what molecule is primarily responsible for providing energy to the cell

HESI A2

HESI A2 Biology Practice Test 2024

1. What molecule is primarily responsible for providing energy to the cell?

A. ATP
B. DNA
C. ADP
D. Glycogen

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Correct! ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is the main molecule that stores and provides energy for cellular activities. ATP is known as the energy currency of the cell, where energy released from the breakdown of nutrients is stored in the high-energy phosphate bonds of ATP. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because DNA carries genetic information, ADP is the precursor of ATP, and glycogen is a polysaccharide used for energy storage, not direct energy provision.

2. How should a researcher test the hypothesis that eating chocolate leads to acne in teenagers?

A. Take 100 teenagers and feed each one a different amount of chocolate daily for 60 days; then test for acne.
B. Take 100 teenagers and feed 50 two bars of chocolate daily for 60 days while the other 50 eat no chocolate; then test for acne.
C. Take 1 teenager and feed him or her two bars of chocolate for 30 days and no chocolate for 30 days; then test for acne.
D. Take 100 teenagers and feed them no chocolate for 30 days and two bars of chocolate apiece for 30 days; then test for acne.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Option B is the correct approach to test the hypothesis that eating chocolate leads to acne in teenagers. This method involves having a control group (50 teenagers not consuming chocolate) and an experimental group (50 teenagers consuming two bars of chocolate daily), which allows for comparison. By having two distinct groups, researchers can assess the impact of chocolate consumption on acne development. Option A lacks a control group for comparison, making it harder to attribute any observed effects specifically to chocolate consumption. Option C only involves a single subject, which limits the generalizability of the results. Option D, where all teenagers experience both conditions, does not allow for a direct comparison between chocolate consumption and acne development, as all subjects are exposed to both conditions.

3. What happens during anaphase?

A. Chromosomes move to opposite ends of the spindle.
B. Nuclear membrane and nucleoli disintegrate.
C. Chromatids line up at the center of the spindle.
D. Nuclear membrane and nucleoli form.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: During anaphase, the sister chromatids, joined at the centromere, separate and move towards opposite ends of the spindle apparatus. This movement ensures that each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes. Choice B is incorrect as the disintegration of the nuclear membrane and nucleoli occurs during prophase. Choice C is incorrect as chromatids align at the center of the spindle during metaphase, not anaphase. Choice D is incorrect as the formation of the nuclear membrane and nucleoli occurs during telophase, not anaphase.

4. The sum of all chemical reactions that occur in an organism is:

A. product
B. respiration
C. metabolism
D. synthesis

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions that occur within an organism to maintain life. It involves all the processes that break down molecules to release energy (catabolism) and build new molecules to support growth and maintenance (anabolism). Respiration refers specifically to the process of generating energy from the breakdown of glucose molecules. Synthesis is the creation of complex molecules from simpler ones. Therefore, metabolism is the most comprehensive term that encompasses all these processes within an organism.

5. Which of the following shows how information is transformed to make a protein?

A. DNA-RNA-protein
B. gene-chromosome-protein
C. ATP-amino acid-protein
D. RNA-DNA-protein

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct sequence of events for protein synthesis is that DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is then translated into a protein. This process is known as the central dogma of molecular biology. In this sequence, DNA serves as the template for RNA synthesis (transcription), and the RNA serves as the template for protein synthesis (translation). Choice B is incorrect as genes are segments of DNA that code for proteins, and chromosomes are structures that contain DNA. Choice C is incorrect as ATP is an energy molecule and amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, but they are not directly involved in the synthesis process. Choice D is incorrect because RNA is first transcribed from DNA and then used as a template to produce proteins.