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. Which blood vessels are responsible for carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body?

• A. Veins
• B. Arteries
• C. Capillaries
• D. Venules

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Arteries are the blood vessels responsible for carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. Their thick, muscular walls allow them to withstand high pressure and efficiently transport blood to various tissues and organs throughout the body. Veins (choice A) carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, capillaries (choice C) facilitate the exchange of nutrients and waste products between the blood and tissues, and venules (choice D) are small blood vessels that collect blood from the capillaries and gradually converge into veins.

3. Which of the following blood vessels contains the least oxygenated blood?

• A. Aorta
• B. Vena cava
• C. Pulmonary artery
• D. Femoral vein

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Pulmonary artery. The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation. This blood is considered the least oxygenated in the body as it has just returned from circulating through the body's tissues and is in need of oxygen replenishment. Choice A, the aorta, is incorrect as it carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Choice B, the vena cava, carries deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. Choice D, the femoral vein, also carries deoxygenated blood back to the heart from the lower extremities.

4. What is the fatty sheath that insulates some nerve fibers and speeds up signal transmission called?

• A. Myelin sheath
• B. Dura mater
• C. Pia mater
• D. Arachnoid mater

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Myelin sheath. The myelin sheath is a fatty layer that surrounds and insulates some nerve fibers, facilitating the rapid transmission of signals along the nerve fibers. Choices B, C, and D (Dura mater, Pia mater, and Arachnoid mater) are layers of the meninges, protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The primary function of the meninges is to protect and support the central nervous system, not to insulate nerve fibers for signal transmission.

5. Are red hair and a height of six feet part of an individual's genotype or phenotype?

• A. Red hair is part of the phenotype; height is part of the genotype.
• B. Red hair is part of the genotype; height is part of the phenotype.
• C. Both characteristics describe his genotype.
• D. Both characteristics describe his phenotype.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In the context of genetics, genotype refers to an individual's genetic makeup, while phenotype refers to the observable characteristics resulting from the interaction of the genotype with the environment. Red hair and a height of six feet are observable characteristics, making them part of the individual's phenotype. Therefore, both red hair and height are aspects of the individual's phenotype. Choices A and B are incorrect as they incorrectly assign one characteristic to the genotype and the other to the phenotype, which is not accurate. Choice C is incorrect as it states that both characteristics describe the genotype, which is inaccurate as they are observable traits. The correct answer is D, as both red hair and height are observable traits or characteristics, falling under the definition of phenotype in genetics.

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