Question 1

Which of the following is the smallest biological structure that would most likely be visible with a standard research-grade light microscope?

Accepted Answer

A)  chloroplast 
B)  microfilament 
C)  ribosome 
D)  human cheek cell 
A)  chloroplast 
B)  microfilament 
C)  ribosome 
D)  human cheek cell

Question 2

Which of the following statements best describes one major difference between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  Prokaryotic cells have cell walls, while eukaryotic cells do not. 
B)  Eukaryotic cells have flagella, while prokaryotic cells do not. 
C)  Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles, while prokaryotic cells do not. 
D)  Prokaryotic cells are generally larger than eukaryotic cells. 
A)  Prokaryotic cells have cell walls, while eukaryotic cells do not. 
B)  Eukaryotic cells have flagella, while prokaryotic cells do not. 
C)  Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles, while prokaryotic cells do not. 
D)  Prokaryotic cells are generally larger than eukaryotic cells.

Question 3

Which of the following is the most appropriate technique for observing the movements of condensed chromosomes during cell division?

Accepted Answer

A)  a using a magnifying glass 
B)  standard light microscopy 
C)  scanning electron microscopy 
D)  transmission electron microscopy 
A)  a using a magnifying glass 
B)  standard light microscopy 
C)  scanning electron microscopy 
D)  transmission electron microscopy

Question 4

If you are provided with a cube of modeling clay, which of the following changes to the shape of this cube will decrease its surface area relative to its volume?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cut the cube into eight smaller cubes. 
B)  Flatten the cube into a pancake shape. 
C)  Round the clay up into a sphere. 
D)  Stretch the cube into a long, shoebox shape. 
A)  Cut the cube into eight smaller cubes. 
B)  Flatten the cube into a pancake shape. 
C)  Round the clay up into a sphere. 
D)  Stretch the cube into a long, shoebox shape.

Question 5

The liver is involved in detoxification of many poisons and drugs. Which of the following structures is abundant in liver cells and primarily responsible for detoxification processes?

Accepted Answer

A)  rough endoplasmic reticulum 
B)  smooth endoplasmic reticulum 
C)  Golgi apparatus 
D)  nuclear envelope 
A)  rough endoplasmic reticulum 
B)  smooth endoplasmic reticulum 
C)  Golgi apparatus 
D)  nuclear envelope

Question 6

Disruption of nuclear pore complexes in a eukaryotic cell will most likely interfere with the transport of which of the following molecules into the nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A)  ribosomal proteins 
B)  mRNAs 
C)  rRNAs 
D)  phospholipids 
A)  ribosomal proteins 
B)  mRNAs 
C)  rRNAs 
D)  phospholipids

Question 7

Which of the following statements best describes some aspect of protein secretion from prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  Prokaryotes cannot secrete proteins because they lack an endomembrane system. 
B)  Proteins secreted by prokaryotes are likely synthesized on ribosomes bound to the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane. 
C)  The mechanism of protein secretion in prokaryotes is probably the same as that in eukaryotes. 
D)  Prokaryotes cannot secrete proteins because they lack rough endoplasmic reticulum. 
A)  Prokaryotes cannot secrete proteins because they lack an endomembrane system. 
B)  Proteins secreted by prokaryotes are likely synthesized on ribosomes bound to the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane. 
C)  The mechanism of protein secretion in prokaryotes is probably the same as that in eukaryotes. 
D)  Prokaryotes cannot secrete proteins because they lack rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Question 8

A young child who suffers from a metabolic disease is always tired and fatigued. Which of the following organelles is most likely malfunctioning in this disease?

Accepted Answer

A)  lysosomes 
B)  Golgi apparatus 
C)  mitochondria 
D)  smooth endoplasmic reticulum 
A)  lysosomes 
B)  Golgi apparatus 
C)  mitochondria 
D)  smooth endoplasmic reticulum

Question 9

Movement of amoebae across a surface requires which of the following activities by components of the cytoskeleton?

Accepted Answer

A)  assembly of actin filaments to form bulges in the plasma membrane 
B)  assembly of microtubule extensions that vesicles can follow in the direction of movement 
C)  reinforcement of the pseudopod with intermediate filaments 
D)  localized contractions driven by myosin and microtubules 
A)  assembly of actin filaments to form bulges in the plasma membrane 
B)  assembly of microtubule extensions that vesicles can follow in the direction of movement 
C)  reinforcement of the pseudopod with intermediate filaments 
D)  localized contractions driven by myosin and microtubules

Question 10

Which of the following statements best explains how a modern transmission electron microscope (TEM) can achieve a resolution of about 2.0 nanometers, whereas a standard light microscope has a maximum resolution of about 200 nanometers?

Accepted Answer

A)  TEMs utilize much higher quality glass lenses than those found in light microscopes. 
B)  Staining with atoms of heavy metal provides higher contrast that the colored dyes used in light microscopy. 
C)  Specimens visualized by TEM are much thicker than those observed by light microscopy. 
D)  The wavelengths of electron beams are much shorter than the wavelengths of visible light. 
A)  TEMs utilize much higher quality glass lenses than those found in light microscopes. 
B)  Staining with atoms of heavy metal provides higher contrast that the colored dyes used in light microscopy. 
C)  Specimens visualized by TEM are much thicker than those observed by light microscopy. 
D)  The wavelengths of electron beams are much shorter than the wavelengths of visible light.

Question 11

A characteristic 9 + 2 arrangement of microtubules, consisting of nine doublet microtubules surrounding a pair of single microtubules describes the ultrastructure of which of the following cellular structures?

Accepted Answer

A)  bacterial flagella 
B)  eukaryotic flagella and motile cilia 
C)  eukaryotic flagella, motile cilia, and nonmotile cilia 
D)  centrioles and basal bodies 
A)  bacterial flagella 
B)  eukaryotic flagella and motile cilia 
C)  eukaryotic flagella, motile cilia, and nonmotile cilia 
D)  centrioles and basal bodies

Question 12

Researchers investigating the mechanism of vesicle transport assembled a cell-free system that included microtubules, vesicles, and ATP. However, they observed no movement of transport of vesicles because the mixture was missing which of the following components?

Accepted Answer

A)  mitochondria 
B)  contractile microfilaments 
C)  Golgi apparatus 
D)  motor proteins 
A)  mitochondria 
B)  contractile microfilaments 
C)  Golgi apparatus 
D)  motor proteins

Question 13

Which structure is common to plant and animal cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  chloroplast 
B)  central vacuole 
C)  mitochondrion 
D)  centriole 
A)  chloroplast 
B)  central vacuole 
C)  mitochondrion 
D)  centriole

Question 14

Motor proteins provide for molecular motion in cells by interacting with which of the following cellular structures?

Accepted Answer

A)  membrane proteins of the inner nuclear envelope 
B)  free ribosomes and ribosomes attached to the ER 
C)  components of the cytoskeleton 
D)  cellulose fibers in the cell wall 
A)  membrane proteins of the inner nuclear envelope 
B)  free ribosomes and ribosomes attached to the ER 
C)  components of the cytoskeleton 
D)  cellulose fibers in the cell wall

Question 15

Passive leakage of partially digested material from the small intestine into the human abdominal cavity may result from defects in which of the following type of intercellular junction?

Accepted Answer

A)  desmosomes 
B)  gap junctions 
C)  plasmodesmata 
D)  tight junctions 
A)  desmosomes 
B)  gap junctions 
C)  plasmodesmata 
D)  tight junctions

Question 16

Which of the following structures form cytoplasmic channels that connect adjacent plant cells through the cell walls?

Accepted Answer

A)  desmosomes 
B)  gap junctions 
C)  plasmodesmata 
D)  tight junctions 
A)  desmosomes 
B)  gap junctions 
C)  plasmodesmata 
D)  tight junctions

Question 17

A particular cell contains the following molecules and structures: enzymes, DNA, ribosomes, plasma membrane, and mitochondria. Based on this composition, it could be a cell from which of the following organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  a bacterium, but not a eukaryote 
B)  an animal, but not a plant 
C)  nearly any eukaryotic organism 
D)  a plant, but not an animal 
A)  a bacterium, but not a eukaryote 
B)  an animal, but not a plant 
C)  nearly any eukaryotic organism 
D)  a plant, but not an animal

Question 18

When H. V. Wilson exposed two species of differently pigmented sponges to a chemical that disrupted intercellular junctions, the cells of the sponges dissociated. Wilson then removed the chemical that caused dissociation and mixed the cells of the two species. He found that the sponges reassembled and that the cells from one species did not interact or form associations with the cells of the other species.
Which of the following statements provides the most plausible explanation for the results of this experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  The two species of sponge had different enzymes that functioned in the reassembly process. 
B)  The molecules responsible for cell-cell adhesion (cell junctions) were irreversibly destroyed during the experiment. 
C)  The molecules responsible for cell-cell adhesion (cell junctions) differed between the two species of sponge. 
D)  One cell functioned as an organizer for each organism, thereby attracting only cells of the same species. 
A)  The two species of sponge had different enzymes that functioned in the reassembly process. 
B)  The molecules responsible for cell-cell adhesion (cell junctions) were irreversibly destroyed during the experiment. 
C)  The molecules responsible for cell-cell adhesion (cell junctions) differed between the two species of sponge. 
D)  One cell functioned as an organizer for each organism, thereby attracting only cells of the same species.

Question 19

A newly synthesized protein destined for secretion from a eukaryotic cell will generally follow which of the pathways listed below?

Accepted Answer

A)  rough ER → Golgi → transport vesicle → nucleus 
B)  Golgi → rough ER → lysosome → transport vesicle → plasma membrane 
C)  rough ER → Golgi → transport vesicle → plasma membrane 
D)  rough ER → lysosome → transport vesicle → plasma membrane 
A)  rough ER → Golgi → transport vesicle → nucleus 
B)  Golgi → rough ER → lysosome → transport vesicle → plasma membrane 
C)  rough ER → Golgi → transport vesicle → plasma membrane 
D)  rough ER → lysosome → transport vesicle → plasma membrane

Question 20

Disruption of the function of which of the following organelles would result in a dramatic decrease in ATP synthesis in eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  lysosome 
B)  mitochondrion 
C)  Golgi apparatus 
D)  peroxisome 
A)  lysosome 
B)  mitochondrion 
C)  Golgi apparatus 
D)  peroxisome

Exam 7: Cell Structure and Function

Which of the following is the smallest biological structure that would most likely be visible with a standard research-grade light microscope?

Which of the following statements best describes one major difference between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells?

Which of the following is the most appropriate technique for observing the movements of condensed chromosomes during cell division?

If you are provided with a cube of modeling clay, which of the following changes to the shape of this cube will decrease its surface area relative to its volume?

The liver is involved in detoxification of many poisons and drugs. Which of the following structures is abundant in liver cells and primarily responsible for detoxification processes?

Disruption of nuclear pore complexes in a eukaryotic cell will most likely interfere with the transport of which of the following molecules into the nucleus?

Which of the following statements best describes some aspect of protein secretion from prokaryotic cells?

A young child who suffers from a metabolic disease is always tired and fatigued. Which of the following organelles is most likely malfunctioning in this disease?

Movement of amoebae across a surface requires which of the following activities by components of the cytoskeleton?

Which of the following statements best explains how a modern transmission electron microscope (TEM) can achieve a resolution of about 2.0 nanometers, whereas a standard light microscope has a maximum resolution of about 200 nanometers?

A characteristic 9 + 2 arrangement of microtubules, consisting of nine doublet microtubules surrounding a pair of single microtubules describes the ultrastructure of which of the following cellular structures?

Researchers investigating the mechanism of vesicle transport assembled a cell-free system that included microtubules, vesicles, and ATP. However, they observed no movement of transport of vesicles because the mixture was missing which of the following components?

Which structure is common to plant and animal cells?

Motor proteins provide for molecular motion in cells by interacting with which of the following cellular structures?

Passive leakage of partially digested material from the small intestine into the human abdominal cavity may result from defects in which of the following type of intercellular junction?

Which of the following structures form cytoplasmic channels that connect adjacent plant cells through the cell walls?

A particular cell contains the following molecules and structures: enzymes, DNA, ribosomes, plasma membrane, and mitochondria. Based on this composition, it could be a cell from which of the following organisms?

A newly synthesized protein destined for secretion from a eukaryotic cell will generally follow which of the pathways listed below?

Disruption of the function of which of the following organelles would result in a dramatic decrease in ATP synthesis in eukaryotic cells?

Biology and Its Themes

Atoms and Molecules

The Chemistry of Water

Carbon: the Basis of Molecular Diversity

Biological Macromolecules and Lipids

Energy and Life

Cell Membranes

Cellular Signaling

Cell Respiration

Photosynthetic Processes

Mitosis

Sexual Life Cycles and Meiosis

Mendelian Genetics

Linkage and Chromosomes

Nucleic Acids and Inheritance

Expression of Genes

Control of Gene Expression

Dna Technology

The Evolution of Genomes

How Evolution Works

Phylogenetic Reconstruction

Microevolution

Species and Speciation

Macroevolution

Introduction to Viruses

Prokaryotes

The Origin and Evolution of Eukaryotes

Nonvascular and Seedless Vascular Plants

Seed Plants

Introduction to Fungi

An Introduction to Animal Diversity

Invertebrates

Vertebrates

Plant Structure and Growth

Transport in Vascular Plants

Plant Nutrition

Reproduction of Flowering Plants

Plant Signals and Behavior

The Animal Body

Chemical Signals in Animals

Animal Digestive Systems

Animal Transport Systems

Animal Excretory Systems

Animal Reproductive Systems

Development in Animals

Animal Defenses Against Infection

Electrical Signals in Animals

Neural Regulation in Animals

Sensation and Movement in Animals

An Overview of Ecology

Behavioral Ecology

Populations and Life History Traits

Biodiversity and Communities

Energy Flow and Chemical Cycling in Ecosystems

Conservation and Global Ecology

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