Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, play a crucial role in the circulatory system, primarily by facilitating the transportation of oxygen to body tissues. The other choices are also explained below:

A. Facilitation of gas exchange in the alveoli: While gas exchange occurs in the alveoli of the lungs, it is primarily carried out by the respiratory system and involves the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between air and blood. Red blood cells do not directly participate in this process.

B. Regulation of blood pH through the release of bicarbonate ions: The regulation of blood pH is mainly maintained by the bicarbonate buffering system, which involves the action of the respiratory and renal systems. Red blood cells do play a minor role in transporting carbon dioxide, which can indirectly influence pH, but it's not their primary function.

D. Synthesis of clotting factors in response to vascular injury: Clotting factors are primarily produced by the liver and are involved in the blood clotting process to prevent excessive bleeding. Red blood cells are not directly responsible for synthesizing these factors.

• The number of protons in an atom is equal to its atomic number.
• The periodic table shows that phosphorus (P) has an atomic number of 15.
• This means every phosphorus atom has 15 protons in its nucleus.

Analysis of Other Options:

• A. 30 → This is close to the atomic mass (30.97), but the atomic mass is not the same as the number of protons. ❌
• B. 16 → This is incorrect; sulfur (S) has an atomic number of 16, not phosphorus. ❌
• D. 31 → This is rounded from the atomic mass (30.97), but atomic mass ≠ number of protons. ❌

One of the main funcons of the respiratory system is to facilitate the exchange of gases between the body and the environment. During inhalaon, air enters the lungs and oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream. During exhalaon, carbon dioxide is removed from the body and expelled into the environment.

The chemical formula for water is H2O. It consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

• The image shown is a highly detailed 3D surface view of a blood clot, which suggests that it was captured using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).
• SEM produces high-resolution, three-dimensional images by scanning a sample with a focused beam of electrons, making it ideal for studying surface structures like blood cells and clots.

Analysis of Other Options:

• A. Compound Light Microscope → Uses visible light to magnify samples but lacks the resolution and 3D detail seen in the image. ❌
• B. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) → Produces 2D images of ultra-thin sections, not detailed 3D surface views. ❌
• D. Stereoscope → A low-magnification microscope used for viewing larger objects, not detailed cellular structures. ❌

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21. It is also known as trisomy 21, because affected individuals have three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the normal two.

The extra chromosome 21 in Down syndrome occurs due to a random error in cell division, which leads to the production of an abnormal gamete (egg or sperm) with an extra copy of the chromosome. When this gamete fuses with a normal gamete during fertilization, the resulting zygote has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46, and develops into a fetus with Down syndrome.

Down syndrome is characterized by a range of physical and intellectual symptoms, including developmental delays, intellectual disability, distinctive facial features, heart defects, and increased risk of certain medical conditions such as leukemia and Alzheimer's disease. However, the severity and expression of these symptoms can vary widely among affected individuals.

The scientific method is a systematic approach used to answer questions or test hypotheses about the natural world. The steps involved in the scientific method are:

1. Observation: This is the first step in the scientific method. It involves observing a phenomenon or a problem and gathering information about it.
2. Hypothesis: After making an observation, a scientist forms a hypothesis, which is a tentative explanation for the phenomenon or problem.

3. Prediction: Based on the hypothesis, the scientist makes a prediction about what will happen in an experiment or what they will observe.

4. Experimentation: The scientist designs and conducts an experiment to test the hypothesis and prediction.

5. Analysis: The data collected from the experiment are analyzed to determine if they support or refute the hypothesis.

6. Conclusion: Based on the analysis of the data, the scientist draws a conclusion about whether the hypothesis is supported or refuted.

Option b) is incorrect because it starts with hypothesis before observation. Option c) is incorrect because prediction comes before experimentation. Option d) is incorrect because hypothesis comes after observation and data collection.

Transfer RNA (tRNA) is a type of RNA molecule that carries amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis. Each tRNA molecule has a specific sequence of three nucleotides called an anticodon, which pairs with a complementary codon in the messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence. Each tRNA also carries a specific amino acid that corresponds to the codon it recognizes, allowing the ribosome to link the amino acids together in the correct order to form a protein.

In contrast, messenger RNA (mRNA) carries the genetic information from the DNA to the ribosome, where it serves as a template for protein synthesis. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a component of the ribosome itself, where it helps to catalyze the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids. Small nuclear RNA (snRNA) is involved in splicing of pre-mRNA molecules during post-transcriptional processing.

• Frontal Plane (Coronal Plane) → Divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) halves. ❌
• Transverse Plane → A horizontal plane that divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) halves. ✅
• Sagittal Plane → Divides the body into left and right halves. ❌
• Coronal Plane → Another name for the Frontal Plane, which divides the body into front and back. ❌