Test your basic knowledge |

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. A carrier protein that transports a single molecule across the plasma membrane.






2. A point mutation in which a condon that specifies an amino acid is mutated into a stop (nonsense) codon.






3. Having the ability to become anything; a zygote is totipotent.






4. A genotype in which two identical alleles are possessed for a given gene. The allelles can both be dominant (homozygous dominant) or both be recessive (homozygous recessive)






5. An organism that has only a single copy of its genome in each of its cells. Haploid organisms possess no homolous chromosomes.






6. The constant inhibition provided to the heart by the vagus nerve. Vagal tone reduces the intrinsic firing rate of teh SA node from 120 beats/minute to around 80 beats/minute.






7. The cells of the distal tubule at the juxtaglomerular apparatus. They are receptors that monitor filtrate osmolarity as a means of regulatin filtration rate. If a drop is osmolarity is sensed - the macula densa dilates the afferent arteriole (to incr






8. The neurotransmitter used by the sympathetic division of the ANS at the postganglionic (organ - level ) synapse.






9. The string between beads of DNA on histones. They are also wrapped around a single histone - called linker histone - may not really have to know..






10. The layer of ciliated - mucus - covered cells in the respiratory tract.The cilia continually beat - sweeping contaminated mucus upward toward the pharynx.






11. A thin - watery fluid found in teh anterior segment of the eye (between the lens and the cornea). THe aqueous humor is constantly produced and drained - adn helps to bring nutrients to the lesn and corena - as well as to remove metabolic wastes






12. A thick - transpartent coating rich in glycoproteins that surrounds an oocyte.






13. An organism that can survive in the presence of oxygen (oxygen is not toxic) - but that does not use oxygen during metabolism (anaerobic metabolism only).






14. The removal ( and usually the activation) of a viral genome from its host's genome.






15. A flexible piece of cartilage in the larynx that flips downward to seal teh trachea during swallowing.






16. The folds of the inner membrane of a mitochondrion






17. 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.






18. A receptor that responds to changes in body position - such as stretch on a tendon - or contraction of a muscle. These receptor allow us to be consciously aware of the position of our body parts.






19. A thin (4 mm) layer of gray matter on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres. The cerebral cortex is the conscious mind - and is functionally divided into four pairs of lobes: the frontal lobes - the parietal lobes - the temporal lobes - and the occ






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






21. A sensory receptor that responds to hcanges in pressure; for example - there are baroreceptors in the carotid arteries and the aortic ach that monitor blood pressure.






22. The process of reading a strand of mRNA to synthesize protein. Protein translation takes place on a ribosome.






23. A band of carilage (hyaline) found between the diaphysis and epiphyses of long bones during childhood and adolescence. Cell proliferation in the middle of the eiphyseal plate essentially forces teh diaphysis and epiphyses further apart - while the ol






24. A chemical secreted by a T cell (usually the helper Ts) that stimulates activation and proliferation of other immune system cells.






25. A rapid from of action potential conduction along the axon of a neuron in which the action potential appears to jump from nodde of Ranvier to node of Ranvier.






26. Haploid cells resulting from the first meiotic division of spermatogenesis. Secondary spermatocytes are ready to enter meiosis II.






27. The fourth (and final) phase of mitosis. During telophase the nuclear envelope reforms - chromosomes decondense - and the mitotic spindle is disassembled.






28. The newly forming daughter strand of DNA that is replicated in a continuous fasion; the daughter strand that is replicated in thes aem direction that parental DNA is unwinding.






29. The deliberate exposure of a person to an antigen in order to provoke the primary immune response and memory cell production. Typically the antigens are those normally associated with pathogens - thus if the live pathogen is encountered in the future






30. A hormone released by the anterior pituitary that targets all cells in the body. Growth hormone stimulates whole body growth in children and adolescents - adn increases cell turnover rate in adults.






31. All of the cell cycle except for mitosis. Interphase includes G1 - S phase - and G2.






32. A physiological catalyst. Enzymes are usually proteins - although some RNAs have catalytic activity.






33. A hormone produced and secreted by the parathyroid glands that increases serum calcium levels. It targets the bones (stimulates osteoclasts) - the kidneys (increases calcium reabsorption) - and the small intestine (increases calcium absorption).






34. The portion of the diencephalon involved in maintaining body homeostasis. the hypothalamus also controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland.






35. A thick - gelatinous fluid found in the posterior segment of the eye (between the lens and the retina). The vireous humor is only produced during fetal development and helps maintain intraocular pressure (the pressure inside the eyeball).






36. The reduced from (carries electrons) of FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide). this is the other main electron carrier in cellular respiration (NADH is the most common).






37. The period of time following an action potential when it is possible - but difficult - for the neuron to fire a second action potential due to the fact that membrane is further from theshold potential (hyperpolarized).






38. The interior of a mitochondrion (the region bounded by the inner membrane). - The matrix is the site of action of pyruvate dehydroganse complex and the Krebs cycle.






39. A structure near the middle of eukaryotic chromosomes to which the fibers of the mitotic spindle attach during cell division.






40. The collection of fluid in the alveoli - particularly dangerous because it impedes gas exchange. Common causes of pulmonary edema are increased pulmonary blood pressure or infection of the respiratory system.






41. One of the main pancreatic proteases; it is activated (from chymotrypsinogen) by trypsin.






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






43. The attachment of an amino acid to a tRNA (not that this a specific interaction). tRNa loading requires two high - energy phosphate bonds.






44. A type of mutation in DNa where a single base is substituted for another.






45. All parts of the nervous system except for the brain and spinal cord.






46. A bacterial extrachromosal elent that allows the bacterium to initati conjugation. Bacteria that possess teh F factor are known as F+ 'males'.






47. 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






48. A gland that secretes a waxy product - found in the external ear canal.






49. A point mutation in which a codon that specifies an amino acid is mutated into a codon that specifies a different amino acid.






50. (1) In the GI tract - organs that play a role in digestion but not directly part of the alimentary canal. These include the liver - the gallbladder - the pancreas - adn the salivary glands.