WGU D115 Advanced Pathophysiology for the
Advanced Nurse Exam 2026 | Practice Questions &
Verified Answers
Which type of genetic disease affects males more frequently than
females?
Sex-Linked recessive. Since males only have one X and one Y, if the affected
chromosome has the illness, it will be expressed.
In which two conditions are chromosomal abnormalities the leading
known cause?
Intellectual disability and fetal miscarriage. Chromosome abnormalities are the
leading known cause of intellectual disability and fetal miscarriage.
What are three examples of prenatal diagnostic studies?
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis, and preimplantation genetic
testing (PGT) are examples of prenatal diagnostic studies and are performed
in vitro. CVS is a form of genetic testing that provides genetic information
found in utero and is usually performed between weeks 11 and 14 of
pregnancy. An amniocentesis is a form of genetic testing that evaluates
amniotic fluid and is usually performed during the second trimester, between
weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy. PGT is performed on the embryo prior to
implantation.
,Which genetic disorder is characterized by the presence of a zygote
having one chromosome with a normal complement of genes and one
chromosome with a missing gene?
Cri du chat syndrome (translated as "cry of the cat") is caused by a DNA
deletion. This term describes the cry often heard from a baby affected by the
syndrome. Cri du chat syndrome can present as a microcephalic, low birth-
weight baby with a piercing cry.
How can an X-linked recessive disease skip generations?
The disease can be transmitted through female carriers.
Since females have two copies of the X chromosome, the mother may provide
an unaffected X to a daughter or son. Furthermore, a daughter may not show
signs of the disease because she has the other X (the only X the father can
give to a female) to cancel it out.
Which type of risk is referred to as the ratio of the disease rate among
the entire population to the disease rate in an unexposed population?
Relative risk is a ratio of probability, not an actual occurrence of disease.
What are the empirical risks for most multifactorial diseases based on?
Many factors from lifestyle to genetics affect multifactorial diseases.
Observation and evaluation of each case individually provides the most
thorough and accurate assessment.
What refers to the silenced gene of a gene pair.
The imprinted gene is the silent gene of a gene pair.
What is the primary reason that some older adults have impaired
inflammation and wound healing?
,The underlying chronic illness exists.
A generalized inflammatory response seen in chronic illness depletes the
body's reserves to fight against illness.
Which cells are the body's primary defense against parasite invasion?
Eosinophils are the body's primary defense against parasites.
What Phagocytes bacteria?
Macrophages work by eating or phagocytosing bacteria.
What is the first response to a foreign pathogen?
Helper T cells
Which characteristic is the most important determinant of
immunogenicity when considering the antigen?
Immunogenicity is primarily based on the ability to recognize something
foreign.
How are erythrocytes destroyed when mismatched blood is
administered, causing an ABO incompatibility?
The complement pathway is activated in response to blood incompatibility.
What is the hypersensitivity reaction that causes atopic dermatitis?
An immediate (type I) hypersensitivity reaction causes atopic dermatitis.
Which four infections are considered fungal infections?
Infection with a fungus is called mycosis and includes dermatophytes (e.g.,
tineas, which refers to several skin mycoses, including ringworm and athlete's
foot) and yeasts, which include candida and aspergillus.
, When is the earliest after sexual transmission of HIV that lab results can
detect infection?
Lab testing can detect HIV RNA 4 to 10 days after sexual transmission,
whereas HIV antibody testing may take 23 to 90 days to result in a positive
test. Repeat testing may be needed to rule out a false negative test due to
testing too soon after exposure, especially if a high likelihood of exposure is
suspected.
What is a characteristic of exotoxins?
Exotoxins are released during bacterial growth.
Which dietary lifestyle choice has been associated with a decreased risk
for developing colon cancer?
The results of decreased fat consumption have been widely studied and have
demonstrated a decreased risk of developing colon cancer.
Which cancer is an individual who has worked with asbestos for over 40
years most likely to develop?
Asbestos exposure results in an increased risk of lung and lung lining cancer.
Which statement is true regarding ultraviolet (UV) light?
The degree of damage is not affected by the light's wavelength.
UV light causes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma when the
UVB rays hit DNA strands, causing thymine base pairs that are side by side to
pair together, becoming thymine dimers. These thymine dimers lead to cell
death or cancer.
Which cancer does exercise have a convincing impact on reducing?
Exercise-induced myokines cause apoptosis of colon cancer cells.
Advanced Nurse Exam 2026 | Practice Questions &
Verified Answers
Which type of genetic disease affects males more frequently than
females?
Sex-Linked recessive. Since males only have one X and one Y, if the affected
chromosome has the illness, it will be expressed.
In which two conditions are chromosomal abnormalities the leading
known cause?
Intellectual disability and fetal miscarriage. Chromosome abnormalities are the
leading known cause of intellectual disability and fetal miscarriage.
What are three examples of prenatal diagnostic studies?
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis, and preimplantation genetic
testing (PGT) are examples of prenatal diagnostic studies and are performed
in vitro. CVS is a form of genetic testing that provides genetic information
found in utero and is usually performed between weeks 11 and 14 of
pregnancy. An amniocentesis is a form of genetic testing that evaluates
amniotic fluid and is usually performed during the second trimester, between
weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy. PGT is performed on the embryo prior to
implantation.
,Which genetic disorder is characterized by the presence of a zygote
having one chromosome with a normal complement of genes and one
chromosome with a missing gene?
Cri du chat syndrome (translated as "cry of the cat") is caused by a DNA
deletion. This term describes the cry often heard from a baby affected by the
syndrome. Cri du chat syndrome can present as a microcephalic, low birth-
weight baby with a piercing cry.
How can an X-linked recessive disease skip generations?
The disease can be transmitted through female carriers.
Since females have two copies of the X chromosome, the mother may provide
an unaffected X to a daughter or son. Furthermore, a daughter may not show
signs of the disease because she has the other X (the only X the father can
give to a female) to cancel it out.
Which type of risk is referred to as the ratio of the disease rate among
the entire population to the disease rate in an unexposed population?
Relative risk is a ratio of probability, not an actual occurrence of disease.
What are the empirical risks for most multifactorial diseases based on?
Many factors from lifestyle to genetics affect multifactorial diseases.
Observation and evaluation of each case individually provides the most
thorough and accurate assessment.
What refers to the silenced gene of a gene pair.
The imprinted gene is the silent gene of a gene pair.
What is the primary reason that some older adults have impaired
inflammation and wound healing?
,The underlying chronic illness exists.
A generalized inflammatory response seen in chronic illness depletes the
body's reserves to fight against illness.
Which cells are the body's primary defense against parasite invasion?
Eosinophils are the body's primary defense against parasites.
What Phagocytes bacteria?
Macrophages work by eating or phagocytosing bacteria.
What is the first response to a foreign pathogen?
Helper T cells
Which characteristic is the most important determinant of
immunogenicity when considering the antigen?
Immunogenicity is primarily based on the ability to recognize something
foreign.
How are erythrocytes destroyed when mismatched blood is
administered, causing an ABO incompatibility?
The complement pathway is activated in response to blood incompatibility.
What is the hypersensitivity reaction that causes atopic dermatitis?
An immediate (type I) hypersensitivity reaction causes atopic dermatitis.
Which four infections are considered fungal infections?
Infection with a fungus is called mycosis and includes dermatophytes (e.g.,
tineas, which refers to several skin mycoses, including ringworm and athlete's
foot) and yeasts, which include candida and aspergillus.
, When is the earliest after sexual transmission of HIV that lab results can
detect infection?
Lab testing can detect HIV RNA 4 to 10 days after sexual transmission,
whereas HIV antibody testing may take 23 to 90 days to result in a positive
test. Repeat testing may be needed to rule out a false negative test due to
testing too soon after exposure, especially if a high likelihood of exposure is
suspected.
What is a characteristic of exotoxins?
Exotoxins are released during bacterial growth.
Which dietary lifestyle choice has been associated with a decreased risk
for developing colon cancer?
The results of decreased fat consumption have been widely studied and have
demonstrated a decreased risk of developing colon cancer.
Which cancer is an individual who has worked with asbestos for over 40
years most likely to develop?
Asbestos exposure results in an increased risk of lung and lung lining cancer.
Which statement is true regarding ultraviolet (UV) light?
The degree of damage is not affected by the light's wavelength.
UV light causes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma when the
UVB rays hit DNA strands, causing thymine base pairs that are side by side to
pair together, becoming thymine dimers. These thymine dimers lead to cell
death or cancer.
Which cancer does exercise have a convincing impact on reducing?
Exercise-induced myokines cause apoptosis of colon cancer cells.
