DAT Question of the Day

Correct Answer: C. Liverworts

A bryophyte lacks vascular tissues and seeds. These plants reproduce using spores and are dependent on water and air to carry the spores. A spruce is a type of cone-bearing plant, called a gymnosperm. A peach tree is an example of a fruit-bearing plant called an angiosperm. Ferns are vascular seedless plants and are in their own plant category. Bluegrass is a type of grass and grasses are considered to be an example of a monocot angiosperm. Liverworts and mosses are the most common examples of bryophytes.

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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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