Honors Biology Final Exam 2024 with
Verified Solutions
What is the role of microtubules in cell division?
✔✔ Microtubules form the mitotic spindle, which helps separate chromosomes into daughter
cells during cell division.
How does the concept of endosymbiosis explain the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts?
✔✔ Endosymbiosis suggests that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated from free-living
prokaryotes that were engulfed by a host cell, establishing a mutualistic relationship.
What is the function of the nucleolus within the nucleus?
✔✔ The nucleolus is responsible for producing and assembling ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and
ribosome subunits.
How do cellular junctions contribute to tissue function?
✔✔ Cellular junctions, such as tight junctions, desmosomes, and gap junctions, help maintain
tissue structure, integrity, and communication between cells.
1
, What is the significance of the G0 phase in the cell cycle?
✔✔ The G0 phase is a resting state where cells are not actively dividing but may carry out
normal functions or enter a state of dormancy.
How does the lac operon in bacteria regulate gene expression?
✔✔ The lac operon controls the metabolism of lactose by turning genes on or off in response to
the presence or absence of lactose.
What is the role of telomeres in cellular aging?
✔✔ Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with each cell
division, leading to cellular aging and eventual cell senescence.
How does the structure of a phospholipid contribute to the formation of the lipid bilayer?
✔✔ The phospholipid structure, with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails, causes the
formation of a bilayer where heads face outward towards water and tails face inward, creating a
semi-permeable membrane.
What is the purpose of gene regulation in multicellular organisms?
2
Verified Solutions
What is the role of microtubules in cell division?
✔✔ Microtubules form the mitotic spindle, which helps separate chromosomes into daughter
cells during cell division.
How does the concept of endosymbiosis explain the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts?
✔✔ Endosymbiosis suggests that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated from free-living
prokaryotes that were engulfed by a host cell, establishing a mutualistic relationship.
What is the function of the nucleolus within the nucleus?
✔✔ The nucleolus is responsible for producing and assembling ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and
ribosome subunits.
How do cellular junctions contribute to tissue function?
✔✔ Cellular junctions, such as tight junctions, desmosomes, and gap junctions, help maintain
tissue structure, integrity, and communication between cells.
1
, What is the significance of the G0 phase in the cell cycle?
✔✔ The G0 phase is a resting state where cells are not actively dividing but may carry out
normal functions or enter a state of dormancy.
How does the lac operon in bacteria regulate gene expression?
✔✔ The lac operon controls the metabolism of lactose by turning genes on or off in response to
the presence or absence of lactose.
What is the role of telomeres in cellular aging?
✔✔ Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with each cell
division, leading to cellular aging and eventual cell senescence.
How does the structure of a phospholipid contribute to the formation of the lipid bilayer?
✔✔ The phospholipid structure, with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails, causes the
formation of a bilayer where heads face outward towards water and tails face inward, creating a
semi-permeable membrane.
What is the purpose of gene regulation in multicellular organisms?
2
