Which of the following types of cells produce and release antibodies?

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 pleura is a double-layered serous membrane that covers each lung and lines the thoracic cage

The pleura is a vital part of the respiratory tract.

Its role is to cushion the lung and reduce any friction that may develop between the lung, rib cage, and chest cavity.

Each pleura (there are two) consists of a two-layered membrane that covers each lung.

The layers are separated by a small amount of viscous (thick) lubricant known as pleural fluid.

The pleura is comprised of two distinct layers: the visceral pleura and the parietal pleura.

The visceral pleura is the thin, slippery membrane that covers the surface of the lungs and dips into the areas separating the different lobes of the lungs (called the hilum).

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 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 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.

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.

The polarity of water molecules explains its solvent abilities for certain substances.

Water is a polar molecule because it has a partial positive charge on one end and a partial negative charge on the other end due to the unequal sharing of electrons between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms.

This polarity allows water to dissolve other polar substances and ionic compounds.

Choice A.

Kinetic energy of liquid water molecules is not the correct answer because kinetic energy refers to the energy of motion and does not directly explain water’s solvent abilities.

Choice B.

High specific heat is not the correct answer because specific heat refers to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance and does not directly explain water’s solvent abilities.

Choice C.

High surface tension is not the correct answer because surface tension refers to the cohesive forces between liquid molecules and does not directly explain water’s solvent abilities.

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.

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.