which structure in the skin is responsible for producing melanin

ATI TEAS 7

Practice Science TEAS Test

1. Which structure in the skin is responsible for producing melanin?

A. Sudoriferous gland
B. Melanocyte
C. Sebaceous gland
D. Hair follicle

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Melanocyte. Melanocytes in the skin are responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color and provides protection against harmful UV radiation. Sudoriferous glands produce sweat, sebaceous glands produce sebum (oil), and hair follicles are associated with hair growth. However, the specific function of producing melanin is attributed to melanocytes, making them the correct answer in this context.

2. Which of the following statements is NOT true about DNA?

A. DNA contains the nucleotides A, T, C, G and is read 5' to 3'.
B. DNA contains genetic information and is tightly coiled with proteins to form chromosomes.
C. DNA contains the nucleotides A, T, C, G and is read 3' to 5'.
D. DNA is a double-stranded molecule connected by hydrogen bonds.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because DNA is typically read from the 5' end to the 3' end, not from 3' to 5'. Choices A, B, and D are all true statements about DNA. DNA contains the nucleotides A, T, C, G and is read in a 5' to 3' direction. DNA also contains genetic information and is tightly coiled with proteins to form chromosomes. Additionally, DNA is a double-stranded molecule connected by hydrogen bonds.

3. Which of the following correctly identifies a difference between the primary and secondary immune response?

A. In the secondary response, macrophages migrate to the lymph nodes to present the foreign microorganism to helper T lymphocytes.
B. The humoral immunity that characterizes the primary response is coordinated by B lymphocytes.
C. The primary response is quicker and more powerful than the secondary response.
D. Suppressor T cells are activated in the secondary response to prevent an overactive immune response.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. The primary immune response is slower and less powerful compared to the secondary immune response. During the primary response, immune cells encounter the antigen for the first time, necessitating the activation and proliferation of specific immune cells. In contrast, the secondary response benefits from memory cells that quickly recognize the antigen, enabling a faster and more potent immune response. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. While macrophages play a role in presenting antigens to T cells, this is not a defining difference between primary and secondary responses. Humoral immunity involves B lymphocytes in both primary and secondary responses, so it does not differentiate the two. Suppressor T cells primarily function to regulate the immune response but are not a key factor distinguishing primary from secondary responses.

4. Which of the following describes the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

A. Prokaryotic cells have a nucleus, while eukaryotic cells don't.
B. Eukaryotic cells are simpler in structure than prokaryotic cells.
C. Prokaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic cells don't.
D. Eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while prokaryotic cells lack these.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus that contains the genetic material, while prokaryotic cells lack a true nucleus. Eukaryotic cells also have membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus, which are absent in prokaryotic cells.

5. When testing how quickly a rat dies based on the amount of poison it eats, which of the following is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable?

A. How quickly the rat dies is the independent variable; the amount of poison is the dependent variable.
B. The amount of poison is the independent variable; how quickly the rat dies is the dependent variable.
C. Whether the rat eats the poison is the independent variable; how quickly the rat dies is the dependent variable.
D. The cage the rat is kept in is the independent variable; the amount of poison is the dependent variable.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. In this experiment, the independent variable is the amount of poison because it is what is being manipulated by the researcher. The dependent variable is how quickly the rat dies, as it is the outcome that is being measured based on the different amounts of poison administered. Choice A is incorrect because the independent variable should be what is being manipulated or changed, which is the amount of poison in this case. Choice C is incorrect because whether the rat eats the poison is not being varied or controlled by the researcher. Choice D is incorrect because the cage the rat is kept in is not relevant to the relationship being studied between the amount of poison and the rat's survival time.