Which term best describes the gradual change in a species over time in response to environmental pressures?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: A) Punctuated equilibrium refers to rapid bursts of evolution followed by long periods of stability, rather than gradual change over time in response to environmental pressures. B) Gradualism is the process by which species evolve through slow and continuous changes over time in response to environmental pressures. This gradual change can lead to the development of new traits and adaptations. C) Founder effect is a type of genetic drift that occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population, leading to a loss of genetic variation compared to the original population. It does not specifically describe the gradual change in a species over time. D) Adaptive radiation is the rapid diversification of a species into a variety of forms to exploit different ecological niches, but it does not specifically refer to the gradual change in response to environmental pressures. Therefore, the term that best describes the gradual change in a species over time in response to environmental pressures is 'Gradualism.'

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The diaphragm is the correct answer. It is a dome-shaped muscular structure that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. The diaphragm plays a crucial role in breathing by contracting and relaxing to change thoracic volume during inhalation and exhalation. The sternum is a flat bone in the center of the chest and is not the structure that separates the chest and abdominal cavities. The pericardium is a membrane that surrounds the heart, not involved in separating cavities. The trachea is the windpipe that connects the larynx to the bronchi and is not the structure that separates the chest and abdominal cavities.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Mitochondria. The energy for most cellular processes is produced in the mitochondria through the process of cellular respiration. Mitochondria are often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell because they generate ATP, the energy currency of the cell. This process involves the breakdown of glucose molecules to produce ATP, which fuels various cellular activities. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. The nucleus is responsible for storing genetic material and controlling cell activities, not energy production. The cytoplasm is where various cellular activities take place, but it is not the primary site for energy production. Ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis and do not generate energy for cellular processes.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The Golgi apparatus is responsible for the final stages of protein modification and packaging for secretion in animal cells. After proteins are synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), they are transported to the Golgi apparatus for further processing, sorting, and packaging before being sent to their final destination within or outside the cell. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) is mainly involved in lipid metabolism and detoxification processes, not protein modification. Ribosomes are the cellular organelles responsible for protein synthesis, not the final stages of protein modification and packaging for secretion, which is the role of the Golgi apparatus.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Tendonitis specifically refers to the inflammation of tendons, which are the thick cords that connect muscles to bones. The correct answer is tendons. Choice A, muscles, are not affected in tendonitis, but rather in myositis, which is the inflammation of muscles. Ligaments (Choice C) connect bones to other bones, while cartilage (Choice D) is a smooth and flexible tissue that covers the ends of bones at a joint. Therefore, the correct term for inflammation of tendons is tendonitis.