The cytoskeleton of a cell is comprised of which of the following macromolecules? 

 

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).

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.

A tsunami is a catastrophic ocean wave that is usually caused by a submarine earthquake.

It can also be caused by an underwater or coastal landslide, the eruption of a volcano, or the impact of a meteor or comet in a body of water.

Choice A is not correct because sunspot activity does not cause tsunamis.

Choice B is not correct because lightning strikes do not cause tsunamis.

Choice D is not correct because flooding does not cause tsunamis.

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.

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.

Sodium bicarbonate neutralizes the acidity of chyme.

The pancreas secretes large amounts of sodium bicarbonate, which protects the duodenum by neutralizing the acid that comes from the stomach.

This compound helps neutralize stomach acid generated during the digestive process.

Choice A is incorrect because sodium bicarbonate is not a protease that digests carbohydrates.

Proteases are enzymes that break down proteins, while sodium bicarbonate is a chemical compound that helps neutralize stomach acid.

Choice B is incorrect because sodium bicarbonate does not stimulate the pyloric sphincter.

The pyloric sphincter is a ring of smooth muscle that separates the stomach from the duodenum and regulates the passage of partially digested food (chyme) into the small intestine.

Choice C is incorrect because sodium bicarbonate does not inhibit peristalsis.

Peristalsis is a series of wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration.

In a hypertonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is higher than inside the cell, so water flows out of the cell through aquaporins embedded in the plasma membrane to balance the concentration gradient.

Choice A.

Facilitated diffusion is not correct because it is a type of passive transport that involves the movement of molecules across a membrane through specific transport proteins, but it does not specifically refer to the movement of water molecules.

Choice B.

Active transport is not correct because it is a type of transport that involves the movement of molecules against their concentration gradient and requires energy in the form of ATP, but osmosis is a passive process that does not require energy.

Choice D.

Diffusion is not correct because it refers to the movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, but it does not specifically refer to the movement of water molecules.

Other scientists can validate or disprove the findings.

It is important for new scientific findings to be published so that other scientists can review the research and either validate or disprove the findings.

This process of peer-review helps to ensure the accuracy and reliability of scientific research.

Choice A.

Scientists will get paid if their findings are published is not correct because while some scientists may receive funding or grants for their research, the primary goal of publishing scientific findings is not for financial gain.

Choice B.

Publishing findings will help scientists become more biased is not correct because the goal of publishing scientific findings is to share information and promote transparency, not to promote bias.

Choice D.

This prevents other scientists from performing similar tests is not correct because publishing scientific findings allows other scientists to build upon the research and perform further tests to validate or disprove the findings.

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.

As a solid turns to a liquid, the particles become less ordered and more free to move around.

Choice B is not correct because particles have an increase in mobility as a solid turns to a liquid.

Choice C is not correct because particles move further apart as a solid turns to a liquid.

Choice D is not correct because intermolecular forces between particles become weaker as a solid turns to a liquid.