Biology Flashcards

Which structure in the kidney is responsible for the filtration of blood?

Answer: Glomerulus

The glomerulus is a network of capillaries in the Bowman's capsule where high pressure forces small molecules out of the blood in ultrafiltration.

What is the purpose of the acrosome in a sperm cell?

Answer: To release enzymes that digest the egg's outer layer

The acrosome at the sperm head's tip contains hydrolytic enzymes that digest the zona pellucida of the egg, enabling fertilisation.

Which gas is produced as a waste product of anaerobic respiration in yeast?

Answer: Carbon dioxide

During anaerobic respiration (fermentation), yeast converts glucose into ethanol and carbon dioxide in the absence of oxygen.

What does the term 'biodiversity' refer to?

Answer: The variety of different species and genetic variation within an ecosystem

Biodiversity encompasses the variety of species (species diversity) and genetic variation within species in a given area or ecosystem.

Which hormone is produced by the pancreas to lower blood glucose concentration?

Answer: Insulin

Insulin is released by beta cells in the islets of Langerhans when blood glucose rises, stimulating cells to absorb glucose and converting it to glycogen.

What is the adaptive advantage of a root hair cell having a large surface area?

Answer: It increases the rate of water and mineral ion absorption from the soil

Root hair cells extend into soil particles, greatly increasing the surface area available for osmosis (water) and active transport (minerals).

In a reflex arc, what is the correct order of components involved in a reflex action?

Answer: Receptor → sensory neuron → relay neuron → motor neuron → effector

A reflex arc proceeds from receptor detection to sensory neuron, through a relay neuron in the spinal cord, then a motor neuron, and finally to the effector.