which of the following is the smallest unit of matter

ATI TEAS 7

ati teas 7 science

1. Which of the following is the smallest unit of matter?

A. Molecule
B. Atom
C. Compound
D. Element

Correct answer: B

Rationale: An atom is the fundamental building block of matter, while molecules are formed by the combination of atoms.

2. How do spindle fiber dynamics and microtubule attachment regulate cell cycle checkpoints?

A. Misaligned chromosomes fail to attach to microtubules, triggering a delay in anaphase onset.
B. The presence of unattached kinetochores on the centromeres sends a signal to pause cell cycle progression.
C. Microtubule instability and rapid depolymerization lead to the activation of checkpoint proteins.
D. All of the above.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: A) Misaligned chromosomes fail to attach to microtubules, triggering a delay in anaphase onset: Proper attachment of chromosomes to spindle fibers is essential for accurate segregation of genetic material during cell division. Misaligned chromosomes that fail to attach to microtubules can lead to delays in anaphase onset, allowing the cell to correct errors before proceeding with division. B) The presence of unattached kinetochores on the centromeres sends a signal to pause cell cycle progression: Kinetochores at the centromeres help attach chromosomes to spindle fibers. When kinetochores are unattached or improperly attached to microtubules, they signal the cell to pause cell cycle progression, ensuring proper chromosome alignment before division. C) Microtubule instability and rapid depolymerization lead to the activation of checkpoint proteins: While microtubule dynamics are crucial for cell division, microtubule instability and rapid depolymerization can disrupt chromosome attachment. However, this mechanism is not directly related to the activation of cell cycle checkpoint proteins, making this statement incorrect. Therefore, choices A and B accurately describe how spindle fiber dynamics and microtubule attachment regulate cell cycle checkpoints, making option D the correct answer.

3. What do hair follicles house in the skin?

A. Blood vessels (Blood vessels are not housed within hair follicles)
B. Nerve endings (Nerve endings are present but not housed within hair follicles)
C. Hair shafts and hair roots
D. Sebaceous glands (These glands are often attached to hair follicles)

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Hair follicles are structures in the skin that contain the hair shaft (the visible part of the hair) and the hair root (the part of the hair beneath the skin). The hair shaft is the portion of the hair that is visible above the skin, while the hair root is the part that extends below the surface into the follicle. Therefore, the correct answer is that hair follicles house the hair shafts and hair roots. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because blood vessels are not housed within hair follicles, nerve endings are present but not housed within hair follicles, and sebaceous glands are often attached to hair follicles but not housed within them.

4. Which of the following statements regarding the pericardium is not correct?

A. It allows for the heart to work in a relatively friction-free environment
B. It is a single-walled layer around the heart
C. It prevents overfilling of the heart with blood
D. It protects and anchors the heart

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct statement about the pericardium is that it is double-walled, not single-walled. Choice A is correct because the pericardium does allow the heart to work in a relatively friction-free environment, reducing friction during heartbeats. Choice C is correct as the pericardium helps prevent the overfilling of the heart with blood. Choice D is also correct as the pericardium serves to protect and anchor the heart in place within the chest cavity.

5. What is the name of the regulatory region in a gene that controls its expression?

A. Exon
B. Intron
C. Promoter
D. Enhancer

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A) Exon: Exons are the coding regions of a gene that are transcribed into mRNA and eventually translated into proteins. Exons do not regulate gene expression. B) Intron: Introns are non-coding regions of a gene that are removed during RNA processing and do not play a direct role in controlling gene expression. C) Promoter: The promoter is a regulatory region located at the beginning of a gene that initiates the process of transcription by binding transcription factors and RNA polymerase. It plays a crucial role in controlling gene expression. D) Enhancer: Enhancers are regulatory regions that can be located far from the gene they regulate and can increase the transcription of a gene. While enhancers are important for gene expression, the specific region that controls gene expression is the promoter. Therefore, the correct answer is C) Promoter, as it is the regulatory region in a gene that controls its expression by initiating transcription.