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






2. The pressure in the (theoretical) space between the lung surface and the inner wall of the chest cavity.






3. The primary enzyme in peroxisomes; catalse catalyzes the hydrolysis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into water and oxygen.






4. The process of breaking down large molecules into smaller precursors - e.g. digesion of starch into glucose.






5. One of the four basic tissue types in the body (epithelial - connective - muscle - and nervous). Epithelial tissue is a lining and covering tissue (e.g. skin - the lining of the stomach and intestines - the lining of the urinary tract - etc. ) or a g






6. A strong connective tissue with varying degrees of flexibility. (1) Elastic cartilage is the most flexible - forming structures that reuqire support but also need to bend - such as the epiglottis and outer ear. (2) Hyaline cartilage is more rigid tha






7. Something that increases the rate of a chemical reaction by reducing the activation energy for that reaction. The free energy of reaction remains unchanged.






8. A sac filled with fluid (aminotic fluid) that surroudns and protects a developing embryo.






9. An integral membrane protein that undergoes a conformational change to move a molecule from one side of the membrane to another. See also 'uniporter' - 'antiporter' - and 'symporter'.






10. The space between the inner and outer cell membranes in Gram - negative bactera. The peptidoglycan cell wall is found in the periplasmic space - and this space sometimes contains enzymes to degrade antibiotics.






11. 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.






12. The burrowing of a blastocyst (a developing embryo) into the endometrium of the uterus - typically occuring about a week after fertilizaiton.






13. (singular alveolus.) Tiny sacs - with walls only a single cell layer thick found at the end of the respiratory bronchiole tree. Alveoli are the site of gas exchange in the respiratory system.






14. The perio of time during which the ventricles of the heart are relaxed.






15. The region of teh brain that coordinates and smooth skeletal muscle activity.






16. Chemoreceptors on the tongue that respond to chemicals in a food.






17. The volume of air inhaled and exhaled in a normla - resting breath - typically about 500 mL.






18. A small - extrachromosomal (outside the genome) - circular DNA molecule found in prokaryotes.






19. A viral life cycle in which the viral genome is incorporated into the host genome where it can remain dormant for an unspecified period of time. Upon activation - the viral genome is excised from the host genome and typically enters the lytic cycle.






20. Also called occluding junctions - tight junctions form a seal between cells that prevents the movement of substances across the cell layer - except by diffusion through the cell membranes themselves. Tight junctions are found between the epithelial c






21. Complementary DNA. DNA produced synthetically by reverse trascribing mRNA. Because of eukaryotic mRNA splicing - cDNA contains no inrons.






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






23. Unicellular exocrine glands found along the respiratory and digestive tracts taht secrete mucus.






24. A chemical released by the axon of a neuron in response to an action potential that binds to receptors on a postsynaptic cell and causes that cell to either depolarize slightlly (EPSP) or hyperpolarize slightly (IPSP). Examples are acetylcholine - no






25. The primary androgen (male sex steroid). Testosterone is a steroid hormone produced and secreted by the interstitial cells of the testes. It triggers the development of secondary male sex characteristics during puberty (including spermatogenesis) and






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






27. A regulatory protein that binds DNA at a specific nucleotide sequence (sometimes known as the operator) to prevent transcription of downstream genes.






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






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






30. (Singular:villus). Folds of the intestinal mucosa that project into the lumen of the intestine; vili serve to increase the surface area of the intestine for absorption.






31. The opening to the uterus The ervix is typically plugged with a sticky acidic mucus during non - fertile times (to form a barrier against the entry of pathogens) - however during ovulation the mucus becomes more watery and alkaline to facilitate sper






32. A neuron with a single axon and a single dendrite - often projecting from opposite sides of the cell body. Bipolar neurons are typically associated with sensory organs; an example is the bipolar neuron in the retina of the eye. - note that one axon m






33. Small convoluted tubules in the testes where spermatogenesis takes place.






34. A carrier protein that transports two molecules acrss the plasma membrane in opposite directions.






35. 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






36. 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.






37. A passageway leading from behind the nasal cavity to the trachea. The pharynx is divided into three regions - named for their location. The nasopharynx is behind the nasal cavity - the oropharynx is behind the oral cavity - and the laryngopharynx is






38. 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] -






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






40. A hormone produced and secreted by teh adrenal medulla that prolongs and increases teh effects of the sympathetic nervous system.






41. 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).






42. One of the three primary (embryonic) germ layers formed during gastrulation. Endoderm ultimately forms internal structures - such as the inner lining of the GI tract and glandular organs.






43. The enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft.






44. 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).






45. A general cell junction - used primarily for adhesion.






46. The first generation of offspring from a given genetic cross.






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






48. The enzyme that catalyzes the phosphorylation of fructose -6- phosphate to form fructose -1-6- bisphosphate in the third step of glycolysis. This is the main regulatory step of glycolysis. PFK is feedback - inhibited by ATP.






49. A non - bony material that fills the hollow spaces inside bones. Red bone marrow is found in regiosn of spongy bone and is the site of blood cell (red and white) production. Yellow bone marrow is found in the diaphysis (shaft) of long bones - is most






50. The plasma membrane of a muscle cell.