surface of intestinal epithelial cells?

Accepted Answer

They increase the surface area for absorption of nutrients.

Question 16

A mutation causes a cell to lose the ability to form desmosomes. Which tissue would be most affected by this defect?

Accepted Answer

Epidermis (outer layer of skin)

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the relationship between codons and anticodons during protein synthesis?

Accepted Answer

Codons are three-nucleotide sequences on mRNA that pair with complementary anticodons on tRNA.

Question 18

Which of the following best explains the function of peroxisomes in the cell?

Accepted Answer

They detoxify harmful substances and neutralize free radicals.

Question 19

A scientist observes that a cell is undergoing apoptosis. Which of the following events is most likely occurring?

Accepted Answer

The cell is shrinking, its DNA and cytoskeleton are being degraded by caspases, and it is being phagocytized.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the role of telomeres in cell aging?

Accepted Answer

Telomeres are protective nucleotide sequences at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division, limiting the number of times a cell can divide.

Chapter 3: Cells – The Living Units (Anatomy & Physiology Study Notes)

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