a normal human sperm must contain

ATI TEAS 7

ATI TEAS Science Test

1. How many chromosomes must a normal human sperm cell contain?

A. An X chromosome.
B. A Y chromosome.
C. 23 chromosomes.
D. Both an X and Y chromosome.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A normal human sperm cell contains a total of 23 chromosomes, half the number found in a typical human cell which has 46 chromosomes. This includes 22 autosomes and one sex chromosome, which can be either an X or a Y chromosome. Therefore, the correct answer is that a normal human sperm cell must contain 23 chromosomes. Choices A and B are incorrect because a single sex chromosome alone does not represent the total number of chromosomes in a sperm cell. Choice D is incorrect because a sperm cell carries only one sex chromosome, either X or Y, not both.

2. What information does a genotype provide that a phenotype does not?

A. The genotype necessarily includes the proteins coded for by its alleles.
B. The genotype will always display an organism's recessive alleles.
C. The genotype must include the organism's physical characteristics.
D. The genotype indicates what an organism's parents looked like.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The genotype provides information about the specific genetic makeup of an organism, including the alleles it possesses for a particular trait. This information is not always directly reflected in the phenotype, which is the observable physical characteristics of an organism. The genotype determines the proteins coded for by its alleles, but the phenotype is the expression of those proteins in the organism's traits. Therefore, the genotype necessarily includes the proteins coded for by its alleles, a detail not provided solely by the phenotype.\nChoice B is incorrect because the genotype may include dominant alleles as well, not just recessive ones. Choice C is incorrect because the genotype refers to genetic information, not physical characteristics. Choice D is incorrect because the genotype does not directly indicate what an organism's parents looked like; it primarily describes the genetic information inherited from parents.

3. Which of the following is true regarding T cells?

A. They are only seen in individuals with leukemia.
B. They are a specialized type of white blood cell.
C. They mature in the thymus.
D. They play a role in the immune response.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: T cells are a specialized type of white blood cell that play a crucial role in the immune response. They are produced in the bone marrow and mature in the thymus gland. T cells help coordinate and regulate the immune response to pathogens and foreign substances by interacting with other immune cells. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. T cells are not exclusively seen in individuals with leukemia; they are a normal component of the immune system found in healthy individuals. While it is true that T cells are a specialized type of white blood cell, the key characteristic being tested in this question is their role in the immune response. Lastly, T cells do mature in the thymus, but this alone does not encompass the full scope of their function in the immune system.

4. What generates action potentials, the all-or-nothing electrical signals traveling along neurons?

A. Glucose
B. Sodium and potassium ions
C. Neurotransmitters
D. Myelin

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Action potentials, the all-or-nothing electrical signals traveling along neurons, are generated by the movement of sodium and potassium ions across the neuronal membrane. This movement creates changes in the membrane potential, leading to the propagation of the electrical signal along the neuron. Glucose is a source of energy for neurons but is not directly involved in generating action potentials. Neurotransmitters are involved in communication between neurons but do not directly generate action potentials. Myelin is a fatty substance that insulates and speeds up the conduction of action potentials but does not generate them.

5. Which of the following substances is a common base found in household products?

A. Sodium chloride (NaCl)
B. Ammonia (NH₃)
C. Vinegar
D. Lemon juice

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, Ammonia (NH₃). Ammonia is commonly found in household products and is used in cleaning agents due to its alkaline properties. Sodium chloride (NaCl) is a common salt and not a base. Vinegar is acetic acid, which is acidic in nature. Lemon juice contains citric acid, making it acidic as well. Therefore, ammonia is the only base among the choices provided.