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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. The layer of granulosa cells taht surround an oocyte after is has been ovulated.






2. A hormone released by the posterior pituitary that stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and milk ejection during breastfeeding.






3. An **organic molecuel taht associates non - covalently with an enzyme - and that is required for the proper functioning of the enzyme.






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






5. Identical copies of a chromosome - produced during DNA replication and held together at the centromere Sister chromatids are separated during anaphase of mitosis.






6. An organism that makes its own - typically using CO2 as a carbon source.






7. Pepsinogen - secreting cells foudn at teh bottom of the gastric glands






8. 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






9. A function the reproductive system (conrolled by the sympathetic nervous system) that returns the body to its normal resting state after sexual arousal and orgasm.






10. The third phase of mitosis. During anaphase - replicated chromosmes are split apart at their centromeres (the sister chromatids are separated from each other) and moved to opposite sides of the cell.






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






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






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






14. A blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart chambers. Veins do not have muscular walls - have valves to ensure that blood flows in one direction only - and are typically low - pressure vessels.






15. A green fluid made from cholesterol and secreted by teh liver. It is stored and concentrated in the gallbladder. Bile isn an amphipathic molecule that is secreted itno the small intestine when fats are present - adn serves to emulsify the fats for be






16. A network of membranes inside eukarytoic cells invovled in lipid synthesis (steroid in gonads) - detoxification (in liver cells) - and/or Ca2+ storage (muscle cells).






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






18. The phase of the cell cycle during which the replicated genome is divided. Mitosis has four phases (prophase - metaphase - anaphase - telophase) and includes cytokinesis (the physical splitting of the cell into two new cells).






19. The physical characterisitcs resulting from the genotype. Phenotypes are usually described as dominant or recessive.






20. The modifaction of enzyme activity through interactino of molecules with specific sites on the enzyme other than the active site (called allosteric sites)






21. The division between neighboring cardiac muscle cells. Intercalcated discs include gap junctions - which allow the cells to function as a unit.






22. A cell that produces bone.






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






24. A normal component of the outer membrane of Gram - negative bacteria. Endotoxins produce extreme immune reactions (septic shock) - particularly when many of them enter the circulation at once.






25. A globular protein found in muscle tissue that has the ability to bind oxygen. Myoglobin helps to store oxygen in the muscle for use in aerobic respiration (it does not move - just stays there). Muscles that participate in endurance activities (inclu






26. A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that tarets the mammary glands stimulating them to produce breastmilk.






27. 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.






28. A complex polymer of sugars and amino acids; the substance From which bacterial ell walls are made.






29. A chemical derived from vitamin A found in the pigment proteins of the rod photoreceptors of the retina. Retinal changes conformation when it absorbs light - triggering a series of reactions that ultimately result in an action potential being sent to






30. A layer of cells surroudning the granulosa cells of the follicles in an ovary. Thecal cells help produce the estrogen secreted from the follicle during the first phase of the ovarian cycle.






31. Movement across the membrane of a cell that does not require energy input from the cell. Passive transport relies on concentration gradients to provie the driving force for movement - and includes both simple and facilitated diffusion.






32. A haploid but immature cell resulting from the second meiotic division f spermatogenesis. Spermatids undergo significant physical changes to become mature sperm (spermatozoa).






33. A group of three nucleotides taht is specific for a particular amino acid - or that specifies 'stop translating'






34. The volume of air remaining in the lungs after a maximal forced exhalation - typically about 1200 mL.






35. The division of the peripheral nervous system that innervates and controls the skeletal muscles; also known as the voluntary nervous system.






36. 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






37. 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






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






39. A long projection off the cell body of a neruon down which an action potential can be propagated.






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






41. High frequency of recombination bacterium An F+ bacterium that has the fertility factor integrated into its chromosome. When conjugation takes place - it is able to transfer not only the F factor - but also its genomic DNA.






42. A sensory receptor that responds to mechanical disturbances - such as shape changes (being squashed - bent - pulled - etc.). Mechanoreceptors include touch receptors in the skin - hair cells - in the ear - muscle spindles - and others.






43. An organism that has two copies of its genome it each cell. The paired genomes are said to be homologous.






44. The majority of the cells surrouding an oocyte in a follicle. Granulosa cells secrete estrogen during the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle (before ovulation).






45. The principal glucocorticoid secreted from teh adrenal cortex. This steroid hormone is released ruing stress - causing increased blood glucose levels and reducing inflammation. The latter effect has led to a clinical use of cortisol as an anti - infl






46. Swelling of tissues - sometimes caused by inflammation letting into many white blood cells (decreasing oncotic pressure at the end of the capillaries & not letting as much water back into capillaries & staying in tissues).






47. The characteristics of amolecule that has both polar (hydrophilic) and non - polar hydrophobic) regions - e.g. phospholipids - bile - etc.






48. The unit of combact bone - also called a Haversian system. Osteons are essentially long cylinders of bone; the hollow center is called the central canal - and is where blood vessels - nervs - and lymphatic vessels are found. Compact bone is laid down






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






50. A red blood cell; they are filled with hemoglobin - and teh function of the erythrocytes is to carry oxygen in the blood.