Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following is NOT a mechanism that can directly cause evolution by natural selection?

• A. Mutations in genes
• B. Differential survival and reproduction based on traits
• C. Inheritance of acquired characteristics (like strong muscles from working out)
• D. Competition for resources in an environment

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A) Mutations in genes can introduce new genetic variations into a population, which can be acted upon by natural selection. B) Differential survival and reproduction based on traits is a key component of natural selection, as individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and pass on their genes to the next generation. C) Inheritance of acquired characteristics, also known as Lamarckism, is not a mechanism of evolution by natural selection. Traits acquired during an individual's lifetime (such as strong muscles from working out) are not passed on to offspring. D) Competition for resources in an environment can drive natural selection by favoring individuals with traits that help them better compete for limited resources. Therefore, the correct answer is C) Inheritance of acquired characteristics (like strong muscles from working out), as it is not a mechanism that can directly cause evolution by natural selection.

2. What is the relationship between the speed of a wave, its frequency, and wavelength in a given medium?

• A. Speed = Frequency × Wavelength
• B. Speed = Frequency ÷ Wavelength
• C. Speed = Frequency + Wavelength
• D. Speed = Frequency - Wavelength

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The speed of a wave in a given medium is determined by the product of its frequency and wavelength. This relationship is described by the formula: Speed = Frequency × Wavelength. When a wave travels through a medium, the speed at which it propagates is directly proportional to both its frequency and wavelength. Therefore, to calculate the speed of the wave, you multiply the frequency of the wave by its wavelength. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because speed is not determined by division, addition, or subtraction of frequency and wavelength; instead, it is determined by their multiplication in the given medium.

3. What is the significance of the nuclear envelope breaking down during mitosis?

• A. It allows the chromosomes to condense and become visible.
• B. It allows the spindle apparatus to form and attach to the chromosomes.
• C. It allows the sister chromatids to separate.
• D. It allows the nuclear material to be evenly distributed to the daughter cells.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A) The breakdown of the nuclear envelope does not directly cause the chromosomes to condense and become visible. Chromosome condensation is a separate process that occurs before mitosis begins. B) The breakdown of the nuclear envelope is crucial for the formation of the spindle apparatus, a structure made of microtubules that helps separate the chromosomes during cell division. The spindle apparatus attaches to the chromosomes and helps move them to opposite poles of the cell. C) The separation of sister chromatids occurs during anaphase, which is facilitated by the spindle apparatus. The breakdown of the nuclear envelope is not directly involved in this process. D) The even distribution of nuclear material to daughter cells is achieved through the movement of chromosomes by the spindle apparatus, which is made possible by the breakdown of the nuclear envelope.

4. Which of the following basic mechanisms of evolution is described as the process where organisms with an advantageous trait survive more often and produce more offspring than organisms without the advantageous trait?

• A. gene flow
• B. genetic drift
• C. mutation
• D. natural selection

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Natural selection is the basic mechanism of evolution that explains how organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce in a given environment. This leads to the passing on of these favorable traits to their offspring, causing these traits to become more common in the population over time, resulting in evolutionary change. Natural selection is driven by environmental pressures that support the survival and reproduction of individuals with specific traits. Gene flow refers to the movement of genes between populations, genetic drift is the change in allele frequencies due to random events, and mutation is the source of genetic variation but is not the process by which advantageous traits become more prevalent in a population.

5. Which hormone primarily triggers ovulation in the female menstrual cycle?

• A. Estrogen
• B. Progesterone
• C. Luteinizing hormone (LH)
• D. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Luteinizing hormone (LH) is the hormone primarily responsible for triggering ovulation in the female menstrual cycle. LH surge occurs around the middle of the menstrual cycle, causing the mature follicle to release an egg from the ovary. Estrogen and progesterone play crucial roles in regulating the menstrual cycle and preparing the endometrium for potential implantation of a fertilized egg, but they do not trigger ovulation directly. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is essential for the development of ovarian follicles but is not the primary hormone responsible for ovulation. Therefore, the correct answer is Luteinizing hormone (LH) as it directly initiates the release of the egg during ovulation.

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