Which of the following represents the complementary strand of a DNA sequence 3' TCGATCGCA 5'?

Reverse transcriptase, an enzyme encoded by the virus.

Reverse transcriptase is a virus-specific enzyme that transcribes an RNA template to DNA1.

This allows the AIDS virus, which contains RNA, to insert viral DNA into the DNA of a host cell after the AIDS virus enters the cell.

Choice A, The phospholipids found on the envelope of the virus, is not the correct answer because phospholipids are a major component of cell membranes and do not play a direct role in inserting viral DNA into the DNA of a host cell.

Choice C, Receptor proteins located on the surface of the virus, is not the correct answer because receptor proteins located on the surface of the virus play a role in attachment and fusion of HIV virons to host cells, but do not play a direct role in inserting viral DNA into the DNA of a host cell.

Choice D, The protein that makes up the capsid of the virus, is not the correct answer because capsid is the outer protein shell of a virus and does not play a direct role in inserting viral DNA into the DNA of a host cell.

Calcium ions play a crucial role in initiating muscle contraction.

When a muscle cell is stimulated to contract by an action potential, calcium channels open in the sarcoplasmic membrane and release calcium into the sarcoplasm.

Some of this calcium attaches to troponin, which causes it to change shape.

This shape change exposes binding sites for myosin on the actin filaments.

Myosin’s binding to actin causes crossbridge formation, and contraction of the muscle begins.

The other ions mentioned in the question do not have this specific role in muscle contraction.

Potassium ions are important for maintaining the resting membrane potential of cells, but they do not bind to the troponin complex.

Phosphorus ions are important for energy metabolism, but they do not bind to the troponin complex.

Sodium ions are important for generating action potentials, but they do not bind to the troponin complex.

The cell membrane is present in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

The cell membrane is a thin, flexible barrier that surrounds all cells and separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment.

It is composed of a lipid bilayer and regulates the movement of substances into and out of the cell.

Choice B is incorrect because the Golgi apparatus is not present in prokaryotic cells.

The Golgi apparatus is an organelle found in eukaryotic cells that is involved in modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins and lipids for transport to other parts of the cell or to be secreted outside the cell.

Choice C is incorrect because chloroplasts are not present in prokaryotic cells.

Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells and some algae that are responsible for photosynthesis.

Choice D is incorrect because the endoplasmic reticulum is not present in prokaryotic cells.

The endoplasmic reticulum is an organelle found in eukaryotic cells that is involved in protein synthesis and lipid metabolism.

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.

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.

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.

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 approximate threshold value for mammalian neurons is -55 mV.

The threshold potential is the critical level to which a membrane potential must be depolarized to initiate an action potential.

Most often, the threshold potential is a membrane potential value between –50 and –55 mV

The membrane potential of a neuron is determined by the distribution of ions across the cell membrane.

At rest, the inside of a neuron is more negative than the outside due to the presence of negatively charged proteins and other molecules.

The movement of ions across the cell membrane can change the membrane potential.

For example, when sodium ions enter the cell, they make the inside of the cell more positive (less negative), causing depolarization.

Choice B is incorrect because -80 mV is below the typical threshold value for mammalian neurons.

Choice C is incorrect because +35 mV is above the typical threshold value for mammalian neurons.

Choice D is incorrect because 0 mV is above the typical threshold value for mammalian neurons.

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.

In DNA, the nitrogenous bases adenine (A) and thymine (T) pair together, while cytosine (C) and guanine (G) pair together.

Therefore, the complementary strand of the given DNA sequence 3' TCGATCGCA 5' would have the complementary nitrogenous bases as:

5’ AGCTAGCGT 3’

NOTE: The 5’ to 3’ direction of the complementary strand is opposite to that of the given strand.

Choice A.

3’ AGCTAGCGT 5’ is not correct because it is not complementary to the given strand.

Choice C.

5’ UCGAUCGCA 3’ is not correct because it contains uracil (U), which is a nitrogenous base found in RNA, not DNA.

Choice D.

3’ TCGUTCGCU 3’ is not correct because it also contains uracil (U), which is a nitrogenous base found in RNA, not DNA.