DAT Question of the Day

Correct Answer: D. plasmodesmata

Tight junctions create a tight seal between adjacent cells, whereas desmosomes serve to adhere cells together anchoring them to one another. Gap junctions allow for adhesion and transport of cytoplasmic materials between neighboring animal cells. The question refers to plant cells and this specialized cellular junction is referred to as the plasmodesmata.

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Correct Answer: B. chromatin

In interphase the DNA is scattered throughout the nucleus. It is during prophase of mitosis and meiosis that the DNA becomes tightly packed, wrapping around histones and forming the tightly coiled chromosomes. A nucleosome is a unit of DNA wrapped around a histone. It is these nucleosomes that wrap around each other to make the super coiled DNA structure. Sister chromatids are formed when the chromosome condenses in prophase.

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Correct Answer: A. Golgi Body

The golgi body assists in the processing of proteins by modifying and sorting the protein. In addition, the golgi body is responsible for tagging and dispersing proteins that are destined to leave the cell. These proteins are packaged in transport vesicles that are then taken to the cell membrane, where the vesicle fuses with the membrane and ejects the protein outside of the cell. The ribosome and rough endoplasmic reticulum both help with protein synthesis but are not responsible for vesicle production. The mitochondria is the site of ATP production during cellular respiration and does not directly form vesicles. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is essential in lipid production and detoxifying the cell.

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Correct Answer: D. Pineal gland

Melatonin is a naturally produced hormone that helps to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. This hormone is produced by the pineal gland, a small cone-shaped gland located in the central region of the brain.

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Correct Answer: E. Nematode – Invertebrate – Radial

For the animal kingdom, the simplest invertebrates are the sponges, which have no body symmetry. As animals become more advanced, invertebrates move from having no symmetry to having radial symmetry. The most advanced invertebrates have bilateral symmetry. Nematoda are round worms and are more advanced than the cnidarian like the jellyfish; therefore nematodes should have bilateral symmetry, not radial symmetry. Likewise, the chordate or vertebrate are all characterized as having bilateral symmetry. The only incorrect grouping is [E].

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Correct Answer: A. cilia.

The microtubules are part of the cytoskeleton and are comprised of a specialized protein called tubulin. Microtubules are integral in cell division and cell movement. Cilia are a type of cell movement and are made up of microtubules.

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Correct Answer: C. Complete Dominance

Both of the brothers are phenotypically identical in regards to their hair texture. Genotypically, the two are different, as one is homozygous dominant and the other is heterozygous for hair texture. Despite the genotype differences the brothers are phenotypically similar with their hair texture because the dominant allele is the one being expressed. In both the case of Hh and HH, the presence of the dominant allele results in straight hair. This is due to complete dominance. In incomplete dominance, the heterozygote phenotypically is a hybrid between the two parents (i.e. a red and white flower make a pink flower). Whereas with codominance the heterozygote is phenotypically like both parents, i.e. red and white flower makes white plant with red spots. Law of independent assortment and law of segregation refer to Mendelian genetics, but are not the explanations for the phenotypic similarity between the two genotypes.

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Correct Answer: C. Salt glands secrete the excess salt.

This is a great DAT comprehension question. Let’s run through the answer choices and see what we can eliminate. Choice [A] is wrong because there is no structure in the intestine that can physically eliminate salt. Choice [B] is wrong because most chordates have similar osmolarities. Choice [D] is incorrect because nephrons become longer to resorb MORE ions and water, not less. A classic example are rodents in the desert that have very long loops of Henle to resorb as much water and ions as possible. Lastly, specialized bacteria will still eliminate the salts after they’ve used them, so it does not solve the problem of excessive salt. Choice [C] is correct, sea birds have supraorbital glands, or salt glands, above their eyes, which secrete excess salt from their blood. It functions similar to a kidney, but is much more efficient at excreting salt.

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Correct Answer: B. Transport proteins are often used by many substrates while channel proteins are generally used by ions.

Both of these types of proteins have a large variety in their shapes, sizes, and complexities. Therefore, no generalization can be made about them, and [C], [D], and [E] can be eliminated. Many transport proteins can use passive transport as well via uniport, for example, so [A] can be eliminated too. This leaves [B], where it states that channel proteins are used generally by ions. They aren’t called “ion channels” for nothing!

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Correct Answer: A. Testes

This is a great example of a conceptual question on the DAT. There are many pieces of information here, but if we take it one step at a time, it really isn’t that bad.

First, we have to explain why Cell Type 2 has such a low intracellular concentration compared to the other Cell Types. Recall that steroid hormones are lipid-soluble, which means they freely diffuse through the cell membrane.

In contrast, peptide hormones are stored in granules and are only released when stimulated. So from this information, we can deduce that Cell Type 2 must be synthesizing a steroid hormone, and the other Cell Types must be a variant of a peptide hormone.

As Cell Type 2 was synthesizing its steroid hormone, it was just freely diffusing out, and not building up in concentration inside the cell, so when the researcher measured the intracellular concentration, she barely found any steroid hormone at all. In contrast, Cell Type’s 1, 3, 4, and 5 were synthesizing peptide hormones and building up their concentrations because they store peptide hormones in granules.

Lastly, the question asks where Cell Type 2 possibly came from. Cell Type 2 would need to be harvested from a part of the body that produces steroids, of which there are three main centers, and those are:

1. Adrenal cortex, which produces mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids like aldosterone and cortisol. It also is a secondary site for androgen synthesis.

2. Testes, which mainly secrete testosterone in relation to hormone synthesis.

3. Ovaries, which mainly secrete estrogen and progesterone in relation to hormone synthesis.

Note: The placenta also produces steroid hormones during pregnancy.

Thus, the correct answer to this question is [A], the testes, as it is the only organ listed that synthesizes steroid hormones.
All of the other answer choices describe organs that do not produce steroid hormones, and are therefore incorrect.

B. Adrenal medulla – Composed mainly of chromaffin cells, which synthesize catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) from tyrosine.

C. Anterior pituitary – Produces FSH, LH, ACTH, TSH, Prolactin and GH. (Remember the acronym FLAT PiG).

D. Pineal gland – The pineal gland is responsible for synthesizing melatonin.

E. Pancreas – Synthesizes several important peptide hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin.

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