Nursing Elites

1. What is the difference between a phylum and a class?

• A. Phylums are broader and more general
• B. Classes are broader and more general
• C. They are synonyms, used for the same groups
• D. Phylums are for plants, classes are for animals

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In biological classification, a phylum is a higher taxonomic rank than a class. A phylum is a broader category that encompasses multiple classes within it. It represents a group of organisms sharing a common body plan or evolutionary history. On the other hand, a class is a more specific category within a phylum that includes organisms with similar characteristics. Therefore, phyla are broader and more general compared to classes. Choice B is incorrect because classes are more specific categories within phyla. Choice C is incorrect as phyla and classes are distinct hierarchical levels in taxonomy. Choice D is incorrect because phyla and classes are not restricted to specific types of organisms; they can apply to various organisms across the biological kingdom.

2. Which of the following enzymes unwinds the double-stranded DNA during replication?

• A. Helicase
• B. Ligase
• C. Nuclease
• D. Polymerase

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Helicase is the enzyme responsible for unwinding the double-stranded DNA during replication by breaking the hydrogen bonds between the base pairs. This process creates the replication fork where DNA polymerase can then synthesize new DNA strands. Ligase functions to join Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand, not unwind DNA. Nuclease is involved in DNA repair by removing damaged DNA segments. Polymerase is responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands based on the existing template strands, not for unwinding the DNA.

3. Which organ system is primarily responsible for transporting nutrients throughout the body?

• A. Respiratory
• B. Digestive
• C. Circulatory
• D. Nervous

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The circulatory system, also known as the cardiovascular system, is primarily responsible for transporting nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. The heart pumps blood through blood vessels, delivering essential nutrients to cells and tissues. This system consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood, working together to ensure the proper distribution of nutrients and removal of waste products. Choice A, the respiratory system, is responsible for gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide) and not primarily involved in nutrient transportation. Choice B, the digestive system, is responsible for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients but does not transport nutrients throughout the body. Choice D, the nervous system, controls and coordinates body functions through electrical signals and is not directly involved in nutrient transportation.

4. What type of muscle is found in the walls of the heart?

• A. Smooth muscle
• B. Cardiac muscle
• C. Skeletal muscle
• D. Voluntary muscle

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Cardiac muscle. Cardiac muscle is the specialized muscle found in the walls of the heart. It contracts involuntarily to pump blood throughout the body, ensuring circulation. Smooth muscle is typically found in organs like the intestines and blood vessels, aiding in their functions. Skeletal muscle is attached to bones and plays a vital role in movement and posture. Voluntary muscle is a general term for skeletal muscles that are under conscious control, unlike cardiac muscle which contracts involuntarily to maintain the heart's continuous pumping action.

5. 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.

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