Nursing Elites

1. What is the term for a microorganism that lives on or in the human body and normally causes no disease or harm?

• A. Bacteria
• B. Commensal Microorganism
• C. Microorganism
• D. Host

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct term for a microorganism that lives on or in the human body without causing harm is a commensal microorganism. Commensal microorganisms coexist with the host without causing disease or harm. Choice A, 'Bacteria,' is too broad as not all bacteria are harmless in the body. Choice C, 'Microorganism,' is a general term and does not specifically refer to the harmless nature of the organism. Choice D, 'Host,' refers to the organism harboring the microorganism, not the microorganism itself.

2. What does the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom determine?

• A. Mass number
• B. Atomic number
• C. Isotope
• D. Valence electron count

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom is referred to as the atomic number. This atomic number is crucial as it uniquely identifies an element and determines its position on the periodic table. The mass number, on the other hand, represents the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus. Isotopes are variants of elements with the same number of protons but differing numbers of neutrons. Valence electron count pertains to the number of electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom, which influences its chemical behavior.

3. Which term describes the allele for green eyes?

• A. Dominant
• B. Recessive
• C. Homozygous
• D. Heterozygous

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'B: Recessive.' In genetics, eye color is determined by multiple genes, with green eyes often being associated with a recessive allele. When an individual carries two copies of the recessive allele for green eyes, they will express this eye color. Dominant alleles are expressed over recessive alleles. Homozygous refers to having two identical alleles for a particular gene, and heterozygous refers to having two different alleles. In this context, the allele for green eyes is recessive, meaning it is expressed only when an individual carries two copies of this specific allele. Therefore, 'Recessive' is the most appropriate term to describe the allele for green eyes, making it the correct answer.

4. Not all cells in the pancreas secrete insulin because of the hormone somatostatin, which inhibits the release of insulin by all cells. What type of intercellular chemical signal does this illustrate?

• A. Autocrine
• B. Neuromodulator
• C. Paracrine
• D. Pheromone

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Paracrine. Somatostatin acts in a paracrine manner by inhibiting the release of insulin from nearby cells within the pancreas. Paracrine signaling involves the secretion of signals that act on neighboring cells, as seen in this scenario where somatostatin affects nearby pancreatic cells without entering the bloodstream or affecting distant cells. Autocrine signaling involves cells responding to substances they themselves release, which is not the case here. Neuromodulators are chemicals that modulate the activity of neurons, not directly related to this scenario. Pheromones are chemicals released into the environment to communicate with individuals of the same species, not relevant to the signaling within the pancreas.

5. What is a rod-shaped structure that forms when a single DNA molecule and its associated proteins coil tightly before cell division?

• A. Centromere
• B. Chromatid
• C. Chromosome
• D. Gene

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A chromosome is a rod-shaped structure that forms when a single DNA molecule and its associated proteins coil tightly before cell division. It contains the genetic material and is essential for cell division and replication. The centromere is a specific region of a chromosome that plays a role in cell division. A chromatid is one half of a duplicated chromosome, and a gene is a unit of heredity responsible for specific traits. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Chromosome' as it represents the entire condensed DNA molecule during cell division.

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