AP BIO: Unit 4 Practice Questions

Which of the following statements best predicts the effect of a mutation that results in a loss of the glucocorticoid receptor's ligand binding function?

The glucocorticoid receptor will remain associated with the accessory proteins.

The cell cycle of yeast cells grown in the nutrient-poor environment is approximately what percent of the cell cycle of yeast cells grown in the nutrient-rich environment?

168

Based on Figure 1, what percent of the time required to complete a full cycle do the cells typically spend in interphase?

95%

What is the expected percent change in the DNA content of a typical eukaryotic cell as it progresses through the cell cycle from the start of the G1phase to the end of the G2 phase?

+100%

The diagram above illustrates feedback control as exerted by the hormone thyroxine. Following surgical removal of the thyroid gland, the level of TSH in the blood will increase. Which of the following best explains this increase?

A decrease in thyroxine levels means a loss of inhibition to the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary, leading to increased TSH secretion.

Cancer can result from a variety of different mutational events. Which of the following is LEAST likely to result in the initiation of a cancerous tumor?

A defect in a cell-cycle checkpoint prevents a cell from entering the S phase.

The mechanism of action of many common medications involves interfering with the normal pathways that cells use to respond to hormone signals. Which of the following best describes a drug interaction that directly interferes with a signal transduction pathway?

A medication enters the target cell and inhibits an enzyme that normally synthesizes a second messenger.

Which of the following describes a mutation that would lead to an increase in the frequency of nondisjunction?

A mutation affecting checkpoint 3 proteins that prevents attachment of spindle fibers

The figure above shows a model of a ligand precursor being cleaved to produce an active ligand that binds to a specific receptor. Which of the following is most likely to reduce the binding of the active ligand to its receptor?

A mutation in the receptor gene that causes a substitution of a charged amino acid for a nonpolar amino acid in the ligand binding site of the receptor

In mammals, an increase in the concentration of sodium in the blood triggers the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) from the pituitary gland. As the concentration of sodium in the blood returns to previous levels, the release of ADH from the pituit

ADH promotes an increase in the movement of water into the bloodstream.

Damaged tissue releases chemicals that activate platelets and stimulate the formation of blood clots. Which of the following predictions about the activity of platelets best describes a positive feedback mechanism?

Activated platelets release chemicals that activate more platelets.

The endocrine system incorporates feedback mechanisms that maintain homeostasis. Which of the following demonstrates negative feedback by the endocrine system?

After a meal, blood glucose levels become elevated, stimulating beta cells of the pancreas to release insulin into the blood. Excess glucose is then converted to glycogen in the liver, reducing blood glucose levels.

Based on the model presented, which of the following statements expresses the proper relationship between osmolarity, ADH release, and urine production?

As tissue osmolarity rises, more ADH is released, causing less water to be excreted as urine.

Which of the following best describes the data in Figure 1 ?

At a concentration above 10 μM, drug X reduces melanoma cell survival.

Which of the following presents a correct interpretation of the changes in chromosome number depicted in Figure 1 ?

Chromosomes enter metaphase containing two chromatids attached by a centromere. During anaphase, the chromatids are separated, each becoming a chromosome. Cytokinesis distributes the chromosomes into two separate cells.

Figure 1 shows a model of the endocrine signaling pathway that regulates ovulation. Which of the following observations would provide evidence of a positive feedback mechanism in this system?

Estrogen from the ovaries stimulates the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary to secrete more GnRH, LH, and FSH.

Which of the following research questions would best guide an investigation of the link between the structure of the signaling molecules and the evolution of quorum sensing?

Did these species evolve from a common ancestor that used a similar signaling molecule?

Which of the following best describes the role of mitosis in the cell cycle?

Distributing replicated chromosomes to daughter nuclei

Based on Figure 1, which of the following describes the role of cyclin in the regulation of the cell cycle?

During M phase, the cyclin level peaks, resulting in an increased binding frequency with CDK.

Based on Figure 1, which of the following statements best describes the epinephrine signaling pathway?

In involves enzymes activating other enzymes.

Which of the following patterns is shown by the data?

In mutant 3 cells, more time is spent in prophase/prometaphase than in the later stages of mitosis.

The brain coordinates the circulatory and respiratory systems of the human body. The control of breathing, for example, involves neural pathways among the structures represented in the figure above. One important stimulus in the control of breathing is an increase in blood CO2 concentration, which is detected as a decrease in blood pH. Which of the following best describes the physiological response to an overall increase in cellular respiration in the body?

In response to low blood pH, the pH sensors send a signal to the brain, which then sends a signal to the diaphragm, resulting in an increased rate of breathing to help eliminate excess blood CO2 .

Cortisol is a hormone produced in response to stress, including starvation, in humans. Which of the following is most likely an immediate effect of a starvation-induced increase in cortisol secretion?

Increased mobilization of fatty acids from fat cells

Which of the following is true of mitosis?

It maintains the same chromosome number in the daughter cells as in the parent cell.

Which of the following best supports the claim that ethylene initiates the signal transduction pathway that leads to ripening of fruit?

Loss-of-function mutations in ethylene receptors result in changes to the ripening process.

Air is less dense at very high elevations, so less oxygen is available than in the denser air at sea level. Based on the model in Figure 1, if a person travels from sea level to a high elevation location, which of the following correctly predicts the response to the decreased blood oxygen level?

More erythropoietin will be secreted from the kidneys, increasing production of erythrocytes.

During mitosis, which of the following normally occurs?

Replicated chromosomes line up on the equatorial plate.

Most cells that have become transformed into cancer cells have which of the following characteristics when compared to normal, healthy cells?

Shorter cell cycle

Cell communication is critical for the function of both unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes. Which of the following is likely true of cell signaling?

Similar cell signaling pathways in diverse eukaryotes are evidence of conserved evolutionary processes.

In flowering plants, plasmodesmata are narrow channels through cell walls that connect the cytoplasms of adjacent cells. An explanation of how plant cells communicate across cell walls will most likely refer to the diffusion through plasmodesmata of which of the following?

Small, water-soluble molecules

Which of the following best describes how the amount of DNA in the cell changes during M phase?

The amount of DNA is halved as the cell divides into two daughter cells.

Based on the model of eukaryotic cell cycle regulation shown in the figure, which of the following best describes the effect of a drug that blocks the production of the mitotic cyclin?

The cell would be prevented from entering mitosis, and the cell would stop dividing.

Which of the following statements best describes how a growth factor stimulates cell division from outside a cell?

The growth factor binds to receptors on the cell surface, initiating a signal transduction pathway that activates specific target genes.

Vertebrate immune responses involve communication over short and long distances. Which of the following statements best helps explain how cell surface proteins, such as MHC proteins and T cell receptors, mediate cell communication over short distances?

The proteins interact directly with proteins on the surfaces of other cells.

Which of the following observations provides the best evidence that acetyl-CoA negatively regulates pyruvate dehydrogenase activity?

The rate of the pyruvate dehydrogenase-catalyzed reaction is slower in the presence of a higher concentration of acetyl-CoA.

Researchers studying cell cycle regulation in budding yeast have observed that a mutation in the CDC15 gene causes cell cycle arrest in telophase when the yeast cells are incubated at an elevated temperature. Which of the following statements best predicts the effect of the cell cycle arrest on proliferating yeast cells?

The yeast cells will replicate their chromosomes but will fail to complete cytokinesis.

Individuals with FH can be treated with drugs that result in increased production of LDL receptors in liver cells. Which of the following best explains the observation that the drugs can effectively control blood cholesterol levels in individuals who are heterozygous but are not effective in individuals homozygous for the mutant allele?

There must be at least one copy of the wild-type LDL receptor allele to produce functional LDL receptors.

If chemical signals in the cytoplasm control the progression of a cell to the M phase of the cell cycle, then fusion of a cell in G1 with a cell in early M phase would most likely result in the

condensation of chromatin in preparation of nuclear division in both cells

DNA replication occurs

during the S phase of the cell cycle