HESI A2
Biology HESI A2 2024
1. How is mitosis different from meiosis?
- A. Mitosis is the process by which body cells are formed.
- B. Meiosis creates cells with half the chromosomes of the parent cell.
- C. Telophase occurs in both mitosis and meiosis.
- D. Spermatogenesis and oogenesis occur via meiosis.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Meiosis is the type of cell division that creates cells with half the number of chromosomes compared to the parent cell. This is essential for sexual reproduction as it ensures that when the sex cells (sperm and egg) combine during fertilization, the resulting offspring has the correct number of chromosomes. In contrast, mitosis results in two identical daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Choice A is incorrect because mitosis is responsible for the division of body cells, not sex cells. Choice C is incorrect because telophase is a phase that occurs in both mitosis and meiosis. Choice D is incorrect because spermatogenesis and oogenesis involve meiosis, not mitosis.
2. Which of the following is true of homozygous traits?
- A. They are haploid
- B. They are denoted AA
- C. They are denoted aa
- D. They are denoted Aa
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Homozygous traits have two identical forms of the gene, either both dominant (AA) or both recessive (aa). Therefore, choices B and C are true for homozygous traits. Choice A is incorrect because being haploid refers to having a single set of chromosomes, not necessarily homozygous traits. Choice D is incorrect as homozygous traits have identical alleles, so they are not denoted as Aa.
3. DNA bases include all but which of the following?
- A. Adenine
- B. Thymine
- C. Uracil
- D. Cytosine
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Uracil. Uracil is not a DNA base; it is a base found only in RNA. The four bases in DNA are Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine. Choice A, Adenine, is a correct DNA base. Choice B, Thymine, is a correct DNA base. Choice D, Cytosine, is a correct DNA base. Therefore, Uracil is the only incorrect choice among the options provided.
4. Which structure might be described as a core of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat?
- A. RNA
- B. Virus
- C. Blue-green alga
- D. Saprophyte
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A virus can be described as a core of nucleic acid (either RNA or DNA) surrounded by a protein coat, known as a capsid. This structure distinguishes viruses from other microorganisms such as blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria), fungi known as saprophytes, or individual RNA molecules. Viruses depend on a host cell to replicate and are considered non-living entities due to their inability to carry out metabolic functions independently.
5. Imagine that two parents both carry the recessive gene for cystic fibrosis. Any homozygous recessive offspring will manifest the disease. What percentage of the offspring is predicted to be carriers but not manifest the disease?
- A. 0%
- B. 25%
- C. 50%
- D. 100%
Correct answer: B
Rationale: When both parents carry the recessive gene for cystic fibrosis (homozygous recessive), there is a 25% chance for each offspring to inherit two recessive alleles and, therefore, manifest the disease. There is also a 50% chance for each offspring to inherit one recessive allele and one dominant allele, making them carriers of the disease but not manifest it. Therefore, 25% of the offspring are predicted to be carriers but not manifest the disease. Choice A (0%) is incorrect because there is a portion of offspring that will be carriers. Choice C (50%) is incorrect as this percentage corresponds to carriers who will not manifest the disease. Choice D (100%) is incorrect as not all offspring will be carriers and not manifest the disease.
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