FREE USABO Anatomy and Physiology Questions and Answers
A mutant Drosophila is engineered to be unable to efficiently produce certain amino acids. Metabolic analysis finds the mutant contains very low levels of alpha-ketoglutarate, an important intermediate in the Krebs cycle. Which amino acid is most likely to NOT be produced?
Explanation:
Alpha-ketoglutarate is an important intermediate in the Krebs cycle, which is involved in the synthesis of several amino acids, including glutamate. Glutamate serves as a precursor for the synthesis of several other amino acids, including arginine, glycine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine. However, histidine is synthesized from other precursors and does not directly require alpha-ketoglutarate for its synthesis. Therefore, if alpha-ketoglutarate levels are low, histidine production is less likely to be affected compared to the other amino acids listed.
Which of the following is most accurate regarding the anatomy and physiology of the vertebrate vascular system?
Explanation:
Elastic fibers in the tunica media of arteries allow them to stretch and recoil, accommodating the pulsatile flow of blood from the heart and helping maintain blood pressure. Veins, on the other hand, have thinner walls and do not require as much elasticity to handle blood flow, so elastic fibers are less abundant in their tunica media.
As a winter intern at an animal development lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, you would like to investigate how different treatments may alter the outcomes of fertilization in sea urchins.
As a side project, you would also like to work on fertilization in mouse embryos using CRISPR/cas9 technology by conducting in vitro fertilization (IVF). At which phase of the embryo should you return the embryo to the mouse uterus?
Explanation:
In mice, embryos are typically transferred back to the uterus at the 8-cell stage. At this stage, the embryo has undergone several cell divisions and consists of eight cells. This stage is optimal for transferring embryos back to the uterus because it allows for successful implantation and further development.
A woman experiencing rickets is diagnosed with a deficiency of a particular vitamin and given a diet guideline. Which of the following food is most likely to help with the condition?
Explanation:
Oranges are a good source of vitamin D, which is essential for bone health and can help improve the condition of rickets.
By blindfolding fish, Brian Partridge and Tony Pitcher demonstrated in 1979 that schooling behavior is dependent not on vision, but instead on the proper functioning of a different organ: the lateral line. Given this knowledge, which of the following structures, when damaged, would lead to a loss in the ability for fish to school?
Explanation:
Damage to the Cupula would disrupt the fish's ability to sense angular acceleration and changes in water movement, which are crucial for maintaining proper orientation within a school of fish.
A patient complains to his neurologist that he is experiencing powerful headaches and double vision. An MRI confirms that he is suffering from prolactinoma. Which substance should the neurologist prescribe to control the release of prolactin from the pituitary gland?
Explanation:
Prolactinomas are pituitary tumors that cause excessive production of prolactin. Dopamine acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the hypothalamus and plays a role in regulating prolactin secretion from the pituitary gland. Therefore, prescribing dopamine agonists can help control the release of prolactin and alleviate symptoms associated with prolactinoma, such as headaches and double vision.
In tetrapods, neural pathways carrying information from all the senses, except for the sense of smell, pass through and synapse in a particular anatomical structure in the brain, which is embryonically derived from the diencephalon. This structure is the:
Explanation:
The thalamus is a central processing center in the brain that receives sensory information from all senses except olfaction (smell). It relays this information to the appropriate regions of the cerebral cortex for further processing. The thalamus is embryonically derived from the diencephalon.
Which of the following are most responsible for carrying and transporting triacylglycerols in the body?
Explanation:
Chylomicrons are responsible for transporting dietary triacylglycerols (triglycerides) from the intestine to various tissues in the body. Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) are responsible for transporting endogenous triacylglycerols synthesized by the liver to peripheral tissues. Therefore, chylomicrons and VLDL are the lipoproteins most responsible for carrying and transporting triacylglycerols in the body.
Which two amino acids are the least likely to occur in the middle of an alpha-helical protein structure?
Explanation:
Glycine is the smallest amino acid and its flexibility allows it to fit well in the middle of an alpha helix. However, proline has a rigid structure due to its cyclic side chain, which disrupts the regular folding pattern of an alpha helix. Therefore, glycine and proline are the least likely amino acids to occur in the middle of an alpha-helical protein structure.
Which of the following structures in the eye is responsible for controlling the amount of light entering the eye and is composed of smooth muscle fibers?
Explanation:
The iris is the colored part of the eye that contains smooth muscle fibers. It controls the size of the pupil, which regulates the amount of light entering the eye. Contraction of the iris muscles constricts the pupil in bright light conditions to reduce the amount of light entering the eye, while relaxation of these muscles dilates the pupil in dim light conditions to allow more light to enter. Therefore, the iris plays a crucial role in adjusting to changes in ambient light levels and maintaining optimal visual acuity.
As a winter intern at an animal development lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, you would like to investigate how different treatments may alter the outcomes of fertilization in sea urchins.
You would like to test different conditions in which fertilization is blocked in sea urchin eggs. All of the following conditions would result in unsuccessful fertilizations EXCEPT FOR:
Explanation:
Treatment with a calcium ionophore disrupts calcium signaling, which is essential for sperm-egg fusion. Without proper calcium signaling, successful fertilization is unlikely to occur. Therefore, this condition would result in unsuccessful fertilization.