HESI A2 Study Guide: Comprehensive Prep for Your Nursing Exam

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is transcription. Transcription is the process in which an RNA molecule is synthesized from a DNA template. During transcription, an RNA polymerase enzyme reads the DNA template and produces a complementary RNA strand, not DNA. This RNA strand is used as a template in translation to synthesize proteins, where the mRNA is read to produce a protein.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Strep throat is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes. Unlike mumps, which is a viral infection, AIDS caused by the HIV virus, and the common cold usually caused by rhinoviruses, strep throat is specifically a bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The flagellum is a whip-like appendage found in certain cells like sperm cells and some bacteria, enabling them to move through their environments. It plays a crucial role in locomotion by allowing cells to swim or propel themselves in liquids, aiding in their movement and navigation.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Sex cells, also known as gametes, undergo the process of meiosis to reproduce. Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in the formation of four genetically diverse haploid cells from a diploid cell. This reduction is essential for sexual reproduction to ensure genetic diversity in the offspring.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: In a hypertonic solution, the concentration of solutes is higher compared to the cell's interior. This causes water to move out of the cell to balance the solute concentrations, resulting in the cell shrinking. Therefore, the correct answer is that the solute concentration is higher in a hypertonic solution than inside the cell.