Nursing Elites

1. Binary fission is a type of asexual reproduction. Which of the following occurs during the binary fission process?

• A. The chromosomes bind to the plasma membrane
• B. The chromosomes attach to the spindle formed along the axis
• C. The chromosomes gather in the center of the cell
• D. The chromosomes begin to separate

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. In binary fission, the chromosomes bind to the plasma membrane before the cell splits into two. This initial step ensures that each daughter cell receives a complete set of genetic material. Choice B is incorrect because the spindle apparatus is characteristic of eukaryotic cell division (mitosis), not prokaryotic binary fission. Choice C is incorrect as chromosomes do not necessarily gather in the center of the cell during binary fission. Choice D is incorrect because the chromosomes do not begin to separate in binary fission; they replicate and then move to opposite ends of the cell before division.

2. What is the smallest and most basic unit of matter?

• A. Micromolecule
• B. Atom
• C. Organelle
• D. Molecule

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, Atom. An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element. Choice A, Micromolecule, is incorrect because molecules are composed of atoms bonded together, making them larger than individual atoms. Choice C, Organelle, is incorrect as organelles are structures within cells, not the basic unit of matter. Choice D, Molecule, is incorrect as molecules are made up of atoms bonded together, so they are not the smallest unit of matter.

3. Which of the following correctly identifies the two types of cells?

• A. Mitosis and meiosis
• B. Mitochondrion and chloroplast
• C. Genotype and phenotype
• D. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Prokaryotic and eukaryotic. Cells are classified into two major types: prokaryotic, which lack a nucleus, and eukaryotic, which have a defined nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. Choice A, mitosis and meiosis, refers to cell division processes. Choice B, mitochondrion and chloroplast, are cell organelles involved in energy production and photosynthesis, respectively. Choice C, genotype and phenotype, relate to genetic characteristics and physical traits, not cell types.

4. During which stage of photosynthesis is solar energy converted to chemical energy?

• A. During phosphate synthesis
• B. During light reactions
• C. During the Krebs cycle
• D. During the Calvin cycle

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, during the light reactions. During the light reactions of photosynthesis, solar energy is absorbed by chlorophyll and converted into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH. Choice A is incorrect as phosphate synthesis does not involve the conversion of solar energy. Choice C, the Krebs cycle, is a part of cellular respiration, not photosynthesis. Choice D, the Calvin cycle, is responsible for fixing carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and does not involve the direct conversion of solar energy to chemical energy.

5. Which of the following organelles is the site of cellular respiration?

• A. Nucleus
• B. Mitochondria
• C. Lysosomes
• D. Ribosomes

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Mitochondria. Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell because they generate most of the cell's supply of ATP through cellular respiration. The other organelles listed, such as the nucleus (choice A), lysosomes (choice C), and ribosomes (choice D), do not play a direct role in cellular respiration. The nucleus contains genetic material, lysosomes are involved in digestion and waste removal, and ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis.

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