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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. Physical structures in two different organism that have funcitonal similarity due to their evoluntion in a common environment - but have different underlying structure. Analogous structures arise from convergent evolution.






2. A vein connecting the capillary bed of the intestines with the capillary bed of the liver. This allows amino acids and gluocse absorbed from the intestines to be delivered first to the liver for processing before being transported throughout the circ






3. One of the four aromatic bases found in RNA. Uracil is pyrimidine; it pairs with adnenine.






4. A virus with an RNA genome (e.g. HIV) that undergoes a lysogenic life cycle in a host with a double stranded DNA genome. In order to integrate its genome with the host cell genome - the virus must first reverse trasncribe its RNA genome to DNA.






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






6. Arise in blood pH due to hyperventilation (excessive breathing) and a resulting decrease in CO2.






7. 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.






8. The final phase of the digestive tract - also called the colon. The primary funcion of the large intestine is to reabsorb water and to store the feces.






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






10. Also known as the neurohyophysis - the posterior pituitary is made of nervous tisssue and stores and secretes two hormones made by the hypothlamus; oxtytocin and ADH. The posterior pituitary is controlled by action potentials from the hypothalamus.






11. The failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate properly during cell division. This could ocur during anaphase I of meiosis (homologous chromosomes) [--> leaving 2 gametes w/ 2 copies and 2 gametes w/ no copies of chromosome] -






12. Formerly called the cardiac sphincter - this sphincter marks the entrance to the stomach. Its function is to prevent reflux of acid stomach contents into the esophagus; note that it does **not regulate entry into the stomach.






13. Also called thryoid hormone - thyroxine is produced and secreted by follicle cells in the thyroid gland. it targets all cells in the body and increases overall body metabolism.






14. Molecules made by connecting amino acids via peptide bonds. Proteins are synthesized (translated) by ribosomes - and function as enzymes - carriers - structrual fibers - cell surface receptors - channels - porters - hormones - etc.






15. An organism that will use oxygen (aerobic metabolism) if it is available - and that can ferment (anaerobic metabolism) if it is not.






16. The enzymes that catalyzes the phosphorylation of glucose to form glucose -6- phosphate in the first step of glycolysis. This is one of the ain regulatory steps of this pathway. Hexokinase is feedback - inhibited by glucose -6- P.






17. A cell that produces bone.






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






19. A molecule (usually a protein) capable of initiating an immune repsonse (antibody production).






20. The membranes that line the surface of the lungs (visceral pleura) and the inside wall of the chest cavity (parietal pleura).






21. The layer of epithelial tissue that lines body cavities in contact with the outside environment (respiratory - digestive - urinary - and reproductive tracts).






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






23. The failure of two separate genes to boey the Law of Independent Assortment - as might occur if the genes were found close together on the same chromosome.






24. A mature - cartilage cell.






25. 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.






26. The inner region of the adrenal gland. The adrenal medulla is part of the sympathetic nervous systme - and releases epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine into the blood when stimuated. These hormones augment and prolon the effects of sympatheti






27. A single piece of double - stranded DNA; part of the genome of an organism. Prokaryotes have circular chromosomes and eukaryotes have linear chromosomes.






28. The release of a secondary oocyte (along with some granulosa cells) from the ovary at the approximate midpoint of the menstrual cycle (typically around day 14). Ovulation is triggered by a surge in LH.






29. The region at the center of an A band of a sarcomere that is made up of myosin only. The H zone gets shorter (and may disappear) during muscle contraction.






30. A neuron that carries information (action potentials) away from the central nervous system; a motor neuron.






31. The portion of the cardiac conduction system between the SA node and the AV node.






32. The prokaryotic ribosome - binding site on mRNA - found 10 nucleotides 5' to the start codon.






33. A bacterial structure formed in unfavorable growth conditions. Endospores have very rough outer shells made of peptidoglycan and can survive harsh conditions. The bacterium inside the endospore is essentially dormant and can become active (called ger






34. Strong contractions of the uterus (stimulated by oxytoncin) that force a baby out of the mother's baby during childbirth. Labor contractions are part of a positive feedback cycle - during which the baby's head stretches the cervix - which stimulates






35. The portion of the nephron after the glomerulus and apsule; the region of the nephron where the filtrate is modified along its path to becoming urine.






36. A cyclic version of adenosine monophosphate - where the phosphate is esterified to both the 5' and 3' carbons - forming a ring. Cyclic AMP is an important intracellular signaling moelcule - often called the 'second messenger.' It serves to activate c






37. To attach oxygen - to remove hydrogen - or to remove electrons from a molecule.






38. A looser - more porous type of bone tissue found at the inner core of the epiphyses in long bones and all other bone types. Spongy gone is filed with red bone marrow - important in blood cell formation.






39. An organelle bounded by a double membrane (double lipid bilayer) called the nuclear envelope. The nucleus contains the genome and is the site of replication and transcription.






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






41. A contractile protein. In skeletal and cardiac muscle - actin polymerizes (along with other proteins) to form the thin filaments. Actin is involved in many contractile activities - such as cyotkinesis - pseudopod formation - and muscle contraction.






42. Small organelles that contain the hydrogen peroxide produced as a byproduct of lipid metabolism. Peroxisomes convert hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen by way of the enzyme catalase.






43. A generic connective tissue cell that produces fibers; the progenitor of all other connective tissue cell types.






44. The small artery that carries blood toward the capillaries of the glomerulus.






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






46. The valve that regulates the passage of chyme from the stomach into the small intestine.






47. The movement of the membrane potential of a cell away from rest potential in a more negative direction.






48. A neuron that arries information (action potentials) to the central nervous system; a sensory neuron.






49. The three small bones found in the middle ear (the malleus - the incus - and the stapes) that help to amplify the vibrations from sound waves. The malleus is atached to the tympanic membrane and the stapes is attached to the oval window of the cochle






50. The smooth ER of a muscle cell - enlarged and specialized to act as a Ca2+ reservoir. The SR winds around each myofibril in the muscle cell.