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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 third stage of cellular respiration - in which acetyl - CoA is combined with oxaloacetate to form citric acid. The citric acid is then decarboxylated twice and isomerized to recreate oxaloacetate. In the process - 3 molecules of NADH - 1 molecule






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






3. The interior of a mitochondrion (the region bounded by the inner membrane). - The matrix is the site of action of pyruvate dehydroganse complex and the Krebs cycle.






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






5. 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






6. The period of time following an action potential when it is possible - but difficult - for the neuron to fire a second action potential due to the fact that membrane is further from theshold potential (hyperpolarized).






7. A type of lipoprotein; the form in which absorbed fats from the intestines are transported to the circulatory system.






8. An enzyme inhibitor that competes with substrate for binding at the active site of teh enzyme. When the inhibitor is bound - no product can be made.






9. (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.






10. The specific site on an antigenic molecule that binds to a T cell receptor or to an antibody.






11. The 3' end of a tRNA molecule that binds an amino acid. The nucleotide sequence at this end is CCA






12. Diploid cells resulting from the activation of anoogoium; primary oocytes are ready to enter meiosis I. remember: cyte means ready to undergo meiosi






13. The mass of cells in the blastocyst that ultimately give rise to the embryo and other embryonic structues (the amion - the umbilical vessels - etc.)






14. Hardy crystals consisting of calcium and phosphate that form the bone matrix.






15. 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.






16. A helical protein that winds around actin helices in skeletal and cardiac muscle cells to form the thin filament of the sarcomere. In the absence of Ca2+ - tropomyosin covers the myosin - binding sites on actin and prevents muscle contraction. When c






17. The movement of air out of the respiratory tract. Expiration can be passive (caused by relaxation of the diaphragm and elastic recoil of the lungs) or active (caused by contraction of the abdominal muscles - which increases intraabdominal pressure an






18. An enzyme whose transcription can be stimulated by an abundance of its substrate (as opposed to repressible enzyme). Usually in catabolism.






19. An enzyme whose transcription can be stopped by an abundance of its product (as opposed to inducible enzymes). Usually part of anabolism of product.






20. 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






21. The mechanism described by Charles Darwin that drives evolution. Through mutation - some organisms possess genes that make them better adapted to their environment. These organisms survive and reproduce more than those that do not possess the benefic






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






23. A poysaccharide found in the cell walls of fungi and in the exoskeletons of insects.






24. A structure near the middle of eukaryotic chromosomes to which the fibers of the mitotic spindle attach during cell division.






25. The clear portion of the tough outer layer of teh eye ball - found over the iris and pupil






26. A clump of gray matter (unmyelinated neuron cell bodies) found in the peripheral nervous system.






27. The muscuar layer of the uterus. The myometrium is made of smooth muscles that retains its ability to divide in order to accomodate the massive size increases that occur during pregnancy. The myometrium is stimulated to contract during labor by the h






28. A hormone secreted by the small intestine (duodenum) in response to low pH (e.g. - from stomach acid). It promotes the release of bicarbonate from the pancreas to act as a buffer.






29. 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).






30. The region of the nephron that surrounds the glomerulus. The capsule ollects the plasma that is filtered from teh capillaries in the glomerulus.

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






32. The membrane that separates the middle ear from the inner ear.






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






34. The portion of the hindbrain that controls respiratory and blood pressure - and specialized digestive and respiratory functions such as vomiting - sneezing - and coughing.






35. A viral life cycle in which the host is turned into a 'virus factory' and ultimately lysed to release the new viral particles.






36. Anterior pituitary gland






37. Pairing of homologus chromosomes in a diploid cell - as occurs during prophase I of meiosis.






38. Physical structures in two different organisms that have structural similarity due to a common ancestor - but may have different functions. Homologous structures arise from divergent evolution.






39. A function of the reproductive system controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. In males - organs includes emission and ejaculation; in females it is mainly a series of rhythmic contraction of the pelvic floor muscles and the uterus.






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






41. The location on a chromosome where transcription begins.






42. Produced in muscle cells from the reduction of pyruvate (under anaerobic conditions) to regenerate NAD+ so that glycolysis can continue. A rise in lactic acid usually accompanies an increase in physical activity.






43. 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'.






44. 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.






45. The combination of alleles of an organism carries. In a homozygous genotype - both alleles are the same - whereas in a heterozygous gentorype the alleles are different.






46. The pressure measured in the arteries during contraction of the ventricles (during systole).






47. A situation in which a heterozygote displays the phenotype associated with each of the alleles - e.g. - human blood type AB.






48. The layer of connective tissue directly under the mucosa of an open body cavity.






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






50. Paired glands near the posterior side of the vaginal that secrete an alkaline mucus upon sexual arousal. The mucus helps to reduce the acidity of the vagina (which could be harmful to sperm) and lubricates the vagina to facilitate penetration.