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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is FALSE concerning calcium in living organisms?
A
Calcium is a major component of nucleic acids.
B
Calcium ions act as signaling molecules in cells.
C
Calcium plays a role in blood clotting.
D
Calcium is essential for muscle contraction.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by analyzing the role of calcium in living organisms. Calcium is a vital element that participates in various biological processes, such as muscle contraction, blood clotting, and cellular signaling.
Step 2: Understand the role of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) in cellular signaling. Calcium ions act as secondary messengers in signal transduction pathways, helping transmit signals within cells.
Step 3: Examine calcium's involvement in muscle contraction. Calcium ions are essential for the interaction between actin and myosin filaments, which drives muscle contraction.
Step 4: Investigate calcium's role in blood clotting. Calcium ions are required for the activation of clotting factors, which are proteins involved in the coagulation cascade.
Step 5: Evaluate the statement about calcium being a major component of nucleic acids. Nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are primarily composed of elements like carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Calcium is not a structural component of nucleic acids, making this statement false.