Question 1

Which of the following best explains why red blood cells, nerve cells, epithelial cells, and skeletal muscle cells have different shapes and sizes?

Accepted Answer

Their shapes and sizes are determined by the specific proteins they express, allowing them to perform specialized functions.

Question 2

Which of the following is a function of the plasma membrane that is critical for maintaining homeostasis in the cell?

Accepted Answer

It regulates the transport of substances into and out of the cell.

Question 3

A scientist observes a protein embedded in the plasma membrane that allows ions to move down their concentration gradient without using ATP. Which type of transport is being observed?

Accepted Answer

Facilitated diffusion

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration?

Accepted Answer

Osmosis

Question 5

A red blood cell is placed in a hypertonic solution. What will most likely happen to the cell?

Accepted Answer

It will lose water and shrink (crenate).

Question 6

Which of the following best explains why the sodium-potassium pump is considered an example of primary active transport?

Accepted Answer

It uses the energy from ATP hydrolysis to move ions against their concentration gradients.

Question 7

Which of the following is a consequence of the sodium-potassium pump's activity in animal cells?

Accepted Answer

The inside of the cell becomes more negative relative to the outside, establishing a resting membrane potential.

Question 8

A patient is given a drug that blocks all carrier proteins in the plasma membrane. Which process would be directly affected?

Accepted Answer

Facilitated diffusion of glucose

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the role of aquaporins in the plasma membrane?

Accepted Answer

They facilitate the rapid movement of water molecules across the membrane.

Question 10

A cell is observed to engulf a large bacterium by extending its plasma membrane around the particle and forming a vesicle. Which process is being described?

Accepted Answer

Phagocytosis

Question 11

Which organelle is responsible for synthesizing the majority of the cell’s ATP through oxidative catabolism?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondrion

Question 12

A genetic disorder results in the accumulation of undigested glycolipids in the brain, leading to neurological dysfunction and early death. Which organelle is most likely defective?

Accepted Answer

Lysosome

Question 13

Which cytoskeletal filament is primarily responsible for muscle contraction and the crawling movement of phagocytes?

Accepted Answer

Actin filaments (microfilaments)

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

It modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for transport.

Question 15

A mutation prevents the formation of the nuclear envelope. Which cellular process would be directly affected?

Accepted Answer

Separation of DNA from the cytoplasm, affecting transcription and DNA protection

Question 16

Which of the following best explains why mRNA must be processed before leaving the nucleus?

Accepted Answer

To remove introns and splice together exons, forming a mature mRNA transcript

Question 17

Which of the following is the correct sequence of events in gene expression?

Accepted Answer

Transcription → Translation → Posttranslational modification

Question 18

A cell is exposed to a toxin that inhibits RNA polymerase. What is the most immediate effect on the cell?

Accepted Answer

The cell cannot synthesize new mRNA, halting protein synthesis.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

It brings specific amino acids to the ribosome, matching its anticodon to the mRNA codon.

Question 20

During which phase of the cell cycle does DNA replication occur?

Accepted Answer

S phase

The Cell: Structure, Function, and Processes (Chapter 3 Study Notes)

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