What is the approximate threshold value for mammalian neurons?

The hypothesis should be modified to include the new findings that worm infestation can relieve the effects of certain autoimmune disorders.

A possible modification could be: “Parasitic worm infestation can have both damaging and beneficial effects on the host.

While it can cause harm, it has also been found to reduce the severity of certain autoimmune disorders.”

Choice A.

Worm infestation prevents the body from immune malfunction is not correct because it overstates the findings and implies that worm infestation completely prevents immune malfunction, which is not supported by the evidence.

Choice C.

Worm infestations exacerbate the body’s immune reactions is not correct because it contradicts the new findings that worm infestation can relieve the effects of certain autoimmune disorders.

Choice D.

Lack of worm infestations is the cause of some autoimmune disorders is not correct because it overstates the findings and implies a causal relationship between lack of worm infestations and autoimmune disorders, which is not supported by the evidence.

The corpus luteum is a structure that develops in the ovary after an egg has been released.

It secretes the hormone progesterone, which prepares the uterus for a fertilized egg to implant and helps maintain the uterine lining during pregnancy1.

Choice A.

Umbilical cord is not correct because it is a structure that connects the developing fetus to the placenta and provides nutrients and oxygen to the fetus, but does not secrete hormones.

Choice C.

Oviduct is not correct because it is a tube that transports eggs from the ovary to the uterus, but does not secrete hormones.

Choice D.

Oocyte is not correct because it is an immature egg cell, but does not secrete hormones.

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.

Plasma B cells.

Antibodies are produced by specialized white blood cells called B lymphocytes (or B cells).

When an antigen binds to the B-cell surface, it stimulates the B cell to divide and mature into a group of identical cells called a clone.

The mature B cells, called plasma cells, secrete millions of antibodies into the bloodstream and lymphatic system.

Choice A, Natural killer cells, is not the correct answer because natural killer cells are a type of white blood cell that play a major role in the host-rejection of both tumors and virally infected cells.

Choice B, Cytotoxic T-cells, is not the correct answer because cytotoxic T-cells are a type of white blood cell that kills cancer cells, cells that are infected (particularly with viruses), or cells that are damaged in other ways.

Choice D, Helper T-cells, is not the correct answer because helper T-cells are a type of white blood cell that play an important role in the immune system by helping other white blood cells fight infections.

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.

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.

The hypothalamus is a region of the brain that synthesizes antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin.

ADH is then transported to the posterior pituitary gland via neurohypophysial capillaries, where it is stored until it is ready to be secreted into the circulation.

Choice A.

Pineal gland is not correct because it is a small endocrine gland located in the brain that secretes the hormone melatonin, which regulates sleep-wake cycles, but it does not synthesize ADH.

Choice B.

Thymus is not correct because it is a gland located in the chest that produces hormones involved in immune system development, but it does not synthesize ADH.

Choice D.

Pancreas is not correct because it is a gland located behind the stomach that secretes hormones such as insulin and glucagon, which regulate blood sugar levels, but it does not synthesize ADH.

A decline in osteoblast activity while osteoclast activity continues at expected levels results in osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is caused by an imbalance between the functioning of osteoclast and osteoblast cells.

Osteoblasts are responsible for forming new bone, while osteoclasts break down old bone.

If osteoblast activity declines while osteoclast activity continues at expected levels, this means that more bone is being broken down than is being formed, leading to a loss of bone density and an increased risk of osteoporosis.

Choice A is incorrect because an increase in osteocyte activity would not result in osteoporosis.

Osteocytes are mature bone cells that maintain the mineral concentration of the bone matrix.

Choice B is incorrect because a decline in osteoclast activity would not result in osteoporosis.

Osteoclasts break down old bone, so a decline in their activity would mean that less bone is being broken down.

Choice C is incorrect because an increase in osteocyte activity would not result in osteoporosis.

As mentioned earlier, osteocytes are mature bone cells that maintain the mineral concentration of the bone matrix.

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.

The polarity of water molecules explains its solvent abilities for certain substances.

Water is a polar molecule because it has a partial positive charge on one end and a partial negative charge on the other end due to the unequal sharing of electrons between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms.

This polarity allows water to dissolve other polar substances and ionic compounds.

Choice A.

Kinetic energy of liquid water molecules is not the correct answer because kinetic energy refers to the energy of motion and does not directly explain water’s solvent abilities.

Choice B.

High specific heat is not the correct answer because specific heat refers to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance and does not directly explain water’s solvent abilities.

Choice C.

High surface tension is not the correct answer because surface tension refers to the cohesive forces between liquid molecules and does not directly explain water’s solvent abilities.