Nursing Elites

1. Antigenic variation, a common strategy used by some viruses, allows them to:

• A. Produce toxins
• B. Evade the immune system
• C. Survive outside a host
• D. Replicate rapidly

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Antigenic variation is a strategy used by some viruses to evade the host's immune response. By constantly changing their surface antigens, viruses can avoid recognition and destruction by the immune system. This allows the virus to persist in the host and continue replicating, leading to prolonged infection and potential transmission to other hosts. Antigenic variation does not directly involve the production of toxins, survival outside a host, or rapid replication, making options A, C, and D incorrect in this context.

2. What is a group of organisms of the same species living in a particular area called?

• A. Community
• B. Population
• C. Ecosystem
• D. Habitat

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A) Community refers to all the populations of different species living and interacting in a particular area. Since the question specifies organisms of the same species, community is not the correct answer. B) Population is a group of organisms of the same species living in a particular area. This term specifically refers to individuals of the same species and their interactions within a defined area. C) Ecosystem includes all the living organisms (biotic factors) and non-living components (abiotic factors) in a particular area and their interactions. While populations are part of an ecosystem, the term 'ecosystem' is broader and includes multiple populations. D) Habitat refers to the specific environment where an organism lives, including the physical and biological factors. It is the place where a population or individual organism resides, but it does not specifically refer to a group of organisms of the same species.

3. What is the primary function of ribosomes in a cell?

• A. Protein synthesis
• B. DNA replication
• C. Cell division
• D. Lipid synthesis

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Protein synthesis. Ribosomes are the cellular organelles responsible for protein synthesis. They read the messenger RNA (mRNA) and translate the genetic information into specific proteins. This process is essential for building and maintaining the structures and functions of the cell. Choice B, DNA replication, is incorrect because ribosomes are not involved in replicating DNA; that process occurs in the nucleus. Choice C, cell division, is incorrect as ribosomes are not directly involved in cell division but rather in protein synthesis. Choice D, lipid synthesis, is also incorrect as ribosomes are not responsible for synthesizing lipids, which primarily occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum and other organelles.

4. What is the process of removing waste products from the cell called?

• A. Exocytosis
• B. Endocytosis
• C. Phagocytosis
• D. Pinocytosis

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A) Exocytosis is the process by which cells expel waste products or other substances by fusing a vesicle containing the waste with the cell membrane, releasing its contents outside the cell. This process is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis by removing waste products from the cell. B) Endocytosis is the process by which cells take in substances by engulfing them in a vesicle formed from the cell membrane. This process is the opposite of exocytosis and is used to bring substances into the cell. C) Phagocytosis is a type of endocytosis where cells engulf solid particles or other cells to form a vesicle called a phagosome. This process is used by immune cells to engulf and destroy pathogens. D) Pinocytosis is a type of endocytosis where cells engulf fluids and dissolved solutes. This process allows cells to take in nutrients.

5. Which of the following is NOT a mechanism that can directly cause evolution by natural selection?

• A. Mutations in genes
• B. Differential survival and reproduction based on traits
• C. Inheritance of acquired characteristics (like strong muscles from working out)
• D. Competition for resources in an environment

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A) Mutations in genes can introduce new genetic variations into a population, which can be acted upon by natural selection. B) Differential survival and reproduction based on traits is a key component of natural selection, as individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and pass on their genes to the next generation. C) Inheritance of acquired characteristics, also known as Lamarckism, is not a mechanism of evolution by natural selection. Traits acquired during an individual's lifetime (such as strong muscles from working out) are not passed on to offspring. D) Competition for resources in an environment can drive natural selection by favoring individuals with traits that help them better compete for limited resources. Therefore, the correct answer is C) Inheritance of acquired characteristics (like strong muscles from working out), as it is not a mechanism that can directly cause evolution by natural selection.

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