Test your basic knowledge |

MCAT Biology 3

Subjects : mcat, science
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. They connect the plasma membranes of adjacent cells in a sheet - preventing molecules from leaking between the cells.






2. Catalysis (enzymes) - Defense/recognition (immune and hormonal systems) - Transport (eg hemoglobin) - Support (eg collagen) - Motion (actin and myosin) - Regulation (hormones) - Storage (eg bound calcium and iron)






3. A group of about 20 lipids that are modified fatty acids - 5- carbon ring w/ 2 nonpolar tails.






4. In prokaryotes - most of the genetic material lies in a single circular molecule of DNA that typically resides near the cetner of the cell. In eukaryotes - DNA is contained in the nucleus - which is surrounded by the nuclear envelope.






5. A modified form of cellulose with a nitrogen group added to the glucose units; structural building material found in arthropods and cell walls of many fungi.






6. Most common atoms found in biological molecules






7. A three carbon alcohol in which each carbon is attached to a hydroxyl group






8. The final folded shape of a globular protein -- positions folds nonpolar side groups within the interior






9. A network of integrins that connects the actin filaments of one cell with those of neighboring cells or with the extra cellular matrix






10. A sticky substance that acts as a glue between the primary cell walls of plant cells






11. Transmembrane proteins that play an important role in cell - cell adhesion; their function is dependent upon calcium; vertebrate migration of neurons is affected by which type of this protein is expressed on the cell's plasma membrane






12. Glycerol attached to 3 fatty acids. Also called triglyceride or triacylglycerol






13. Glycoproteins that forms a complex web that forms a protective layer of the surface of animal cells






14. Gram positive bacteria have a think - single - layered cell wall that retains the dye used in Gram - staining. Penicillin only works on gram - positive bacteria.






15. Mechanically attach the cytoskeleton of a cell to the cytoskeletons of other cells or to the extracellular matrix. Common in tissues experiencing mechanical stress - eg muscle and skin epithelium






16. Composed of connexons; creates a channel that connects the cytoplasm of two cells






17. Destroys gram - positive bacteria by interfering with peptidoglycan's ability to cross - link the peptides which hold together the carbohydrates that make up the cell wall; water floods bacterial cell and causes it to burst






18. Small single - celled organisms that lack a definite nucleus and distinct interior compartments; they are encased within a rigid cell wall. Two main groups are archaebactera and bacteria






19. Laid down when a plant cell is still growing; composed of chitin in fungi and cellulose in plants and protists






20. Anchor epithelial cells to a basement membrane






21. A lipid that is composed of 4 fused carbon rings - commonly found in cell membranes.






22. A form of endocytosis where an animal cell engulfs liquid matter






23. A type of anchoring junction that connects the cytoskeletons of adjacent cells






24. The bond between the hydroxyl group of one nucleotide and the phosphate group of another.






25. 5 carbon sugar (ribose or deoxyribose) bound to a phosphate and a nitrogenous base






26. Insoluble polysaccharides made by plants that are formed stricly from glucose (alpha form).






27. The matrix of glycoproteins that animal cells deposit outside the plasma membrane which provide support - strength - and resilience






28. A special motor protien that moves along the microtubule toward its positive end; in most cells this movement is from the center to the periphery - in the axon it is anterograde transport






29. Components of cytoskeleton






30. A type of intermediate filament found in epithelial cells






31. Large - membrane bound sac in plant cells that stores proteins - pigments - and waste material






32. 1 joule = 0.239 calories






33. Long - threadlike structures protruding from the surface of a cell that are used for locomotion






34. Glycine - Serine - Threonine - Asparagine - Glutamine






35. The manner in which all macromolecules are assembled -- water is a product of the reaction






36. The sugar in RNA contains an extra hydroxyl group and RNA uses uracil instead of thymine






37. Glycoprotein that attaches the ECM to the plasma membrane






38. Alanine - Valine - Leucine - Isoleucine






39. The connection beteween two plasma membranes of plant cells






40. Proteins that are anchored in and pass through the plasma membrane; attached to the cytoskeleton on the interior and to the ECM on the exterior






41. Simplest starch which is a long unbranching chain of glucose molecules






42. Eukaryotic cell's internal protein scaffold which provides structural support and is extremely important for organizing the cell's activites; a dynamic system that is constantly forming and disassembling






43. Nonpolar - polar uncharged - charged - aromatic (nonpolar and polar uncharged) - special function






44. A short - branched polysaccharide with short - linear amylose branches that are typically 20-30 subunits






45. The DNA found in cells which transmits hereditary information from one generation to the next; in prokaryotes it is a single naked circle of DNA; in eukaryotes it is a single strand of DNA complexed with protein






46. Adenine and Guanine






47. Responsible for cellular movments like contraction - crawling - pinching during division or cytosis - and formation of cellular extensions






48. Simple sugars are turned into disaccharides so they can be transported without being metabolized (typically in plants). The enzymes that can break the bond and utilize the sugar are typically present only where the glucose is to be used.






49. A combination of secondary structure bonding that forms characteristic patterns within protein strucure - such as the alpha - helix and the beta - pleated sheet






50. Small single - ringed structures: cytosine found in both DNA and RNA - uracil found in RNA - and thymine found in DNA