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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Mcat Biological Sciences
To form a female zygote, the sperm cell must contribute which chromosome(s)?
A Y-chromosome
Both an X- and a Y-chromosome
Two X-chromosomes
An X-chromosome
Two Y-chromosomes
An X-chromosome
The necessary genotype for a female zygote is XX.
The mother will share this XX genotype (since she is also female) and will contribute one X-chromosome. The father, however, will be male and have the genotype XY. This means he has a 50% chance of passing on an X-chromosome and a 50% chance of passing on a Y-chromosome. If the zygote inherits a Y-chromosome from the father's sperm, then the offspring will be male. If the zygote inherits an X-chromosome from the father's sperm, then the resulting genotype will be XX and the offspring will be female.
Example Question #1 : Systems Biology And Tissue Types
What is a totipotent cell?
Stem cells from the inner cell mass
A cell that has the ability to differentiate into a limited number of tissue types if exposed to the appropriate chemical signals
A cell that has the ability to differentiate into any type of tissue if exposed to the appropriate chemical signals
A cell that has the ability to form a complete organism through embryogenesis
Stem cells from adult tissues
A cell that has the ability to form a complete organism through embryogenesis
Totipotent cells have the ability to propogate and differentiate into any cell types, including the trophoblast. They are different from stem cells, which could be considered multipotent (able to differentiate into multiple tissue types) or pleuripotent (able to differentiate into any major tissue type, but cannot create trophoblast). The only truly totipotent cells are the first two blastomeres.
Example Question #1 : Biology
What is the "common dogma"?
None of the other answers
Most cells in the body contain a complete genome, despite the fact that most of the genes in the genome are not necessary for each cell's specific function
All cells come from other cells
Cells lose genetic material over time, becoming less totipotent
All organisms are made of cells
Most cells in the body contain a complete genome, despite the fact that most of the genes in the genome are not necessary for each cell's specific function
Most cells contain a complete genome, but not all genes are activated in each cell. Activation of particular genes produces appropriate protein function.
Example Question #1 : Biology
Differentiation of the endoderm in a developing human embryo will eventually give the human the ability to __________.
think
move
circulate blood
produce urine
breathe
breathe
The endoderm develops into a number of internal organs, including the lung, which are vital for breathing.
The kidneys (urine production), muscles (movement), and blood vessels (blood circulation) develop from the mesoderm. The brain (thought) develops from the ectoderm.
Example Question #1 : Developmental Stages And Events
During embryogenesis, the separation of cells into the three individual germ layers first occurs during which of the following?
Gastrulation
Cleavage
Fertilization
Organogenesis
Neurulation
Gastrulation
After fertilization occurs, the zygote undergoes a series of cellular divisions in a process called cleavage. This is followed by the formation of the blastula, a hollow sphere of cells. Gastrulation occurs next, where the embryo is divided into three germ layers: the endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm (from inside to outside). Hence, gastrulation is the stage in which this process first occurs. Neurulation and organogenesis occur after gastrulation.
Example Question #1 : Animal Development
During embryogenesis, the process in which a committed cell develops distinctive functions and characteristics is known as __________.
differentiation
specification
induction
determination
differentiation
Once a committed cell begins to develop specialized functions, it is known as differentiation. Before a cell differentiates, it makes a commitment to a certain cell type, first by specification, which is reversible, and then by determination, which is irreversible. Once a cell is committed to a cell type, it undergoes differentiation to develop specific cell characteristics.
Induction is a process in which cells induce adjacent cells to commit to a certain cell type.
Example Question #1 : Developmental Stages And Events
In what stage of embryogenesis does the embryo develop the three primary germ layers?
The blastocyst
The morula
The neurula
The gastrula
The gastrula
The gastrula is formed during the second week following fertilization. At this stage, a process called gastrulation takes place. During gastrulation, the three primary germ layers are formed: the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm.
Prior to gastrulation, the embryo is a blastocyst, and prior to that it is a morula. The morula forms soon after fertilization and is classified by cleavage divisions, increasing the number of cells without increasing the size of the embryo. The blastocyst is characterized by the formation of the inner cell mass and trophoblast; implantation occurs during this stage. After implantation, gastrulation occurs. After the gastrula stage, the embryo begins the process of neurulation (development of the primitive streak and notochord) and becomes a neurula.
Example Question #2 : Developmental Stages And Events
Which of the following options demonstrates the correct order of embryogenesis?
Fertilization Blastula formation
Gastrulation
Cleavage
Fertilization Cleavage
Gastrulation
Blastula formation
Fertilization Cleavage
Blastula formation
Gastrulation
Fertilization Blastula formation
Cleavage
Gastrulation
Fertilization Cleavage
Blastula formation
Gastrulation
The correct order is listed below.
1. Fertilization: the joining of an egg and sperm
2. Cleavage: early cell division in an embryo before a specific structure is formed
3. Blastula Formation: the cells of the embyro form a hollow structure filled with fluid
4. Gastrulation: the cells in the embryo migrate to form the three germ layers; the hole with fluid formed during the blastula stage is now filled with cells
Example Question #1 : Developmental Stages And Events
What is gastrulation?
Phase during embryogenesis in which multiple rapid mitotic divisions occur
Phase during embryogenesis in which the single-layered blastula is reorganized into a solid ball of cells
Phase during embryogenesis in which a single-layered blastula is reorganized into a three-layered structure
Phase during embryogenesis when the embryo implants into the uterine lining
Phase during embryogenesis in which a single-layered blastula is reorganized into a three-layered structure
Gastrulation is the phase in embryogenesis in which the single-layered blastula is reorganized into a trilaminar structure called the gastrula. These three germ layers are called the endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm and give rise to individual organs during organogenesis.
The blastula is implanted into the uterine lining and the morula undergoes rapid cell divisions (cleavage) after fertilization of the zygote.
Example Question #82 : Animal Biology
Formation of the primitive streak occurs during what stage of embryogenesis?
Gastrula
Neurula
Morula
Blastula
Blastula
The primitive streak forms in the blastula stage and establishes symmetry (left-right and cranial-caudal body axes). This spatial differentiation determines the site of gastrulation and initiates formation of the three germ layers. The epiblast (precursor to the ectoderm) invaginates to form the primitive streak. Cells from the primitive streak give rise to the mesoderm and the endoderm. Formation of the primitive streak marks the beginning of gastrulation.
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