Explanation

Chondrocytes are the cells that make up cartilage, a type of connective tissue found in various parts of the body, such as joints, ears, nose, and ribs.

Chondrocytes produce and maintain the cartilage matrix, which consists of collagen and proteoglycans.

Explanation

Vaccination can be administered:

• Before infection (preventive vaccination, the most common scenario)
• After infection (post-exposure prophylaxis, PEP, to prevent severe symptoms or complications)
• During infection (in some cases, to reduce disease severity and transmission, like during an outbreak or pandemic)

Explanation

When CO2 levels in the blood increase, it triggers a response in the brain's respiratory centers to increase the rate of breathing.

This is because high CO2 levels indicate that the body is producing more waste products and needs to expel them through exhalation.

Explanation

The head of the femur (thigh bone) attaches to the acetabulum, a cup-like structure in the pelvis.

The acetabulum is formed by the fusion of three bones: the ilium, ischium, and pubis.

This joint is known as the hip joint or coxofemoral joint.

Explanation

Apomixis is a type of seed production that occurs without the fusion of male and female gametes (fertilization).

Instead, an egg cell develops into a seed without being fertilized, resulting in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent plant.

Explanation

A gene is a small segment of DNA that contains the information needed to encode a single protein.

It is the basic unit of heredity and is made up of a sequence of nucleotides (DNA building blocks) that are organized into codons, which specify the amino acids that make up a protein.

Explanation

Plants exchange gases through:

• Roots: absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide through small openings called root hairs
• Stomata (singular: stoma): tiny openings on leaf surfaces that allow for gas exchange (CO2 in, O2 out)
• Stem: some plants have aerial roots or stem cuticles that allow for gas exchange

Explanation

Gaseous exchange refers to the exchange of gases between an organism and its environment.

Both photosynthesis and respiration involve gaseous exchange:

• Photosynthesis: takes in carbon dioxide (CO2) and releases oxygen (O2)
• Respiration: takes in oxygen (O2) and releases carbon dioxide (CO2)

Explanation

Fermenters are also known as bioreactors.

They are large containers used to grow microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, or cells on a large scale for various industrial applications, such as:

• Production of biofuels
• Biopharmaceuticals
• Food processing
• Biotechnology research

Explanation

A reflex action is a rapid, automatic response to a stimulus.

The simplest reflex arc involves only two neurons:

1. Sensory neuron (afferent): carries information from the receptor to the spinal cord
2. Motor neuron (efferent): carries the response from the spinal cord to the effector (muscle or gland)

Key Point:

The longest reflex pathway involves multiple neurons.

It is called a "long reflex" or " polysynaptic reflex".