Iridium is an element that is rare on Earth but commonly found in meteorites. A scientist believes that the first organic molecules may have come to Earth on meteorites 3.6 billion years ago. Which of these would be an appropriate null hypothesis to test related to whether meteorites hit the Earth 3.6 billion years ago?

There is an S-curve with five points labeled A through E along the curve. A is the beginning of the curve when the slope is zero and there is a low number of individuals, B is next on the curve with a higher number of individuals when the slope is one, C is next on the curve with a higher number of individuals at the point where the curve transitions from a rapidly increasing number of individuals to a slowing rate of growth. D is the next point on the curve when slope is again at one, and E is the final point on the curve with the highest number of individuals and a slope approaching zero. Which point on the curve in the diagram above best represents the carrying capacity of the environment for the population shown?

Retroviruses have an RNA genome. HTLV-1 is a lysogenic retrovirus that establishes a latent infection in human cells. By which of the following mechanisms does infection by a retrovirus such as HTLV-1 most likely cause long-lasting genetic changes to host cells?

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogenic bacterium that can infect a wide range of host species, including humans. S. aureus has a particular protein that binds with hemoglobin from the host organism. Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein used to transport oxygen in the blood. Since iron is important for growth, S. aureus have evolved the ability to absorb the iron from the host’s hemoglobin. Different S. aureus strains preferentially infect different hosts and have different amino acid sequences at their hemoglobin-binding domains (Table 1; letters indicate different amino acids). In an experiment, different S. aureus strains were mixed with hemoglobin from macaque monkeys and their binding ability was measured (Figure 1). The differences in amino acid sequences contributed to the differential binding abilities observed. Table 1. Selected amino acid sequences and preferred host for four strains of S. aureus S. aureus Strain Amino Acid Sequence Host Species 1 Q Q F Y H Y A R S Species A 2 R Q A Y H Y A R T Species B 3 Q Q A Y H Y A R T Macaque 4 R Q A A H Y Q L T Species C The figure presents a bar graph. The horizontal axis is labeled S. aureus Strain, and the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 are indicated. The vertical axis is labeled Percent Hemoglobin Binding, and the numbers 0 through 100, in increments of 10, are indicated. The data represented in the graph are as follows. Note that all values are approximate. S. aureus Strain 1, 25 percent hemoglobin binding. S. aureus Strain 2, 60 percent hemoglobin binding. S. aureus Strain 3, 97 percent hemoglobin binding. S. aureus Strain 4, 35 percent hemoglobin binding. Figure 1. Macaque hemoglobin binding ability of different strains of S. aureus Which of the following processes is most consistent with the differences in the amino acid sequences listed in Table 1?

Figure 1 represents part of a process that occurs in eukaryotic cells. There are untranslated regions (UTR) in this sequence. At the top of the diagram is a line marked out into 7 segments. From left to right, the segments are labeled: 5 prime U T R, Exon 1, Intron 1, Exon 2, Intron 2, Exon 3, 3 prime U T R. Three arrows extend down from this top line. One arrow extends from Intron 1 in the top line to a line segment the size of intron 1 that is labeled as Intron 1. A second arrow extends from Intron 2 in the top line to a line segment the size of intron 2 that is labeled Intron 2. A third arrow extends from the top line to a line at the bottom of the diagram. The far left end of the bottom line has the label 5 prime cap followed by a small circle. Following this the line is then marked out into 6 segments that are labeled from left to right: 5 prime U T R, Exon 1, Exon 2, Exon 3, 3 prime U T R, Poly A Tail. Figure 1. Cellular process involving nucleic acids Which of the following best explains the process represented by Figure 1?

To investigate the influence of predation risk on ray behavior, a student observed and counted the large marine animals swimming in a shallow, nearshore section of a coral reef ecosystem. The time of each observation was recorded relative to the time of high tide. The student noted that at low tide, when the water level is low, many of the large animals are forced out of the study area and into the deeper waters of the outer reef. During high tides, when the water level is high, the large animals are able to reenter the study area. Over a three-day period, the student observed a total of 604 individual rays belonging to three species: cowtail rays, giant shovelnose rays, and black stingrays. For each ray that was sighted, its body length was estimated and its status as either alone (ungrouped) or found with other rays (grouped) was noted. Occasionally, rays were observed sifting through the sandy substrate of the study area to capture food items such as molluscs and crustaceans. In one instance, an injured ray with bite marks that were likely sustained in a shark attack was sighted. In addition to the rays, the student observed lemon sharks (n = 46) and blacktip reef sharks (n = 39). The results of the study are presented in the figures below. The horizontal axis is labeled “Mean Body Length, in meters,” and the numbers 0 through 1.5, in increments of 0.5, are indicated. The vertical axis gives the three categories of the graph, each of which contains two subcategories. The three categories are Cowtail Rays, Giant Shovelnose Rays, and Black Stingrays. The subcategories are Ungrouped and Grouped. The data are presented as follows. Note that all values are approximate. Cowtail Rays: Ungrouped have a mean body length of 1.5 meters, and the error bar spans plus or minus 0.03. Grouped have a mean body length of 1.35 meters, and the error spans plus or minus 0.05. Giant Shovelnose Rays: Ungrouped have a mean body length of 1.6 meters, and the error bar spans plus or minus 0.04. Grouped have a mean body length of 1.35 meters, and the error spans plus or minus 0.08. Black Stingrays: Ungrouped have a mean body length of 1.4 meters, and the error bar spans plus or minus 0.02. Grouped have a mean body length of 1.3 meters, and the error spans plus or minus 0.05. Figure 1. Comparison of mean body lengths of the grouped and ungrouped rays that were observed in a nearshore section of a coral reef ecosystem. Error bars represent 2SEx̄ The graph shows the mean number of rays per group in the study area relative to stages of the tide cycle. The horizontal axis is labeled “Time Relative to High Tide, in hours,” and the numbers negative 3 through positive 1, in increments of 1, are indicated. The vertical axis is labeled “Mean Group Size,” and the numbers 0 through 6, in increments of 1, are indicated. The line is composed of five points connected by line segments, and error bars are shown for each point. The five points are listed as follows. Note that all values are approximate. Point 1. Time relative to High Tide, negative 3 hours. Mean Group Size, 0.9 plus or minus 0 point 4. Point 2. Time relative to High Tide, negative 2 hours. Mean Group Size, 2 point 5 plus or minus 0 point 2. Point 3. Time relative to High Tide, negative 1 hours. Mean Group Size, 4 point 4 plus or minus 0 point 9. Point 4. Time relative to High Tide, 0 hours. Mean Group Size, 4 point 6 plus or minus 0 point 1. Point 5. Time relative to High Tide, positive 1 hours. Mean Group Size, 3 point 6 plus or minus 0 point 3. Figure 2. Mean numbers of rays per group in the study area at different stages of the tide cycle. High tide occurs at T = 0 hours. The graph shows the relative proportions of rays in groups at different stages of the tide cycle. A key indicates that three different lines represent giant shovelnose rays or black stingrays or cowtail rays. The horizontal axis is labeled “Time relative to High Tide, in hours,” and the numbers negative 3 through positive 1, in increments of 1, are indicated. The vertical axis is labeled “Relative Proportion of Rays Found in Groups” and has an arrowhead at the top end. The line for each type of ray is composed of five points connected by line segments, and error bars are shown for most points. The data for each time point are as follows. Point 1. Time relative to High Tide, negative 3 hours. The proportion of each type of ray is similar, and there are very few of each type. Point 2. Time relative to High Tide, negative 2 hours. The number of cowtail rays increased slightly, and there are about twice as many giant shovelnose rays and six times as many black stingrays as cowtail rays. Error bars are shown for only the cowtail rays and giant shovelnose rays. The upper end of the cowtail rays error bar touches the lower end of the giant shovelnose rays error bar. Point 3. Time relative to High Tide, negative 1 hours. The number of cowtail rays is double the number at negative two hours, and there are about three times as many giant shovelnose rays and five times as many black stingrays as cowtail rays. Error bars are shown for each point. The error bar range for the cowtail rays is very narrow; the error bars for the black stingrays and giant shovelnose rays are broad, but do not overlap. Point 4. Time relative to High Tide, 0 hours. The number of cowtail rays is about three quarters the number at negative one hours, and there are about twelve times as many giant shovelnose rays and nine times as many black stingrays as cowtail rays. The error bar range for the cowtail rays is very narrow; the error bars for the black stingrays and giant shovelnose rays are broad, and the upper end of the black stingrays error bar touches the lower end of the giant shovelnose rays error bar. Point 5. Time relative to High Tide, positive 1 hours. The number of cowtail rays is just slightly greater than the number at 0 hours, and there are about seven times as many giant shovelnose rays and five times as many black stingrays as cowtail rays. The error bar range for the cowtail rays is very narrow; the error bars for the black stingrays and giant shovelnose rays are broad, and the upper end of the black stingrays error bar touches the lower end of the giant shovelnose rays error bar. Figure 3. Relative proportions of rays in groups at different stages of the tide cycle for each of the three different populations. High tide occurs at T = 0 hours. The graph shows the mean numbers of lemon sharks and blacktip reef sharks at different stages of the tide cycle. A key indicates that one line represents lemon sharks, and the other line represents blacktip reef sharks. The horizontal axis is labeled “Time Relative to High Tide, in hours,” and the numbers negative 3 through positive 1, in increments of 1, are indicated. The vertical axis is labeled “Mean Number of Sharks,” and the numbers 0 through 10, in increments of 1, are indicated. The two curves are composed of five points connected by line segments. No error bars are shown. The five points of each line are listed as follows. Note that all values are approximate. The following five points are indicated on the line representing lemon sharks. Point 1. Time relative to High Tide, negative 3 hours. Mean Number of Sharks, 4.2. Point 2. Time relative to High Tide, negative 2 hours. Mean Number of Sharks, 9. Point 3. Time relative to High Tide, negative 1 hours. Mean Number of Sharks, 1.5. Point 4. Time relative to High Tide, 0 hours. Mean Number of Sharks, 0. Point 5. Time relative to High Tide, positive 1 hours. Mean Number of Sharks, 1. The following five points are indicated on the line representing blacktip reef sharks. Point 1. Time relative to High Tide, negative 3 hours, Mean Number of Sharks, 0.3. Point 2. Time relative to High Tide, negative 2 hours, Mean Number of Sharks, 0.3. Point 3. Time relative to High Tide, negative 1 hour, Mean Number of Sharks, 4. Point 4. Time relative to High Tide, 0 hours, Mean Number of Sharks, 7. Point 5. Time relative to High Tide, positive 1 hour, Mean Number of Sharks, 9. Figure 4. Mean numbers of lemon sharks and blacktip reef sharks in the study area at different stages of the tide cycle. High tide occurs at T = 0 hours. Which of the following scientific claims about the survival strategies used by organisms in a coral reef ecosystem is best supported by the data presented in Figure 1?

The following questions refer to the following DNA strand and table of codons. Each triplet of DNA bases is numbered from one to seven. Triplet 1 is T, A, G, triplet 2 is T, T, C, triplet 3 is A, A, A, triplet 4 is C, C, G, triplet 5 is C, G, T, triplet 6 is A, A, C, triplet 7 is A, T, T. The figure shows the universal codon table with 4 main data rows and 4 main data columns. The left side of the table is labeled First Base in Codon, and labels the main rows, from top to bottom, U, C, A, G. The top side of the table is labeled Second Base in Codon, and labels the main columns, from left to right, U, C, A, G. The right side of the table is labeled, Third Base in Codon, and labels each of the main rows U C A G.The data in the table reads as follows: First Base U and Second Base U with Third Base U, results in U U U phenylalanine; with Third Base C results in U U C phenylalanine; with Third Base A, results in U U A leucine, and with Third Base G, results in U U G leucine. First Base C and Second Base U with Third Base U, results in C U U leucine; with Third Base C, results in C U C leucine; with: Third Base A, results in C U A leucine, and with Third Base G, results in C U A leucine. First Base A and Second Base U with Third Base U, results in A U U isoleucine; with Third Base C, results in A U C isoleucine; with Third Base A, results in A U A isoleucine; and with Third Base G, results in A U G methionine or start. First Base G and Second Base U with Third Base U, results in G U U valine; with Third Base C, results in G U C valine; with Third Base A, results in G U A valine, with Third Base G, results in G U G valine. First Base U and Second Base C with Third Base U, results in U C U serine; with Third Base C, results in U C C serine; with Third Base A, results in U C A serine; and with Third Base G, results in U C G serine. First Base C and Second Base C with Third Base U, results in C C U proline; with Third Base C, results in C C C proline; with Third Base A, results in C C A proline; and with Third Base G, results in C C G proline. First Base A and Second Base C with Third Base U, results in A C U threonine; with Third Base C, results in A C C threonine; with Third Base A, results in A C A threonine; and with Third Base G, results in A C G threonine. First Base G and Second Base C with Third Base U, results in G C U alanine; with Third Base C, results in G C C alanine; with Third Base A, results in G C A alanine; and with Third Base G, results in G C G alanine. First Base U and Second Base A with Third Base U, results in U A U tyrosine; with Third Base C, results in U A C tyrosine; with Third Base A, results in U A A stop; and with Third Base G, results in U A G stop. First Base C and Second Base A with Third Base U, results in C A U histidine; with Third Base C, results in C A C histidine; with Third Base A, results in C A A glutamine; and with Third Base G, results in C A G glutamine. First Base A and Second Base A with Third Base U, results in A A U asparagine; with Third Base C, results in A A C asparagine; with Third Base A, results in A A A lysine; and with Third Base G, results in A A G lysine. First Base G and Second Base A with Third Base U, results in G A U aspartate; with Third Base C, results in G A C aspartate; with Third Base A, results in G A A glutamate; and with Third Base G, results in GAG glutamate. First Base U and Second Base G with Third Base U, results in U G U cysteine; with Third Base C, results in U G C cysteine; with Third Base A, results in U G A stop; and with Third Base G, results in U G G tryptophan. First Base C and Second Base G with Third Base U, results in C G U arginine; with Third Base C, results in C G C arginine; with Third Base A, results in C G A arginine; and with Third Base G, results in C G G arginine. First Base A and Second Base G with Third Base U, results in A G U serine; with Third Base C, results in A G C serine; with Third Base A, results in A G A arginine; and with Third Base G, results in A G G arginine. First Base G and Second Base G with Third Base U, results in G G U glycine; with Third Base C, results in G G C glycine; with Third Base A, results in G G A glycine; and with Third Base G, results in G G G glycine. Which of the following modifications of the DNA would produce the greatest change in the primary structure of the polypeptide chain?

Data regarding the presence (+) or absence (-) of five derived traits in several different species are shown in the table below. Presence (+) or absense (-) of five derived traits. Species Traits 1 2 3 4 5 V + + + – – W + + – – – X + – – + + Y – – – – – Z + – – – + Which of the following cladograms provides the simplest and most accurate representation of the data in the table?

In each diagram, the lac operon is represented by a rectangle that is divided into 6 segments that are labeled from left to right as follows: C A P Site, an unlabeled segment, Operator, lac Z, lac Y and lac A. In each diagram, an oval labeled R N A Polymerase is positioned under the right half of the C A P site, the unlabeled segment, and the left one fourth of the Operator. In the top diagram a rectangle with a triangular notch at the bottom is labeled Repressor, and it sits under and touches the right one third of the Operator, lac Z, and the first one third of lac Y. An X is marked on the right side of the R N A polymerase, and an arrow extends from the X to the repressor. In the bottom diagram a rectangle with a semicircular notch at the bottom is labeled Repressor, and it does not contact the lac operon. Instead a circle labeled allolactose fits into the semicircular notch of the repressor. An arrow extending from the R N A polymerase points to the right. Figure 1. Model of lac operon, comparing repressed and active states Which is a scientific claim that is consistent with the information provided and Figure 1?

_______ is the process in which RNA is produced by using a DNA template.