Nursing Elites

1. What are plasma membranes mostly made of?

• A. Proteins
• B. Carbohydrates
• C. Lipids
• D. Nucleotides

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Lipids. Plasma membranes are primarily composed of lipids, specifically phospholipids, which form a lipid bilayer. While proteins are also an essential component of plasma membranes, they are not the primary constituent. Carbohydrates are present on the outer surface of the membrane but are not the main structural component. Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA and are not the main constituents of plasma membranes.

2. Which is a byproduct of fermentation in muscle cells?

• A. Ethanol
• B. Pyruvic acid
• C. Lactic acid
• D. Oxygen

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Lactic acid is a byproduct of fermentation in muscle cells. During intense exercise or when oxygen is limited, muscle cells use anaerobic respiration to generate energy. This process breaks down glucose into lactic acid, which can cause muscle fatigue and soreness. Choice A, Ethanol, is not produced in muscle cells during fermentation. Choice B, Pyruvic acid, is an intermediate product in glucose metabolism but is not a byproduct of fermentation in muscle cells. Choice D, Oxygen, is not a byproduct of fermentation but a reactant in aerobic respiration.

3. Select the option that best shows complementary base pairing in DNA:

• A. A and G
• B. A and C
• C. A and A
• D. A and T

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. A purine (A) must pair with a pyrimidine (T) in DNA. This eliminates options A and C as they do not follow the rule of complementary base pairing. Adenine (A) always pairs with thymine (T) due to their specific shape and bonding properties in DNA structure. Choice B is incorrect because adenine does not pair with cytosine in DNA.

4. 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.

5. Which of the following types of hormones can diffuse through the cell membrane to bind to receptors inside the cell and stimulate a chemical response to a target cell?

• A. fat-soluble hormones
• B. amino acid derivatives
• C. hydrophilic hormones
• D. water-soluble hormones

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: fat-soluble hormones. Fat-soluble hormones are able to diffuse through the cell membrane to bind to receptors inside the cell. This is because they are lipophilic, allowing them to cross the lipid bilayer easily. Once inside the cell, fat-soluble hormones can directly affect gene expression or cell function. Choice B, amino acid derivatives, and choice C, hydrophilic hormones, are not able to diffuse through the cell membrane as they are not lipophilic. Therefore, they cannot bind to receptors inside the cell. Choice D, water-soluble hormones, also cannot diffuse through the cell membrane as it is hydrophilic, making it unable to reach receptors inside the cell.

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