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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. A cell that produces bone.






2. The 'language' of a molecular biology that specifies which amino acid corresponds to which three - nucleotide group (codon).






3. An activated B cell that is secreting antibody.






4. The second step in viral infection - the injection of the viral genome into the host cell.






5. A concentrated region of white blood cells found along the vessels of the lympatic system.






6. The process by which neighboring cells can influence the determination (and subsequent differentiation) of a cell.






7. The liquid portion of blood; plasma contains water - ions - buffers - sugars - proteins - etc. Anything that dissolves in blood dissolves in the plasma portion.






8. An organism that requires the aid of a host organism to survive - and that harms the host in the process.






9. A long - whip - like filament that helps in cell motility. Many bacteria are flagellated - and sperm are flagellated.






10. A function in the reproductive system - controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system - that includes erection (via dilation of erectile arteries) and lubrication.






11. The formatino of the nervous system during weeks 5-8 of gestation. Neuralation begins when a section of the ectoderm invaginates and pinches off to form the neural groove - which ultimately forms the neural tube - From which the brain and spinal cord






12. Also called DNA pol - this is the enzyme that replicates DNA. Eukaryotes have a single version of the enzyme - simply called DNA pol (not need to know much detail); prokaryotes have three versions - called DNA pol I - DNA pol II - and DNA pol III.






13. The percentage of wholeblood made up of erythrocytes The typical hematocrit value is between 40-45%.






14. The first phase of meiosis I. During prophase I the replicated chromosomes condense - homologous chromsomes pair up - crossing over occurs between homologous chromosomes - the spindle is formed - and the nuclear envelope breaks apart into vesicles. P






15. The duplication of DNA






16. A substance secreted by embryonic testes that causes the regression of the Mullerian ducts.






17. A person with blood type O-. Because this person's red blood cells possess none of the typical blood suface proteins - they cannot initiate an immune reaction in a recipient.






18. The portion of the placenta derived from the zygote.






19. A mechanism for increasing tension (contractile length) in a muscle by activating more motor units.






20. Bacteria that have a thin peptidoglycan cell wall covered by an outer plasma membrane. They stain very lightly (pink) in Gram stain. Gram - negative bacteria are typically more resistant to antibiotics than Gram - positive bacteria.






21. The inside of the a hollow organ (e.g. - the somach - intestines - bladder - etc.) or a tube (e.g. - blood vessels - ureters - etc.)






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






23. An organism (such as a fungus) that feeds of dead plants and animals.






24. The muscular femal organ - in which a baby develops during pregnancy.






25. The main protease secreted by the pancreas; trypsin is activated (from trypsinogen) by enterokinase - and subsequently activates other pancreatic enzymes.






26. An electrical potential established across the plasma membrane of all cells by the Na+/K+ ATPase and the K+ leak channels. In most cells - the resting membrane potential is approximately -70 mV with respect to the outside of the cell.






27. A structure made of two protein subunits and rRNA; this is the site of protein synthessis (translation) in a cell. Prokaryotic ribosomes (also known as 70S ribosomes) are smaller than eukaryotic ribosome (80S ribosomes). The S value refers to the sed






28. The 3D site of an enzyme where substrates (reactants) bind and a chemical reaction is facilitated.






29. The non - specific uptake of liquid particles into a cell by invagination of the plasma membrane and subsequent 'pinching off' a small bit of the extracellular fluid.






30. The valve that controls the release of feces from the recturm. It has an internal part made of smooth muscle (thus involuntary) and an external part made of skeletal muscle (thus voluntary).






31. A tropic hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland that targets the thyroid gland - stimulating it to produce and release thyroid hormone.






32. The second phase of meiosis II. Metaphase II is identical to mitotic metaphase - except that the number of chromosomes was reduced by half during meiosis I.






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






34. Connective tissue that lacks great amount of collagen or elastic fibers (hence - loose) - e.g. - adipose tissue and areolar (general connective) tissue.






35. The step in the sliding filament theory during which yosin undergoes a conformaitonal change to its low energy state - in the process dragging the thin filaments (and the attached Z lines) toward the center fo the sarcomere. NOte that power stroke re






36. One of the four aromatic bases found in DNA and RNA. Guanine is a purine; it pairs with cytosine.






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






38. Specialized tissue with a lot of space that can fill with blood upon proper stimulation - causing teh tissue to become firm. Erectile tissue is found in the penis - the clitoris - the labia - and the nipples.






39. Aromatic bases found in DNA and RNA that are derived from purine. They have a double rightn structure and include adenine and guanine.






40. A form of symbiosis in Which both organisms involved benefit from the association.






41. In the autonomic divison of the PNS - a neuron that has its cell body located in the CNS - and whose axon extends into the PNS to synapse with a second neuron at an autonoic ganglion. (The second neuron's axon synapses with the target axon)






42. 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






43. Ribosomal RNA; the type of RNA that associates with ribosomal proteins to make a functional ribosome. It is thought that the rRNA has the peptidyl transferase activity.






44. MRNA that codes forsingle type of protein - such as is found in eukaryotic cells.






45. Oil - forming glands found all over the body - especially on the face and neck. The product (sebum) is released to the skin surface through hair follicles.






46. A region of specialized cardiac muscle cells in the right atrium of the heart that initiate the impules of heart contraction; for this reason the SA node is knownas the 'pacemaker' of the heart.






47. Specialized lymphatic capillaries in the intestines that take up lipids as well as lymph.






48. A peptide hormone produced and secreted by the Beta cells of the pancreas. Insulin targets cells in the body - especially the liver and muscle - and allows them to take glucose out of gthe blood (thus lowering blood glucose levels).






49. A tRNA with an amino acid attached. This is made by an animoacyl - tRNA synthetase specific to the amino acid being attache.d






50. A dense grwoth of bacteria that covers the surface of a petri dish.