Nursing Elites

1. A keystone species plays a critical role in an ecosystem because its removal would:

• A. Lead to a decrease in competition among other species
• B. Cause a slight increase in primary productivity
• C. Have a minimal impact on the overall ecosystem structure
• D. Disrupt the food web and cause cascading effects on other populations

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Rationale: Keystone species are species that have a disproportionately large effect on their environment relative to their abundance. They play a critical role in maintaining the structure and function of an ecosystem. If a keystone species is removed from an ecosystem, it can disrupt the food web by causing imbalances in predator-prey relationships. This disruption can lead to cascading effects on other populations within the ecosystem, potentially causing population declines or even extinctions. Therefore, the removal of a keystone species would have significant impacts on the overall ecosystem structure, making option D the correct answer.

2. In a covalent bond, the shared electrons:

• A. Are completely transferred to one atom.
• B. Spend more time closer to the more electronegative atom.
• C. Remain equidistant between the two atoms.
• D. Do not influence the bond strength.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Spend more time closer to the more electronegative atom. Electronegativity determines the "pull" on shared electrons, with the more electronegative atom attracting them for a larger portion of the time, creating a partial negative charge near its nucleus.

3. Which component of the nervous system is responsible for controlling voluntary movements, such as the contraction of skeletal muscles?

• A. Autonomic nervous system
• B. Peripheral nervous system
• C. Somatic nervous system
• D. Sympathetic nervous system

Correct answer: c

Rationale: The correct answer is C, the somatic nervous system. The somatic nervous system is responsible for controlling voluntary movements, such as the contraction of skeletal muscles. This system consists of motor neurons that send signals from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles, allowing us to consciously control our movements. The autonomic nervous system (A) controls involuntary actions like heart rate and digestion, the peripheral nervous system (B) includes all nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, and the sympathetic nervous system (D) is a division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the fight-or-flight response. Therefore, the somatic nervous system is specifically involved in voluntary movements.

4. Reactions requiring light energy to proceed are classified as:

• A. Combustion reactions
• B. Endothermic reactions
• C. Photochemical reactions
• D. Double displacement reactions

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: "Photochemical reactions." Photochemical reactions are a type of chemical reaction that requires light energy to proceed. During a photochemical reaction, light energy is absorbed by a substance, leading to changes in its chemical structure or properties. This process is different from combustion reactions (A), which involve the rapid combination of a fuel with oxygen to release heat and light energy. Endothermic reactions (B) absorb heat energy, not light energy, to proceed. Double displacement reactions (D) involve the exchange of ions between reactants, but do not specifically require light energy to occur. Therefore, the most appropriate classification for reactions requiring light energy is photochemical reactions.

5. What is the significance of studying pedigrees in human genetics?

• A. Predicting the exact outcome of genetic crosses in humans.
• B. Tracing the inheritance of complex traits with multiple contributing genes.
• C. Identifying carriers of dominant genetic disorders.
• D. Determining the risk of acquiring a specific mutation de novo.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Rationale: Pedigrees are diagrams that show the relationships within a family and can be used to track the inheritance patterns of specific traits or diseases. While pedigrees can provide information on the inheritance of single gene disorders (such as identifying carriers of dominant genetic disorders, as mentioned in option C), their primary significance lies in studying complex traits with multiple contributing genes. These traits do not follow simple Mendelian inheritance patterns and are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. By analyzing pedigrees, researchers can identify patterns of inheritance for complex traits, such as polygenic diseases or traits influenced by gene-environment interactions. Therefore, option B is the most appropriate choice as it captures the main significance of studying pedigrees in human genetics.

6. Which type of cell division is responsible for sexual reproduction?

• A. Mitosis
• B. Meiosis
• C. Amitosis
• D. Cytokinesis

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Rationale: Meiosis is the type of cell division responsible for sexual reproduction. During meiosis, a single cell undergoes two rounds of division to produce four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. This reduction in chromosome number is essential for sexual reproduction, as it ensures that when two gametes (sperm and egg) combine during fertilization, the resulting zygote will have the correct number of chromosomes. Mitosis, on the other hand, is a type of cell division that produces two daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell and is involved in growth, repair, and asexual reproduction. Amitosis is a rare form of cell division that does not involve the typical processes of mitosis or meiosis. Cytokinesis is the process of dividing the cytoplasm of a cell after mitosis or meiosis.

Similar Questions