AP Biology : AP Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #572 : Cellular Biology

What is the main function of elastic fibers in connective tissue?

Possible Answers:

Act as scaffolding for cells 

Aid in the secretion of substances

Bind bones together

Allow for tissue and organs to recoil

Correct answer:

Allow for tissue and organs to recoil

Explanation:

Elastic fibers are a type of fiber within the connective tissue category. These types of fibers are made up of the protein elastin and they allow tissues and organs to recoil and oppose tearing forces. 

Example Question #573 : Cellular Biology

In the connective tissue, what is the function of reticular fibers?

Possible Answers:

To bind bones together

Allow for the transmission of chemical signals

Contract to create movement

Provide a scaffolding for cells

Correct answer:

Provide a scaffolding for cells

Explanation:

Reticular fibers are composed of collagen and form thin mesh networks that supports cells, tissues, and organs. The reticular meshwork also acts as a scaffold for other structures to anchor into.

Example Question #641 : Ap Biology

Which of the following is not a function of connective tissue in the human body?

Possible Answers:

Acts as a starting point for immune responses

Allows for the diffusion of nutrients and oxygen

Resistance of stretching and tearing forces

Transmission of electrical and chemical signals 

Correct answer:

Transmission of electrical and chemical signals 

Explanation:

In the human body, connective tissue has a variety of functions that allows proper function and survival. These functions include elasticity to resist tearing and stretching forces, loose tissue and ground substance that allow for the diffusion of nutrients and oxygen, and immune cells that can activate to protect the body.

Example Question #642 : Ap Biology

In humans, are all types of connective tissue fibrous?

Possible Answers:

No, not all connective tissue if fibrous because in some areas of the body the ground substance degrades fibers

Yes, all connective tissue contains all three types of fibers (collagenous, reticular, and elastic)

No, not all connective tissue is fibrous, including blood and adipose tissue

Yes, all connective tissue contains at least one type of fiber (collagenous, reticular or elastic)

Correct answer:

No, not all connective tissue is fibrous, including blood and adipose tissue

Explanation:

In the human body, not all types of connective tissue contain fibers. Examples of non-fibrous connective tissues are blood, adipose tissue, and bone which are made of plasma and cells, fat, and mineralized extracellular matrix, respectively.

Example Question #643 : Ap Biology

What is the purpose of connective tissue in the human body?

Possible Answers:

Supports and connects different organs and tissues in the body

Produces motion

Lines the cavities and surfaces of organs in the body

Transmits information through electrical signals

Correct answer:

Supports and connects different organs and tissues in the body

Explanation:

Connective tissue is a category of tissue in the human body that supports and connects different organs and tissues in the body. Other tissue categories in the human body include epithelial, which lines the cavities and surfaces of the organs in the body, muscle, which contracts to produce motion, and nervous tissue, which transmits information through electrical and chemical signals.

Example Question #644 : Ap Biology

What describes a major difference between cartilage and bone?

Possible Answers:

Bone is part of the skeletal system, while cartilage is not

Cartilage is composed of collagen and salts

Cartilage secretes a matrix

Cartilage does not have blood vessels or nerves, while bone does

Bone provides structure to the human body

Correct answer:

Cartilage does not have blood vessels or nerves, while bone does

Explanation:

Cartilage also performs a structural function, but it is more flexible than bone. Furthermore, it doesn't have nerves or blood vessels. This explains why a broken bone heals quite well (sometimes the broken bone becomes stronger than it was before) while cartilage does not heal/regenerate nearly as fast. They both secrete matrices, and are made up of collagen and calcium salts. 

Example Question #1 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

Which type of mutation does not change an organism's phenotype despite changing its genotype?

Possible Answers:

Missense

Silent

Nonsense

Frameshift

Correct answer:

Silent

Explanation:

Silent mutations will change a DNA sequence without affecting the phenotype of the organism. This can occur either in an intron, which will not be translated, or by replacing a single nucleotide with another nucleotide without changing the amino acid recruited by the codon. Silent mutations often result from the degenercy of codons.

Frameshift, missense, and nonsense mutations, however, change both an organism's genotype and phenotype by altering its DNA. A frameshift mutation results from the insertion or deletion of a nucleotide, causing a shift in the codon reading frame for every codon read after the mutation. Missense mutations replace one amino acid with another, and nonsense mutations result in a premature stop codon, terminating translation and resulting in a shortened protein.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Dna Repair

What would be an immediate consequence for a cell with a mutant version of DNA polymerase III that has lost its proofreading function?

Possible Answers:

A higher rate of mutations during replication

Inability to replicate DNA

Cancer

Inability to complete the cell cycle

Correct answer:

A higher rate of mutations during replication

Explanation:

Proofreading is a function of DNA polymerase III that helps prevent errors during replication. An immediate consequence of a cell that cannot proofread would be a higher rate of mutations during replication. The other options could potentially happen later in the cell's life, but they would only occur as indirect results of the new mutations.

Example Question #2 : Understanding Dna Repair

Which of the following proteins are not situated within the core of the nucleosome?

Possible Answers:

H1

H4

H2B

H2A

H3

Correct answer:

H1

Explanation:

Histones are composed of several proteins, and are used to compact DNA within the nucleus. When DNA is wrapped around a group of eight histones, the resulting structure is a nucleosome.

The histone protein H1 is affixed on top of the nucleosome beaded structure, so as to keep the DNA that has wrapped around the nucleosome in place. It is not found in the core of the nucleosome.

H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 are very similar in structure and form the core of the histones.

Example Question #2 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

Which of the following classes of proteins are essential for DNA mismatch repair?

Possible Answers:

All of these answers

DNA ligase

Nuclease

DNA polymerase

Correct answer:

All of these answers

Explanation:

For correct mismatch repair all three of the choices are essential. A nuclease is required to remove the damaged DNA. DNA polymerase is required to synthesize new DNA. DNA ligase is essential for synthesizing a phosphodiester bond between the newly synthesized DNA and the original DNA.

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