Which of the following is correct regarding the pH scale?

Carbonic acid.

In the human body, maintaining the pH of the blood within a narrow range is critical for proper physiological functioning.

One of the buffering systems that helps to regulate blood pH involves the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) into carbonic acid (H2CO3), which then dissociates into hydrogen ions (H+) and bicarbonate ions (HCO3-).

Carbonic acid (H2CO3) is responsible for donating H+ ions to act as a buffer when blood pH rises.

When blood pH rises (becomes more alkaline), carbonic acid dissociates, and the H+ ions combine with bicarbonate ions to form more carbonic acid.

This helps to remove excess H+ ions from the blood and prevent the pH from rising too much.

Option A, carbon dioxide, is involved in the buffering system through its conversion to carbonic acid.

However, it does not directly donate H+ ions to act as a buffer when blood pH rises.

Option B, carbon monoxide, is a toxic gas that binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, preventing them from carrying oxygen.

It is not involved in the buffering system and does not donate H+ ions.

Option D, oxygen, is carried by hemoglobin in red blood cells and is essential for respiration.

It is not involved in the buffering system and does not donate H+ ions.

The glomerulus is the main filtering unit of the kidney.

It is formed by a network of small blood vessels (capillaries) enclosed within a sac called the Bowman’s capsule.

The blood supply to the glomerulus is provided via the afferent arteriole.

The blood then flows through the capillary network, where it gets filtered, and then leaves the glomerulus via the efferent arteriole.

Choice B.

Proximal tubule is not correct because it is where the ultrafiltrate collected in the Bowman’s space drains directly into.

Choice C.

Distal tubule is not correct because it is not mentioned in relation to blood exiting the glomerulus.

Choice D.

Afferent arteriole is not correct because it provides blood supply to the glomerulus.

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.

The hypothalamus is a small region of the brain located just above the brainstem. It serves as a critical control center for maintaining homeostasis — the body’s internal balance. One of its key roles is regulating core body temperature through a process called thermoregulation.

The hypothalamus monitors the body's temperature using temperature-sensitive neurons. If the body becomes too hot or too cold, the hypothalamus initiates responses to bring the temperature back to a normal range by:

• Triggering sweating to cool down the body.
• Initiating shivering to generate heat.
• Adjusting blood flow to the skin for heat loss or retention.

In addition to temperature regulation, the hypothalamus also controls other vital functions like:

• Hunger and thirst
• Sleep-wake cycles
• Hormone release (by influencing the pituitary gland)
• Stress response

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• A. Pituitary gland: While the pituitary gland is known as the “master gland” because it controls other endocrine glands, it does so under the direction of the hypothalamus. It does not directly regulate body temperature.
• C. Adrenal gland: The adrenal glands produce hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, primarily involved in the stress response, not temperature regulation.
• D. Pancreas: The pancreas is mainly responsible for regulating blood sugar levels through insulin and glucagon, not body temperature.

Thus, the hypothalamus is the part of the endocrine system most responsible for maintaining homeostasis, including regulating core body temperature.

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.

Genes that regulate cell division are found in some viruses.

When viruses cause an infection, they spread their DNA, affecting healthy cells’ genetic makeup and potentially causing them to turn into cancer.

For instance, HPV infections cause the virus’ DNA to combine with the host’s DNA, disrupting the normal function of cells.

Choice A is not correct because cancerous and normal cells sharing genetic sequences does not support the hypothesis that viruses can cause cancer.

Choice B is not correct because cellular DNA having sequences related to viral sequences does not support the hypothesis that viruses can cause cancer.

Choice C is not correct because viruses and cancer cells both replicating rapidly does not support the hypothesis that viruses can cause cancer.

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.

ff.

In this cross, both parents are homozygous recessive for the smooth leaf trait

(ff).

This means that all of their offspring will inherit two copies of the recessive allele (f) and will therefore have smooth leaves.

Choice A.

FF x FF is not correct because both parents are homozygous dominant for the fuzzy leaf trait (FF) and all of their offspring will inherit two copies of the dominant allele (F) and will therefore have fuzzy leaves.

Choice B.

Ff x Ff is not correct because both parents are heterozygous for the leaf trait (Ff) and their offspring can inherit either one dominant allele (F) or one recessive allele (f) from each parent, resulting in a 3:1 ratio of fuzzy to smooth leaves. Choice D.

Ff x ff is not correct because one parent is heterozygous for the leaf trait (Ff) while the other is homozygous recessive (ff), resulting in a 1:1 ratio of fuzzy to smooth leaves in their offspring.

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.

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.