Parasitic worm infestation is hypothesized to be damaging to the host.

However, scientists have recently discovered that worm infestation can relieve the effects of certain autoimmune disorders.

In which of the following ways should the hypothesis be modified, given the new findings?

 

The pH scale is a logarithmic scale that measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

A solution with a pH of 7 is neutral, while a solution with a pH less than 7 is acidic and a solution with a pH greater than 7 is alkaline.

Because the pH scale is logarithmic, each whole number change in pH represents a tenfold change in acidity or alkalinity.

Therefore, a substance with a pH of 3 is 10 times more acidic than a substance with a pH of 4.

Choice A.

A substance with a pH of 3 is two times more alkaline than a substance with a pH of 4 is not correct because it incorrectly states that the substance with a lower pH is more alkaline and also incorrectly states the magnitude of the difference in acidity or alkalinity.

Choice B.

A substance with a pH of 3 is two times more acidic than a substance with a pH of 4 is not correct because it correctly states that the substance with a lower pH is more acidic but incorrectly states the magnitude of the difference in acidity.

Choice D.

A substance with a pH of 3 is 10 times more alkaline than a substance with a pH of 4 is not correct because it incorrectly states that the substance with a lower pH is more alkaline.

The pleura is a double-layered serous membrane that covers each lung and lines the thoracic cage

The pleura is a vital part of the respiratory tract.

Its role is to cushion the lung and reduce any friction that may develop between the lung, rib cage, and chest cavity.

Each pleura (there are two) consists of a two-layered membrane that covers each lung.

The layers are separated by a small amount of viscous (thick) lubricant known as pleural fluid.

The pleura is comprised of two distinct layers: the visceral pleura and the parietal pleura.

The visceral pleura is the thin, slippery membrane that covers the surface of the lungs and dips into the areas separating the different lobes of the lungs (called the hilum).

Urea is a substance that is excreted by sweat glands in response to the breakdown of proteins and the formation of ammonia.

When proteins are broken down, they produce ammonia, which is a highly toxic compound for the body.

Ammonia is then converted into urea and released out of the body through sweat glands.

Choice B.

Sebum is not correct because it is an oily substance secreted by sebaceous glands to lubricate and protect the skin, but it is not related to the breakdown of proteins or the formation of ammonia.

Choice C.

Water is not correct because while it is a component of sweat, it is not specifically related to the breakdown of proteins or the formation of ammonia.

Choice D.

Lysozymes are not correct because they are enzymes found in tears, saliva and other body fluids that have antibacterial properties, but they are not related to the breakdown of proteins or the formation of ammonia.

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.

Ovulation is the process in which an ovarian follicle matures and releases a reproductive egg.

During ovulation, a mature egg is released from the female ovary, enabling it to be fertilized by male sperm cells 1.

Choice A is incorrect because menstruation is the process of shedding the uterine lining, which occurs when an egg is not fertilized.

Choice B is incorrect because fertilization is the process of a sperm cell joining with an egg cell to form a zygote.

Choice D is incorrect because oogenesis is the process of forming female gametes (eggs) in the ovaries.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin, is a hormone that helps regulate the amount of water in your body.

It works to control the amount of water your kidneys reabsorb as they filter out waste from your blood.

Choice A is not correct because an increase in the concentration of calcium in the glomerulus is not a physiological response caused by the release of antidiuretic hormone.

Choice C is not correct because a decrease in the concentration of calcium in the glomerulus is not a physiological response caused by the release of antidiuretic hormone.

Choice D is not correct because a decrease in water reabsorption in the collecting duct is not a physiological response caused by the release of antidiuretic hormone.

Proteins.

Proteins are made up of amino acids which are organic molecules that contain both an amine functional group (–NH2) and a carboxylic acid functional group (– COOH).

Choice A, Lipids, is not the correct answer because lipids are a group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids, and others.

They do not contain both an amine and carboxyl group.

Choice B, Chitin, is not the correct answer because chitin is a long-chain polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, a derivative of glucose.

It does not contain both an amine and carboxyl group.

Choice C, Cellulose, is not the correct answer because cellulose is an organic compound with the formula (C6H10O5)n, a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of β(1→4) linked D-glucose units.

It does not contain both an amine and carboxyl group.

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.

Calcium ions play a crucial role in initiating muscle contraction.

When a muscle cell is stimulated to contract by an action potential, calcium channels open in the sarcoplasmic membrane and release calcium into the sarcoplasm.

Some of this calcium attaches to troponin, which causes it to change shape.

This shape change exposes binding sites for myosin on the actin filaments.

Myosin’s binding to actin causes crossbridge formation, and contraction of the muscle begins.

The other ions mentioned in the question do not have this specific role in muscle contraction.

Potassium ions are important for maintaining the resting membrane potential of cells, but they do not bind to the troponin complex.

Phosphorus ions are important for energy metabolism, but they do not bind to the troponin complex.

Sodium ions are important for generating action potentials, but they do not bind to the troponin complex.

Microtubule organization.

Centrosomes are organelles that serve as the main microtubule-organizing centers for animal cells.

They regulate the movement of microtubules and other cytoskeletal structures, thereby facilitating changes in the shapes of the membranes of animal cells.

Choice A, Organelle trafficking, is not the correct answer because while centrosomes do play a role in intracellular trafficking during interphase by organizing an astral ray of microtubules, their main function is microtubule organization.

Choice B, Pathogen digestion, is not the correct answer because centrosomes do not play a direct role in pathogen digestion.

Choice C, Cytoplasm formation, is not the correct answer because centrosomes do not play a direct role in cytoplasm formation.