BMS100 Past Test Questions
Chapter 3, Fall 2008
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  1. Which term refers to a collection of similar cells that have common function?
    1. system
    2. tissue
    3. organism
    4. organelle

  2. Generally, "organelles" are
    1. smaller than cells
    2. larger than cells but smaller than organs
    3. single organs that belong to two or more systems
    4. individual living things

  3. Mitochondria are
    1. a type of organelle
    2. located within the cytoplasm and directly involved in transformation of energy
    3. located inside the nucleus and directly involved in movements of chromosomes
    4. both A. and B.
    5. both A. and C.

  4. Which of the following statements about the cell membranes is false?
    1. The membrane forms a "boundary" around the cell.
    2. The basic structure of the cell membrane includes two layers of phospholipid molecules.
    3. The membrane includes some protein molecules along with phospholipid molecules.
    4. The primary function of the hydrophobic "tails" is to allow direct passage of molecules such as glucose and ions such as sodium.

  5. Within the brain, why does oxygen diffuse from the blood to the interiors of brain cells?
    1. Oxygen is so important in the brain that there are "pumps" available to "push" oxygen into the cells.
    2. The membranes of the brain cells have "oxygen gates" that "open" when the brain cells need oxygen.
    3. The pressure (concentration) of oxygen in the blood is greater than it is inside the cells.
    4. The pressure (concentration) of oxygen is greater inside the cells than it is in the blood.

  6. In general, cells must expend energy to
    1. move ions from inside the cell to outside the cell
    2. move ions from outside the cell to inside the cell
    3. move ions from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration
    4. move ions from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration

  7. Brain cells and heart muscle cells have "pumps" that
    1. pump sodium ions and potassium ions into the cells
    2. pump sodium ions and potassium ions out of the cells
    3. pump sodium ions into cells and potassium ions out of the cells
    4. pump sodium ions out of the cells and potassium ions into the cells

  8. What is the function of the "sodium gates" that are present in brain cells and heart muscle cells?
    1. same as "sodium pumps"
    2. allow sodium ions to flow rapidly into cells when the gates are open
    3. allow sodium ions to flow rapidly out of cells when the gates are open
    4. allow sodium ions to flow equally into and out of cells when the gates are open (involved in "electrolyte balance")

  9. Which statement about metabolic rates of organs is true?
    1. Organs that are engaged in active transport, such as the brain, heart, and kidneys, generally have a relatively high metabolic rate.
    2. Organs that are engaged in active transport, such as the brain, heart, and kidneys, generally have a relatively low metabolic rate.
    3. All organs have the same metabolic rate.

  10. If a muscle cell is producing a large amount of carbon dioxide,
    1. the carbon dioxide is likely to diffuse out of the cell.
    2. the carbon dioxide will need to be pumped out of the cell.
    3. this will cause sodium and potassium ions to accumulate inside the cell.
    4. this will cause sodium and potassium ions to accumulate outside the cell.

  11. Which pair of molecules contains the greatest amount of energy?
    1. glucose and ATP
    2. glucose and oxygen (O2)
    3. oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2)
    4. oxygen (O2) and ATP

  12. Which statement best describes the behavior of phospholipids?
    1. Phospholipid molecules employ "base pairing rules" in order assemble into a double helix.
    2. Phospholipid molecules employ "base pairing rules" in order assemble into two-layered membranes.
    3. Human cells expend large amounts of energy organizing phospholipid molecules into two-layered membranes.
    4. Phospholipid molecules are able to "automatically" assemble to form two-layered membranes.

  13. A gene is a portion of a DNA molecule that
    1. must bond with the corresponding gene from the other parent in order for an embryo to develop
    2. contains the information for making one type of cell
    3. contains the information for making a particular protein
    4. "coils up" into one entire chromosome

  14. True or false? During normal development, all types of cells in the body come from stem cells or descendents of stem cells.
    1. True.
    2. False.

  15. Chromatin may "coil up"
    1. when the DNA is replicating
    2. during gene transcription
    3. during translation from RNA to protein
    4. during prophase of mitosis, when chromosomes first appear
    5. only if there is a genetic disease

  16. Whereas genetic information is stored permanently as _?_, transcripts made of _?_ carry the information from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.
    1. DNA / RNA
    2. RNA / DNA
    3. DNA / protein
    4. RNA / protein
    5. protein / RNA

  17. Messenger RNA molecules contain information that is used to
    1. correctly position bases within a DNA double helix
    2. correctly position amino acids within a polypeptide (protein)
    3. direct chromosomes to the correct daughter cell during mitosis
    4. identify the exact location of a gene that needs to be activated

  18. What is present upon completion of one cycle of DNA replication?
    1. Two DNA molecules, one of which is the original, the other being a copy.
    2. Two DNA molecules, each of which contains one "old" strand and one "new" strand in the double helix.
    3. One DNA molecule and one messenger RNA molecule.
    4. Two RNA molecules, one of which is the original, the other being a copy.
    5. Two RNA molecules, each of which contains one "old" strand and one "new" strand in the double helix.

  19. The DNA double helix "unzips," and the "base pairing rules" are used during
    1. DNA replication
    2. gene transcription
    3. gene translation
    4. both A and B
    5. both B and C

  20. Birth defects may occur if
    1. the sequence of bases in DNA is different from the sequence in the "normal" gene (example: cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia)
    2. the number of chromosomes per cell is different from the "normal" number (example: trisomy 21, which leads to Down syndrome)
    3. both of the above
    4. none of the above

  21. What is most "to blame" for disorders such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia?
    1. unhealthy environment / life styles (smoking, etc.)
    2. defective genes (inherited from parents)
    3. process of DNA replication is defective
    4. process of gene transcription is defective
    5. process of gene translation is defective

  22. Mitosis helps assure the accurate distribution of _?_ to daughter cells.
    1. amino acids
    2. DNA / genes
    3. messenger RNA molecules
    4. individual nucleotide bases (A, T, G, C)