1. Hair follicles are openings in the skin that house

A. Blood vessels (Blood vessels are not housed in hair follicles)
B. Nerve endings (Nerve endings are present but not housed within)
C. Hair shafts and hair roots
D. Sebaceous glands (These glands are often attached to hair follicles)

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Hair follicles are structures in the skin that house both the hair shaft and the hair root. The hair shaft is the visible part of the hair that extends from the skin's surface, while the hair root is the part embedded within the hair follicle and extends into the deeper layers of the skin. The sebaceous glands, which produce sebum (an oily substance), are typically attached to hair follicles and help lubricate and protect the hair and skin. Blood vessels and nerve endings are present in the skin but are not housed within the hair follicles themselves. Therefore, the correct answer is C, as hair follicles contain both the hair shaft and hair root.

2. Photons, the basic unit of light, are:

A. Charged particles
B. Packets of energy with wave-particle duality
C. Electromagnetic waves only
D. Always absorbed by matter

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Packets of energy with wave-particle duality. Photons are the smallest discrete amount of electromagnetic radiation and exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties. While photons do not have a charge, they do carry energy and momentum. This dual nature of photons is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics. Photons can travel as both waves and particles, and their behavior is described by the wave-particle duality principle. Therefore, option B accurately describes the nature of photons as packets of energy with wave-particle duality.

3. Which of the following hormones is produced by the adrenal medulla and prepares the body for a stressful situation?

A. Testosterone
B. Cortisol
C. Epinephrine (adrenaline)
D. Growth hormone

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Epinephrine (adrenaline). Epinephrine is produced by the adrenal medulla and is responsible for preparing the body for a stressful situation, often referred to as the 'fight or flight' response. Testosterone is a hormone produced by the testes in males and in smaller amounts by the ovaries in females, responsible for male sexual characteristics. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal cortex and plays a role in regulating metabolism and immune response. Growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland and is essential for growth, cell repair, and metabolism. Therefore, epinephrine is the hormone specifically produced by the adrenal medulla to prepare the body for stress.

4. Isotopes are variants of a single element that differ in:

A. Having the same number of protons but varying numbers of neutrons
B. Having the same number of neutrons but varying numbers of protons
C. Having the same mass but different atomic numbers
D. None of the above

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Having the same number of protons but varying numbers of neutrons.' Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons (which determines the element) but different numbers of neutrons. This results in isotopes having slightly different atomic masses. Options B and C are incorrect because isotopes specifically refer to variations in the number of neutrons, not protons or atomic numbers. Option D is incorrect because isotopes do exist due to differences in neutron number.

5. What is the difference between a germline mutation and a somatic mutation?

A. Germline mutations are passed to offspring, while somatic mutations are not.
B. Germline mutations occur in reproductive cells, while somatic mutations occur in body cells.
C. Germline mutations only affect genes, while somatic mutations can affect any DNA.
D. Germline mutations are always beneficial, while somatic mutations are always harmful.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Rationale: - Germline mutations are changes in the DNA of reproductive cells (sperm or egg cells) and can be passed on to offspring, affecting all cells in the resulting organism. - Somatic mutations are changes in the DNA of non-reproductive cells (body cells) and are not passed on to offspring. These mutations only affect the cells that arise from the mutated cell. - Option A is incorrect because somatic mutations are not passed to offspring. - Option C is incorrect because both germline and somatic mutations can affect any DNA. - Option D is incorrect because the effects of mutations, whether germline or somatic, can be beneficial, harmful, or have no significant impact.