Which factor is primarily responsible for the movement of water across cell membranes in osmosis?

Water is sometimes called the “universal solvent” because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid.

This is due to its polarity and ability to form hydrogen bonds, which allows it to dissolve ions and polar molecules.

Choice A) Because water dissolves all solutes equally well is incorrect because water does not dissolve all solutes equally well.

Choice B) Because water is a nonpolar solvent is incorrect because water is a polar solvent.

Choice D) Because water is poor at dissolving nonpolar molecules is incorrect because it does not explain why water is called the “universal solvent”.

Hydrogen bonding is an interaction involving a hydrogen atom located between a pair of other atoms having a high affinity for electrons.

One atom of the pair (the donor), generally a fluorine, nitrogen, or oxygen atom, is covalently bonded to a hydrogen atom, whose electrons it shares unequally; its high electron affinity causes the hydrogen to take on a slight positive charge.

The other atom of the pair (the acceptor), also typically F, N, or O, has an unshared electron pair, which gives it a slight negative charge.

Mainly through electrostatic attraction, the donor atom effectively shares its hydrogen with the acceptor atom, forming a bond.

Choice B) The repulsion between the positive and negative charges of two molecules is incorrect because hydrogen bonding involves attraction, not repulsion.

Choice C) The attraction between two nonpolar molecules is incorrect because hydrogen bonding involves polar molecules.

Choice D) The attraction between two ionic molecules is incorrect because hydrogen bonding involves polar molecules and not ionic molecules.

Formation of carboxyhemoglobin.

Carbon monoxide binds to the hemoglobin to create a molecule called carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), which interferes with the body’s ability to transport and use oxygen, especially in the brain.

Choice A is incorrect because carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when carbon monoxide builds up in your bloodstream.

Choice C is incorrect because carbon monoxide poisoning does not increase the production of red blood cells.

Choice D is incorrect because decreased pulmonary function is not a potential complication of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Granzymes.

Granzymes are a family of serine proteases that are stored in and secreted from the cytotoxic granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells.

They work in synergy with perforin, a pore-forming toxin, to induce apoptosis in target cells.

Perforin is necessary for the delivery of granzyme B to the target cell cytosol where caspase-dependent and -independent pathways to apoptosis are activated.

Perforins (choice A) are pore-forming toxins that work in synergy with granzymes to induce apoptosis in target cells.

Cytokines (choice B) are signaling molecules that regulate immune responses but do not directly induce apoptosis in target cells.

Interferons (choice D) are a type of cytokine that play a role in immune responses but do not directly induce apoptosis in target cells.

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.

The correct answer is choice C. Thyroxine.

Thyroxine (T4) is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that controls your body’s metabolism, the process in which your body transforms the food you eat into energy.

Choice A, Estrogen, is not the correct answer because it is a hormone responsible for the development of female secondary sexual characteristics.

Choice B, Progestin, is not the correct answer because it is a synthetic form of progesterone used in hormonal birth control and hormone replacement therapy.

Choice D, Androgen, is not the correct answer because it is a hormone responsible for the development of male secondary sexual characteristics.

The correct answer is choice A.

The superior vena cava is the largest vein in the human body that returns deoxygenated blood from the upper half of the body to the right atrium of the heart.

Choice B is incorrect because the inferior vena cava returns deoxygenated blood from the lower half of the body to the right atrium of the heart.

Choice C is incorrect because the pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.

Choice D is incorrect because the renal vein carries deoxygenated blood from the kidneys to the inferior vena cava.

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

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are a class of receptors that can directly recognize the specific molecular structures on the surface of pathogens.

PRRs play a crucial role in the proper function of the innate immune system and are germline-encoded host sensors, which detect molecules typical for the pathogens.

Choice B is incorrect because cytokines are not receptors but rather signaling molecules that regulate immunity.

Choice C is incorrect because chemokines are not receptors but rather signaling molecules that attract immune cells to sites of infection.

Choice D is incorrect because T cells are not receptors but rather white blood cells that assist B cells or directly kill infected cells.

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.