USMLE® (United States Medical Licensing Examination®)

United States Medical Licensing Examination®

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Shalisha Mumtaz BIOLOGY   -   Microbiology

The process of breaking down organic matter into simpler compounds by microorganisms is:

Decomposition is the process where microorganisms break down organic matter into simpler compounds, recycling nutrients in the ecosystem.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

The fundamental unit of heredity is called a:

Genes are like little instruction manuals inside cells, telling them how to make proteins and what traits to pass down from parents to offspring. Chromosomes are long bundles of these genes.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

In humans, how many chromosomes are there in a typical somatic cell?

Human somatic cells, or body cells, have 46 chromosomes. These are arranged in 23 pairs, with one chromosome from each pair coming from each parent.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

What is the name of the process where DNA makes a copy of itself?

DNA replication is like photocopying a document. The cell needs to make exact copies of its DNA before it divides so that each new cell has the same set of instructions.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

Which of the following describes a genotype?

Genotype is the set of genes in our DNA that is responsible for a particular trait. It's like a code or recipe inside the cell. The phenotype is what you actually see, like hair color or height.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

What is the result of a cross between two heterozygous individuals (Rr x Rr) for a simple Mendelian trait?

A heterozygous cross results in a 1:2:1 ratio for genotypes (RR, Rr, rr) and a 3:1 ratio for phenotypes (dominant to recessive traits). This is like mixing red and white paint where 75% of the mix looks red (dominant) and 25% looks white (recessive).
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

Which structure holds the genetic code and is found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells?

Chromosomes are like books containing pages of genetic instructions. They are found inside the nucleus, the brain of the cell. Each chromosome carries many genes.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

In pea plants, tall (T) is dominant over short (t). If a homozygous tall plant (TT) is crossed with a short plant (tt), what will the offspring be?

All offspring will be tall because they inherit one "T" from the tall parent and one "t" from the short parent. Since tall (T) is dominant, even one copy of it will make the plant tall.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

What process separates alleles during gamete formation?

Meiosis is like splitting up the alleles into different groups so that each egg or sperm gets just one allele of a gene, not both. This ensures offspring have a mix of genes from each parent.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

The observable traits of an organism are called:

The phenotype is the "look" of an organism ? like the color of your hair, the shape of your nose, or the length of your tail if you're a lizard! It?s how genes express themselves outwardly.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

If a mutation occurs in a somatic cell, what is the consequence for the offspring?

A somatic mutation is like a paint smudge on just one part of a painting. It affects only the individual and isn?t passed to the next generation because it doesn?t occur in the reproductive cells.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

Which nitrogenous base is not found in RNA?

RNA is like a copy of a page from a DNA book, but it doesn't use the "T" (thymine). Instead, it uses "U" (uracil). DNA and RNA are very similar, but this is one key difference.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

What is the role of ribosomes in the cell?

Ribosomes are the protein-making factories of the cell. They follow the instructions from the RNA to string together amino acids and make proteins, which do most of the work inside cells.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

What kind of inheritance pattern is displayed when both alleles are equally expressed in a heterozygous organism?

In codominance, both traits are like mixing red and blue marbles ? you can see both colors equally. For example, in blood types, A and B alleles are both expressed equally if both are present (AB blood type).
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

Which type of RNA carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome?

mRNA (messenger RNA) is like a note passed from the teacher (DNA) to the worker (ribosome), telling them what kind of protein to make. It carries instructions from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome in the cytoplasm.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

In genetic terms, what is a recessive allele?

A recessive allele is like a shy kid in a group ? it only shows up when there are two of them together. If a dominant allele is present, the recessive one stays hidden.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

What is the purpose of a Punnett square in genetics?

A Punnett square is like a chart or map that shows the possible combinations of genes from two parents. It helps us predict the traits their children might inherit.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

What term describes a change in the sequence of DNA?

A mutation is like a typo in the instruction manual (DNA). Sometimes, it doesn't matter much, but other times, it can change how the cell works or looks.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

Which of the following best explains why siblings can look different from each other?

During meiosis, chromosomes get shuffled and split up differently each time, like shuffling a deck of cards. That?s why siblings can look different ? they inherit a different mix of genes.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

What is the role of tRNA in translation?

tRNA is like a delivery truck bringing the right amino acids to the ribosome, where proteins are made. Each tRNA matches up with a specific part of the mRNA to make sure the right protein gets built.
shahzaib hassan BIOLOGY   -   Genetics

If an individual has two identical alleles for a trait, they are said to be:

Homozygous means having two of the same alleles, like two matching socks. If the alleles are different, it?s called heterozygous, like wearing one red sock and one blue sock.

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shahzaib hassan
Shalisha Mumtaz