Author: Anonymous

Humans vary in their ability to taste the bitter chemical compound phenylthiocarbamide (PTC). The taster phenotype is dominant to the nontaster phenotype. Researchers tested the PTC taster phenotype of individuals from an isolated population. In the sample, 780 individuals were able to taste PTC and 70 individuals were not able to taste PTC. Assuming the population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, what is the frequency of the non-taster allele?

A scientist is using an ampicillin-sensitive strain of bacteria that cannot use lactose because it has a nonfunctional gene in the lac operon. She has two plasmids. One contains a functional copy of the affected gene of the lac operon, and the other contains the gene for ampicillin resistance. Using restrictions enzymes and DNA ligase, she forms a recombinant plasmid containing both genes. She then adds a high concentration of the plasmid to a tube of the bacteria in a medium for bacterial growth that contains glucose as the only energy source. This tube (+) and a control tube (-) with similar bacteria but no plasmid are both incubated under the appropriate conditions for growth and plasmid uptake. The scientist then spreads a sample of each bacterial culture (+ and -) on each of the three types of plates indicated below. The columns show the different media on the plates starting with glucose medium, then glucose medium with ampicillin and then glucose medium with ampicillin and lactose. The rows are bacterial strain with added plasmid, also labeled positive, and bacterial strain with no plasmid, also labeled negative. The plates are labeled number one through number six, with one, two and three with positive bacteria on the media in order, and four, five and six with negative bacteria on the media in order. Plate one is bacteria with plasmid on glucose medium. Plate two is bacteria with plasmid on glucose medium with ampicillin. Plate three is bacteria with plasmid on glucose medium with ampicillin and lactose. Plate four is bacteria without plasmid on glucose medium. Plate five is bacteria without plasmid on glucose medium with ampicillin. Plate six is bacteria without plasmid on glucose medium with ampicillin and lactose If the scientist had forgotten to use DNA ligase during the preparation of the recombinant plasmid, bacterial growth would most likely have occurred on which of the following?

One facet of the study of the origin of life focuses on the nature of the first genetic material. Figure 1 describes a possible scenario, known as the RNA World Hypothesis, that could have led to the evolution of our modern-day genetic material. This hypothesis states that the first genetic material was RNA, not DNA, and a transitional period led to the emergence of DNA as the storage molecule for genetic material. The model has 3 columns and 3 rows. The column labels from left to right are: column 1: The R N A World, column 2: Evolution of the Modern World, column 3: The Modern World. The information is as follows: Column 1, row 1: Ribonucleotides produce R N A, row 2: R N A uses R N A to produce R N A, row 3: Amino Acids use R N A to produce Protein. Column 2, row 1 is blank, row 2: R N A uses Protein to produce D N A. row 3 is blank. Column 3, row 1 is blank, row 2: D N A uses Protein to produce D N A, then vertically from row 2 to row 3, D N A uses Protein to produce R N A and R N A uses Protein to produce D N A, then R N A uses Protein to produce Protein. A scientist wishes to provide experimental evidence to support the model shown in Figure 1 by demonstrating the ability to synthesize an RNA molecule. Which of the following is an alternative hypothesis that can be tested to support the World Hypothesis?

Quorum sensing is a form of cell-to-cell communication used by some bacterial species to regulate their behavior and population size. Staphylococcus aureus uses quorum sensing to activate its virulence genes once its population reaches a minimum size. Virulence refers to the ability of a pathogen to cause disease. S. aureus secretes autoinducing peptide (AIP), which binds to the AgrC receptor on the bacterial cell membrane. When the S. aureus population is sufficiently large and produces enough AIP, this concentration activates AgrC and stimulates a signal cascade resulting in the production of hemolysin, a toxin used to attack the host organism. In order to lessen the impact of the toxin produced by an S. aureus infection on patients, scientists created AIP mimics intended to act as competitive inhibitors of AIP−AgrC binding at the cell surface. All of the cells are shown releasing A I P, and the presence of the A I P molecules causes Quorum Sensing among the cells. The A I P is shown attaching to an A g r C receptor embedded in the surface of one of the cells. Within this cell, Hemolysin Production occurs, which results in the release of Hemolysin Toxin from the cell. Figure 1. AIP cascade producing hemolysin toxin Identify the experimental design that would determine which AIP mimic would most effectively inhibit the production of hemolysin toxin.

The horizontal axis is labeled “Beak Depth, in millimeters,” and the numbers 6 through 14, which are the 9 categories, are indicated. The vertical axis is labeled “Number,” and the numbers 0 through 300, in increments of 50, are indicated. The data represented by the bars are as follows. Note that all values are approximate. Beak Depth, 6 millimeters: 15. Beak Depth, 7 millimeters: 20. Beak Depth, 8 millimeters: 60. Beak Depth, 9 millimeters: 265. Beak Depth, 10 millimeters: 290. Beak Depth, 11 millimeters: 90. Beak Depth, 12 millimeters: 5. Beak Depth, 13 millimeters: 0. Beak Depth, 14 millimeters: 1. The graph above shows the distribution of beak depth in a finch population that had been living on an island under conditions of normal rainfall. During a subsequent drought, the small seeds normally eaten by the finches were less available. Most of the available seeds were large seeds that could be eaten most easily by finches with deep beaks. Which of the following graphs best predicts the distribution of beak depth in the finch population after several years of drought?

Iron is an essential nutrient that is acquired by organisms from the environment. When intracellular levels of iron are relatively high, living cells synthesize an iron-storage protein called ferritin. The induction of ferritin synthesis by iron was investigated in rats. Figure 1 shows the results of an experiment in which cellular levels of ferritin protein were measured in the presence or absence of iron and actinomycin D, a drug that inhibits transcription. Figure 2 shows the results of an experiment in which cellular levels of ferritin protein were measured in the presence or absence of iron and cycloheximide, a drug that inhibits translation. The horizontal axes are labeled Treatment, and the vertical axes are labeled Relative Protein Level. Five tick marks appear on the vertical axis, from bottom to top, the first tick mark is labeled zero, the third tick mark is labeled one point zero, and the fifth tick mark is labeled two point zero. The graph on the left is labeled Figure one. Ferritin Protein Levels. Four vertical bars appear along the horizontal axis, and the presence or absence of Iron and Actinomycin D is indicated above each bar. The data in the graph, from left to right, are as follows: Bar 1: Absence of Iron; Absence of Actinomycin D; Relative Protein Level one point zero. Bar 2: Presence of Iron; Absence of Actinomycin D; Relative Protein Level two point two. Bar 3: Absence of Iron; Presence of Actinomycin D; Relative Protein Level zero point nine. Bar 4: Presence of Iron; Presence of Actinomycin D; Relative Protein Level two point zero. The graph on the right is labeled Figure 2. Ferritin Protein Levels. Four vertical bars appear along the horizontal axis, and the presence or absence of Iron and Cycloheximide is indicated above each bar. The data in the graph, from left to right, are as follows: Bar 1: Absence of Iron; Absence of Cycloheximide; Relative Protein Level one point zero. Bar 2: Presence of Iron; Absence of Cycloheximide; Relative Protein Level two point five. Bar 3: Absence of Iron; Presence of Cycloheximide; Relative Protein Level zero point nine. Bar 4: Presence of Iron; Presence of Cycloheximide; Relative Protein Level zero point nine. The gene sequences responsible for the iron ­mediated changes in ferritin protein levels are highly conserved and are called iron response elements (IREs). IREs have been observed in a number of genes involved in iron transport and metabolism. The IRE sequences found in the ferritin gene are found in all multicellular organisms, whereas other non-ferritin IRE sequences are found only in certain vertebrate organisms. Which of the following is the best explanation for the observations?

Iron is an essential nutrient that is acquired by organisms from the environment. When intracellular levels of iron are relatively high, living cells synthesize an iron-storage protein called ferritin. The induction of ferritin synthesis by iron was investigated in rats. Figure 1 shows the results of an experiment in which cellular levels of ferritin protein were measured in the presence or absence of iron and actinomycin D, a drug that inhibits transcription. Figure 2 shows the results of an experiment in which cellular levels of ferritin protein were measured in the presence or absence of iron and cycloheximide, a drug that inhibits translation. The horizontal axes are labeled Treatment, and the vertical axes are labeled Relative Protein Level. Five tick marks appear on the vertical axis, from bottom to top, the first tick mark is labeled zero, the third tick mark is labeled one point zero, and the fifth tick mark is labeled two point zero. The graph on the left is labeled Figure one. Ferritin Protein Levels. Four vertical bars appear along the horizontal axis, and the presence or absence of Iron and Actinomycin D is indicated above each bar. The data in the graph, from left to right, are as follows: Bar 1: Absence of Iron; Absence of Actinomycin D; Relative Protein Level one point zero. Bar 2: Presence of Iron; Absence of Actinomycin D; Relative Protein Level two point two. Bar 3: Absence of Iron; Presence of Actinomycin D; Relative Protein Level zero point nine. Bar 4: Presence of Iron; Presence of Actinomycin D; Relative Protein Level two point zero. The graph on the right is labeled Figure 2. Ferritin Protein Levels. Four vertical bars appear along the horizontal axis, and the presence or absence of Iron and Cycloheximide is indicated above each bar. The data in the graph, from left to right, are as follows: Bar 1: Absence of Iron; Absence of Cycloheximide; Relative Protein Level one point zero. Bar 2: Presence of Iron; Absence of Cycloheximide; Relative Protein Level two point five. Bar 3: Absence of Iron; Presence of Cycloheximide; Relative Protein Level zero point nine. Bar 4: Presence of Iron; Presence of Cycloheximide; Relative Protein Level zero point nine. In individuals with iron-rich diets, intracellular levels of iron are higher than in individuals with iron-poor diets. Which of the following best explains how organisms regulate ferritin protein levels in response to available iron?

On a large volcanic island, researchers are studying a population of annual herbaceous plants. Which of the following observations best supports the prediction that speciation will occur within the existing plant population?

_______ is the process in which RNA is produced by using a DNA template.

A population of 250 birds inhabit the canopy of a tropical rain forest that has a carrying capacity of 400 birds. What is the maximum population growth rate (rmax) if the population grows to 283 in one year?