A patient with a history of heart failure is prescribed a medication that increases urine output to reduce fluid buildup.

Which of the following statements best describes the mechanism of action of the prescribed medication?

The correct answer is choice C. Estrogen.

Estrogen is a steroid hormone responsible for the development of female secondary sexual characteristics such as breast development, menstrual cycle, and widening of hips.

Choice A, Progesterone, is not the correct answer because it is required to maintain pregnancy and delivery.

Choice B, Testosterone, is not the correct answer because it is a hormone produced by the testes which controls the development of male secondary sexual characteristics.

Choice D, FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), is not the correct answer because it stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles in females and regulates spermatogenesis in males.

A primer is a short single-stranded DNA fragment used in certain laboratory techniques, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

In the PCR method, a pair of primers hybridizes with the sample DNA and defines the region that will be amplified.

Choice A) A short piece of double-stranded DNA that binds to the template DNA and acts as a “starter” for the polymerase is incorrect because primers are single-stranded, not double-stranded.

Choice B) A short piece of double-stranded DNA that binds to the primer and acts as a “starter” for the template is incorrect because it does not make sense for a primer to bind to itself.

Choice D) A short piece of single-stranded DNA that binds to the polymerase and acts as a “starter” for the template is incorrect because primers bind to the template DNA, not to the polymerase.

Note:DNA primers are used instead of RNA primers in DNA sequencing and PCR because DNA is more stable, specific, and compatible with the enzymes and processes involved in these techniques.

The correct answer is choice B.

To amplify specific regions of DNA.

PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is a laboratory technique used to make many copies of a specific region of DNA.

The goal of PCR is to make enough of the target DNA region that it can be analyzed or used in some other way.

PCR has many research and practical applications, including DNA cloning, medical diagnostics, and forensic analysis of DNA.

Choice A is incorrect because PCR does not separate DNA fragments by size. Choice C is incorrect because PCR does not sequence DNA fragments.

Choice D is incorrect because PCR does not analyze protein expression levels.

Ionization is the process in which an atom loses or gains electrons to form an ion.

An ion is an atom or molecule that has a net electrical charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

Choice B is not the best answer because oxidation refers to the loss of electrons from an atom or molecule.

Choice C is not the best answer because reduction refers to the gain of electrons by an atom or molecule.

Choice D is not the best answer because isotopic decay refers to the process in which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation

Innate immunity represents the first line of defense to an intruding pathogen.

The innate immune system is a series of nonspecific defenses that make up the innate immune system.

These defenses are not directed against any one pathogen but instead provide a guard against all infection.

Choice A is incorrect because adaptive immunity is activated when pathogens are able to bypass innate immune defenses.

Choice B is incorrect because antibodies are part of the adaptive immune system and are produced by B cells.

Choice D is incorrect because T cells are part of the adaptive immune system and assist B cells or directly kill infected cells.

Concentration of solute particles in the solution.

Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

The concentration of solute particles in the solution is the primary factor that determines the movement of water across cell membranes in osmosis.

Hydrostatic pressure (choice A) can affect the movement of water across cell membranes but is not the primary factor responsible for osmosis.

Temperature (choice C) can affect the rate of osmosis but is not the primary factor responsible for osmosis.

Kinetic energy of liquid water molecules (choice D) can affect the rate of osmosis but is not the primary factor responsible for osmosis.

A control group is used in scientific studies to establish causality by isolating the effect of an independent variable.

The control group serves as a baseline or comparison group that does not receive the treatment or intervention being tested.

By comparing the results of the control group to the experimental group, researchers can determine if any observed changes are due to the independent variable or if they are due to chance or other factors.

Choice B is incorrect because a control group is not used to establish the effect of a dependent variable on an independent variable.

Choice C is incorrect because while a control group can help control for the impact of extraneous variables on the dependent variable, its primary purpose is to isolate the effect of the independent variable.

Choice D is incorrect because a control group is not used to control for the impact of extraneous variables on the independent variable.

The correct answer is choice A.

An increase in viscosity of a fluid results in a decrease in mobility of particles.

Viscosity is the resistance of a fluid to a change in shape or movement of neighboring portions relative to one another.

It denotes opposition to flow and may be thought of as internal friction between the molecules.

Choice B is incorrect because an increase in viscosity does not affect the density of a fluid.

Choice C is incorrect because an increase in viscosity results in a decrease, not an increase, in flow rate.

Choice D is incorrect because an increase in viscosity does not affect the pressure of a fluid.

The correct answer is choice B.

It decreases the activation energy required for the reaction.

A catalyst provides a new reaction pathway in which a lower activation energy is offered.

This allows more reactant molecules to collide with enough energy to surmount the smaller energy barrier, increasing the rate of reaction 2.

Choice A, It increases the activation energy required for the reaction, is not the correct answer because it describes the opposite effect of a catalyst.

Choice C, It has no effect on the activation energy required for the reaction, is not the correct answer because a catalyst does have an effect on activation energy.

Choice D, It increases the rate of reaction but has no effect on the activation energy, is not the correct answer because a catalyst increases the rate of reaction by decreasing the activation energy.

Neurons communicate with each other through both electrical and chemical signals.

The electrical signal, or action potential, runs from the cell body area to the axon terminals, through a thin fiber called axon.

Neurons also communicate with one another at junctions called synapses.

At a synapse, one neuron sends a message to a target neuron—another cell.

Most synapses are chemical; these synapses communicate using chemical messengers.

Choice A is incorrect because neurons communicate not only through electrical signals but also through chemical signals.

Choice B is incorrect because neurons communicate not only through chemical signals but also through electrical signals.

Choice D is incorrect because neurons do not communicate through mechanical signals.