Which of the following statements best supports the hypothesis that viruses can cause cancer?

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration.

In a hypertonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is higher than inside the cell, so water flows out of the cell through aquaporins embedded in the plasma membrane to balance the concentration gradient.

Choice A.

Facilitated diffusion is not correct because it is a type of passive transport that involves the movement of molecules across a membrane through specific transport proteins, but it does not specifically refer to the movement of water molecules.

Choice B.

Active transport is not correct because it is a type of transport that involves the movement of molecules against their concentration gradient and requires energy in the form of ATP, but osmosis is a passive process that does not require energy.

Choice D.

Diffusion is not correct because it refers to the movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, but it does not specifically refer to the movement of water molecules.

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 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.

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.

Diffusion down a concentration gradient causes most of the carbon dioxide from the blood to move into the alveoli.

The alveoli are tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

Carbon dioxide is a waste product of cellular respiration and is carried by the blood to the lungs to be exhaled.

In the lungs, carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood (where its concentration is high) into the alveoli (where its concentration is lower) down its concentration gradient.

Choice A is incorrect because carbon dioxide is not converted to carbon monoxide in the body.

Choice C is incorrect because passive transport using carrier proteins is not the primary mechanism by which carbon dioxide moves from the blood into the alveoli.

Choice D is incorrect because active transport using energy is not involved in the movement of carbon dioxide from the blood into the alveoli.

The atomic number of an atom is equal to the number of protons in its nucleus.

In this case, the atom has 12 protons, so its atomic number is 12.

Choice A, 24, is not the correct answer because it represents the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the atom’s nucleus, which is known as the mass number.

Choice C, 1, is not the correct answer because it does not represent the number of protons in the atom’s nucleus.

Choice D, 144, is not the correct answer because it represents the square of the mass number and does not represent any property of the atom.

Triple point.

In a phase diagram, the term used for a substance held at a temperature and pressure where the solid, liquid, and gaseous states of a substance exist simultaneously is the triple point.

The triple point is a unique point on a phase diagram where the three states of matter (solid, liquid, and gas) can coexist in equilibrium.

At the triple point, the temperature and pressure of the substance are fixed.

Option B, critical temperature, is the temperature at which a gas cannot be liquefied, regardless of the pressure applied.

It is a characteristic property of a substance and is typically higher than the boiling point of the liquid at standard pressure.

Option C, critical point, is the point on a phase diagram where the liquid and gas phases of a substance become indistinguishable.

At the critical point, the distinction between the liquid and gas phases disappears, and the substance becomes a supercritical fluid.

Option D, absolute zero, is the theoretical temperature at which all matter has zero thermal energy.

At absolute zero, all substances are in their solid state, but it is not relevant to a phase diagram, as it is a temperature where no transitions between states occur.

In summary, the term used for a substance held at a temperature and pressure where the solid, liquid, and gaseous states of a substance exist simultaneously in a phase diagram is the triple point, whereas the other options provided are not relevant or are characteristic properties of substances in different contexts.

Melanin.

Melanin is a pigment produced by cells called melanocytes in the skin.

It protects the skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation by absorbing and dissipating over 99.9% of absorbed UV radiation.

This helps to prevent DNA damage and other adverse effects of UV radiation on the skin.

Choice B.

Perspiration is not correct because it is a fluid produced by sweat glands in the skin that helps to regulate body temperature, but it does not protect the skin from UV radiation.

Choice C.

Sebum is not correct because it is an oily substance produced by sebaceous glands in the skin that helps to lubricate and protect the skin, but it does not protect the skin from UV radiation.

Choice D.

Keratin is not correct because it is a fibrous protein that provides strength and durability to the skin, hair and nails, but it does not protect the skin from UV radiation.

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.