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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 portion of the placenta derived from the zygote.






2. A lubricating - nourishing fluid found in joint capsules.






3. A method of DNA protection utilized by prokaryotes in which their large circular chromosome is coiled upon itself.






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






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






6. A diploid cell formed by the fusion of two gametes during sexual reproduction.






7. An enzyme secreted by the juxtaglomerular cells when blood pressure decreases. Renin onverts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I.






8. The reduced form of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). This is the most common electron carrier in cellular respiration.






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






10. A cytoplasmic protein that binds to a stop codon where it appears in the A- site of the ribosome. Release factors modify the peptidyl transferase activity of the ribosome - such that a water molecule is added to the end of the completed protein. This






11. The portion of the brain responsible for visual and auditory startle reflexes.






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






13. A methylated guanine nucleotide added to the 5' end of eukaryotic mRNA. The cap is necessary to initiate translation of mRNA


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






15. The connection of a mosin head group to an actin filament during muscle contraction (the sliding filament theory).






16. Gaps in the myelin sheath of the axons of peripheral neruons. Action potentials can 'hump' from node to node - thus increasing the speed of conduction (saltatory conduction).






17. A small gland encircling the male urethra just inferior to the bladder (only reproductive structure not paired). Its secretion contain nutrients and enzymes and account for approximately 35% of the ejaculate volume.






18. 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..






19. The cellular elements of blood; erythrocytes - leukocytes - and platelets.






20. A type of white blood cell; leukocytes are either B or T cells and are involved in disease defense.






21. A long - coiled duct on the outside of the testis in which sperm mature.






22. 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.






23. The folds of the inner membrane of a mitochondrion






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






25. Small cavities in the bone or cartilage that hold individual bones or cartilage cells.






26. The exchange of DNA between paired homologus chromosomes (tetrads) during prophase I of meiosis.






27. A type of synapse at which a chemical (a neurotransmitter) is released from teh axon of a neuron into the ysnaptic cleft where it binds to receptors on the next structure in sequence - either another neuron or an organ.






28. 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






29. An enzyme that connects two fragments of DNA to make a single fragment; also called DNA ligase. This enzyme is usedd during DNA replication and is also used in recombinant DNA research.






30. 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.






31. Enzymes that degrade various macromolecules and that require an acidic pH to function properly. Acid hydrolases are found within the lysosomes of cells.






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






33. One of the two peripheral nervous system supporting (glial) cells. Schwann cells from he myelin sheath on axons of peripheral neurons.






34. 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.






35. 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.






36. 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).






37. Anterior pituitary topic hormones FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing homeon) that stimulates the gonads (testes and ovaries) to produce gametes and to secrete sex steroids.






38. (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.






39. 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).






40. 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






41. A gene appearing in a single copy in diploid organisms - e.g. X- linked genes in human males.






42. The law of conservation of energy; the energy of the universe is constant - thus if the energy of a system increases - the energy of its surroundings must decrease - and vice versa.






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






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






45. One of two large vessels (superior and inferior) that return deoxygenated blood to the right atrium of the heart.






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






47. The percentage of individuals with a particular genotype that actually displays the phenotype associated with the genotype.






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






49. A microscopic space between the axon of one neuron and the cell body or dendrites of a secon neruon - or between the axon of a neuron and an organ.






50. The folds of skin that enclose the vaginal and urethral openings of females.