Which of the following ions binds to the troponin complex, initiating contraction of a muscle?

The two major parts of the nervous system are the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).

The CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord and acts as the integration and command center of the body.

The PNS represents the conduit between the CNS and the body and is further subdivided into the somatic nervous system (SNS) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

Choice A is incorrect because it only mentions two subdivisions of the PNS, which are the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and somatic nervous system (SNS).

Choice B is incorrect because it only mentions one major part of the nervous system, which is the PNS, and one subdivision of it, which is the SNS.

Choice D is incorrect because it only mentions one major part of the nervous system, which is the CNS, and one subdivision of the PNS, which is the ANS.

Triple covalent bonds.

Nitrogen gas (N2) is an extremely stable molecule because it consists of two nitrogen atoms bonded together by a triple covalent bond.

A covalent bond is a type of chemical bond where atoms share electrons to form a molecule.

In a triple covalent bond, three pairs of electrons are shared between the two atoms, resulting in a very strong bond that makes the molecule extremely stable.

Choice A.

Ionic bonds is not correct because ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another to form ions, which are then attracted to each other due to their opposite charges.

Nitrogen gas does not contain ions and is not held together by ionic bonds.

Choice B.

Hydrogen bonds is not correct because hydrogen bonds are weak electrostatic attractions between molecules that contain hydrogen atoms bonded to highly electronegative atoms such as oxygen or nitrogen.

Nitrogen gas does not contain hydrogen atoms and is not held together by hydrogen bonds.

Choice C.

Resonance bonds is not correct because resonance refers to the delocalization of electrons in a molecule where multiple Lewis structures can be drawn to represent the molecule.

Nitrogen gas has a single Lewis structure and does not exhibit resonance.

Carbonic acid.

In the human body, maintaining the pH of the blood within a narrow range is critical for proper physiological functioning.

One of the buffering systems that helps to regulate blood pH involves the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) into carbonic acid (H2CO3), which then dissociates into hydrogen ions (H+) and bicarbonate ions (HCO3-).

Carbonic acid (H2CO3) is responsible for donating H+ ions to act as a buffer when blood pH rises.

When blood pH rises (becomes more alkaline), carbonic acid dissociates, and the H+ ions combine with bicarbonate ions to form more carbonic acid.

This helps to remove excess H+ ions from the blood and prevent the pH from rising too much.

Option A, carbon dioxide, is involved in the buffering system through its conversion to carbonic acid.

However, it does not directly donate H+ ions to act as a buffer when blood pH rises.

Option B, carbon monoxide, is a toxic gas that binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, preventing them from carrying oxygen.

It is not involved in the buffering system and does not donate H+ ions.

Option D, oxygen, is carried by hemoglobin in red blood cells and is essential for respiration.

It is not involved in the buffering system and does not donate H+ ions.

The hypothalamus is a small region of the brain located just above the brainstem. It serves as a critical control center for maintaining homeostasis — the body’s internal balance. One of its key roles is regulating core body temperature through a process called thermoregulation.

The hypothalamus monitors the body's temperature using temperature-sensitive neurons. If the body becomes too hot or too cold, the hypothalamus initiates responses to bring the temperature back to a normal range by:

• Triggering sweating to cool down the body.
• Initiating shivering to generate heat.
• Adjusting blood flow to the skin for heat loss or retention.

In addition to temperature regulation, the hypothalamus also controls other vital functions like:

• Hunger and thirst
• Sleep-wake cycles
• Hormone release (by influencing the pituitary gland)
• Stress response

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• A. Pituitary gland: While the pituitary gland is known as the “master gland” because it controls other endocrine glands, it does so under the direction of the hypothalamus. It does not directly regulate body temperature.
• C. Adrenal gland: The adrenal glands produce hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, primarily involved in the stress response, not temperature regulation.
• D. Pancreas: The pancreas is mainly responsible for regulating blood sugar levels through insulin and glucagon, not body temperature.

Thus, the hypothalamus is the part of the endocrine system most responsible for maintaining homeostasis, including regulating core body temperature.

Reverse transcriptase, an enzyme encoded by the virus.

Reverse transcriptase is a virus-specific enzyme that transcribes an RNA template to DNA1.

This allows the AIDS virus, which contains RNA, to insert viral DNA into the DNA of a host cell after the AIDS virus enters the cell.

Choice A, The phospholipids found on the envelope of the virus, is not the correct answer because phospholipids are a major component of cell membranes and do not play a direct role in inserting viral DNA into the DNA of a host cell.

Choice C, Receptor proteins located on the surface of the virus, is not the correct answer because receptor proteins located on the surface of the virus play a role in attachment and fusion of HIV virons to host cells, but do not play a direct role in inserting viral DNA into the DNA of a host cell.

Choice D, The protein that makes up the capsid of the virus, is not the correct answer because capsid is the outer protein shell of a virus and does not play a direct role in inserting viral DNA into the DNA of a host cell.

The glomerulus is the main filtering unit of the kidney.

It is formed by a network of small blood vessels (capillaries) enclosed within a sac called the Bowman’s capsule.

The blood supply to the glomerulus is provided via the afferent arteriole.

The blood then flows through the capillary network, where it gets filtered, and then leaves the glomerulus via the efferent arteriole.

Choice B.

Proximal tubule is not correct because it is where the ultrafiltrate collected in the Bowman’s space drains directly into.

Choice C.

Distal tubule is not correct because it is not mentioned in relation to blood exiting the glomerulus.

Choice D.

Afferent arteriole is not correct because it provides blood supply to the glomerulus.

Amino acids have a unique structure consisting of an amino group (-NH3⁺) and a carboxyl group (-COO⁻) attached to a central carbon (called the α-carbon). At physiological pH (around 7.4), these functional groups often exist in their ionized forms:

• The amino group (-NH3⁺) is positively charged, acting as a proton acceptor (a base).
• The carboxyl group (-COO⁻) is negatively charged, acting as a proton donor (an acid).

This results in a zwitterion — a molecule with both a positive and a negative charge. Because amino acids can accept or donate protons depending on the pH of their environment, they have buffering capacity. This means they can resist changes in pH by stabilizing the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺).

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

• A. Monosaccharides: These are simple sugars without ionizable functional groups, so they cannot act as buffers.
• B. Ribonucleotides and D. Deoxyribonucleotides: While nucleotides have phosphate groups that can donate protons, they lack the dual positive and negative functional groups necessary for the strong buffering effect seen in amino acids.

Therefore, amino acids are the correct choice because their zwitterionic nature provides them with excellent buffering capacity.

Electrophoresis is the most useful laboratory method for separating genomic DNA fragments by size.

Electrophoresis is a technique that uses an electric field to separate charged molecules, such as DNA fragments, based on their size and charge.

Choice A is not correct because titration is a laboratory method used to determine the concentration of a solution.

Choice C is not correct because filtration is a laboratory method used to separate solids from liquids.

Choice D is not correct because spectrophotometry is a laboratory method used to measure the absorbance of light by a solution.

Heavier objects fall faster than lighter objects.

The data in the table shows that as the number of filters (and therefore the mass) increases, the terminal velocity also increases.

This means that the heavier objects (with more filters) are falling faster than the lighter objects (with fewer filters).

Choice A is not supported by the data in the table as much as it is true.

Terminal velocity is indeed when the force of gravity is equal to air resistance, but this definition does not provide any information about the relationship between mass and terminal velocity.

Choice B is also not supported by the data in the table.

The data does not provide any information about the time it takes for an object to reach terminal velocity.

Choice D is not supported by the data in the table.

The data shows that as the number of filters increases, the terminal velocity also increases.

This means that the greater the number of filters, the greater (not smaller) the terminal velocity.

Viruses.

Viruses lack essential machinery needed to reproduce by themselves.

In fact, viruses can only reproduce after infecting a living cell - a process called viral replication.

Once inside a living cell, viruses re-program the cell’s machinery to produce viral proteins and genetic material to make new copies of themselves.

Choice A, Bacteria, is not the correct answer because bacteria have their own metabolic pathways and can reproduce outside of a host cell.

Choice B, Protozoa, is also not the correct answer because protozoa are singlecelled eukaryotes that have their own metabolic pathways and can reproduce outside of a host cell.

Choice C, Helminths, is not the correct answer because helminths are multicellular parasitic worms that have their own metabolic pathways and can reproduce outside of a host cell.