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MCAT Prep Biology

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. Sensory receptors found in the inner ear. Cochlear hair cells respond to vibration in the cochlea caused by sound waves and vestibular hair cells respond to changes in position and acceleration (used for balance).






2. A receptor that responds to light






3. An energy storage molecule used by muscle tissue. The phosphate from creatine phosphate can be removed and attached to an ADP to generate ATP quickly.






4. A duodenal enzyme that activates trypsinogen (from the pancreas) to trypsin.






5. The exchange of DNA between paired homologus chromosomes (tetrads) during prophase I of meiosis.






6. The theory that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated as independent unicellular organsims living in symbiosis with larger cells






7. The synthesis of blood cells (occurs in the red bone marrow)






8. The primary female sex hormone. Estrogen stimulates the development of female secondary sex characteristics during puberty - maintains those characteristics during adulthood - stimulates the development of a new uterine lining after menstruation - an






9. Large conglomerations of proteins - fats - and cholesterol that transport lipids in the bloodstream. (chylomicrons are a type of lipoprotein).






10. Cells that form the walls of the seminiferous tubules and help in spermatogenesis Sertoli cells are also called susenacular cells.






11. Also known as the adenohypophysis - the anterior pituitary is made of gland tissue and makes and secretes six different homrones: FSH - LH - ACTH - prolactin - TSH - and growth hormone. The anterior pituitary is controlled b yreleasing and inhibiting






12. A situation in which a heterozygot displays a blended version of the pheotypes associated with each allele - e.g. pure - breeding white - flowered plants crossed with pure - breeding red - flowered plants produces heterozygous offspring plants with p






13. A statistical rule stating that the probability of either of two indpendent (and mutually exclusive) events ocuring is the sum of their individual probabilities minus the probability of them both occuring together.






14. The sphincter that separates the final part of the small intestine (the ileum) from the fron part of the large intestine (the cecum). It is typically kept contracted (closed) so that chyme can remain in the small intestine as long as possible. The il






15. Muscles that help focus light on teh retin by controlling the curvature of the lens of the eye.






16. The membrane that separates the middle ear from the inner ear.






17. DNA replication in which each of the parental strands is read to make a complementary daughter strand - ethus each new DNa molecule is composed of half the parental molecule paired with a newly synthesized strand.






18. A group of nucleotides that does not specify a particular amino acid - but instead serves to notify the ribosome that the protein being translated is complete. The stop codons are UAA - UGA - and UAG. They are also known as nonsense codons.






19. A developing oocyte and all of its surrounding (supporting) cells.






20. A statistical rule stating that the probability of two independent events occuring together is the product of their individual probabilities.






21. A hormone secreted by the small intestine (duodenum) in response to the presence of food. It decreases the rate at which chyme leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine.






22. The specific molecule that binds to a receptor.






23. An organism that lacks a nucleus or any other memrane - bound organelles. All prokaytes belong to the Kingdom Monera (not protista!)






24. Also called simply - 'islet cells' these are the endocrine cells of the pancreas. Different cell types wihtin the inslets secrete insulin - glucagon - and somatostatin






25. A nucleotide sequence that intervenes between protein - coding sequences. In DNA - these intervening sequences typically contain **regulatory sequences - however - in RNA they are simply spliced out to form the mature (translated) transcript.






26. A subset of a species consisting of members that mate and reproduce with one another.






27. A pigmented membrane found just in from the lens of the eye. In the center of iris is the pupil - a hole through which light enters the eyeball. The iris regulates the diameter of the pupil in response to the brightness of light.






28. A steroid hormone produced by the corpus luteum in the ovary during the second half of the menstrual cycle Progesterone maintains and enhances the uterine lining for the possible implantation of a fertilized ovum. It is the primary hormone secreted d






29. A four - subunit protein found in red blood cells that binds oxygen. Each subunit contains a heme group - a large multi - ring molecule with an iron atom at its center. One hemoglobin molecule can bind four oxygen molecules in a cooperative manner.






30. The sequence of nucleotides on a chromosome that activates RNA polymerase so that transcription can take place. The promoter is found upstream of the start site - the location where transcription actually takes place.






31. The valvecontrolling release of bile and pancreatic juice into the bloodstream.






32. Three loop - like structures in the inner ear that contain sensory receptors to monitor balance.






33. An ion channel that is constitutively open - allowing the movement of teh ion across the plasma membrane according to its concentration gradient.






34. Globular protein that assist in DNA packaging in eukaryotes. Histones form octamers around which DNA is wound to form a nucleosome.






35. Enzymes secreted by the mucosal cells lining the intestine. The brush border enzymes are disaccharides adn dipeptidases taht digest the smallest peptides and carbohydrates into their respective monomers.






36. The maximal volume of air that the lungs can contain. Total lung capacity is the sum of the vital capacity and the residual volume - and is typically about 6000 mL (6L).






37. The mechanism of contraction in skeletal and cardiac muscl cells. It is a series of four repeated steps: (1) myosin binds actin - (2) myosin pull actin toward the center of the sarcomere (3) myosin releases actin - and (4) myosin resets to its high -






38. The subdivision of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.






39. The nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract. It controls secretion and motility within teh Gi tract - and is linked to the central nervous system.






40. The period of human development beginning at 8 weeks of gestation and lasting until birth (38-42 weeks of gestation). During this stage the organs formed in the embryonic stage grow and mature. The developing baby is known as a fetus during this time






41. The largest organ in the abdominal cavity. The liver has many roles - including procesing of carbohydrates and fats - synthesis of urea - production of blood proteins - production of bile - recycling heme - and storage of vitamins.






42. A bacterial enzyme that recognizes a specific DNA nucleotide sequence and that cuts the double helix at a specific site within the sequence.






43. A bacterium having a rod - like shaped (plural = bacilli).






44. Myelinated axons






45. A bacterium having a spiral shape (plural = spirochetes)






46. (1) The secretion of useful substances from a cell - either into the blood (endocrine secretin) or into a cavity or onto the body surface (exocrine secretion). (2) in the nephron - the movement of substances from the blood to the filtrate along the t






47. A life cycle of animal viruses in which the mature viral particles bud from the host cell - acquiring an envelope (a coating of lipid bilayer) in the process.






48. The neurotransmitter used throughout the parasympathetic nervous system as well as the neuromuscular junction.






49. The movement of air out of the respiratory tract. Expiration can be passive (caused by relaxation of the diaphragm and elastic recoil of the lungs) or active (caused by contraction of the abdominal muscles - which increases intraabdominal pressure an






50. Something that acts to oppose the action of something else. For example - muscles that move a join in oppoiste direction are said to be antagonists.