what is the basic unit of heredity

ATI TEAS 7

TEAS 7 science quizlet

1. What is the basic unit of heredity?

A. Chromosome
B. Cell
C. Gene
D. Organ

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A gene is the basic unit of heredity that carries the instructions for making proteins, which determine an organism's traits. Genes are segments of DNA located on chromosomes within the cell. While chromosomes contain many genes, a gene itself is the fundamental unit of heredity responsible for passing on genetic information from one generation to the next. Cells are the basic structural and functional units of living organisms, but genes specifically carry genetic information. Organs are composed of tissues and serve specific functions within an organism, but they are not the basic unit of heredity.

2. What is the common name for the organic compound CH₃OH?

A. Methane
B. Ethanol
C. Methanol
D. Butanol

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The common name for the organic compound CH₃OH is methanol. Methane (A) has the chemical formula CH₄. Ethanol (B) corresponds to the formula C₂H₅OH. Butanol (D) is a compound with the formula C₄H₉OH. The correct answer is C - Methanol, which is the common name for CH₃OH, while the other options correspond to different organic compounds with distinct formulas. Therefore, methanol is the correct choice when identifying the common name for the compound CH₃OH.

3. What cellular process ensures the accurate transmission of genetic material during cell division?

A. Mitosis (somatic cell division)
B. Meiosis (germ cell division)
C. Replication (DNA duplication)
D. Transcription (DNA to RNA conversion)

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Mitosis is the correct answer. Mitosis is the process by which somatic cells divide to produce two identical daughter cells. During mitosis, the genetic material is accurately replicated and distributed to ensure each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes. This process is crucial for growth, repair, and maintenance of multicellular organisms. Meiosis, on the other hand, is the type of cell division that occurs in germ cells to produce gametes (sperm and egg cells), focusing on genetic diversity through recombination and reduction of chromosome number. Replication is the process of copying DNA to produce an identical copy, essential for cell division but not the specific process ensuring accurate genetic material transmission. Transcription involves copying DNA into RNA, crucial for gene expression but not directly related to the accurate transmission of genetic material during cell division.

4. What is the scientific term for the study of genes and their role in disease?

A. Molecular biology
B. Biochemistry
C. Evolutionary biology
D. Genomic medicine

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Genomic medicine is the scientific discipline that specifically focuses on the study of genes and their involvement in disease processes. It seeks to understand how variations in an individual's genes can influence their predisposition to certain diseases or affect their response to treatment. This field plays a crucial role in personalized medicine by utilizing genetic information to tailor healthcare decisions and interventions to individual patients. Molecular biology, biochemistry, and evolutionary biology, while related to genetics in various ways, do not have the primary focus on the role of genes in disease as genomic medicine does.

5. Which of the following is used to record the measurable electrical activity of the brain?

A. CAT scan
B. MRI scan
C. Electroencephalogram (EEG)
D. X-ray

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is an Electroencephalogram (EEG). An EEG is specifically designed to record the measurable electrical activity of the brain. It does so by using small, flat metal discs (electrodes) attached to the scalp to detect brain activity. This test is crucial in diagnosing various conditions like seizures, epilepsy, head injuries, dizziness, headaches, and brain tumors. The other options, CAT scan, MRI scan, and X-ray, are imaging techniques that do not directly measure the brain's electrical activity. CAT scan and MRI scan provide detailed images of the brain's structure, while X-ray is more suited for visualizing bone structures or dense tissues.