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MCAT Biology 2

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. System of tubules that provides channels for ion flow throughout the muscle fibers to facilitate the propagation of an action potential.






2. Two lobes joined by a central mass in the throat - inferior to the larynx - produces two major hormones.






3. Simplest starch which is a long unbranching chain of glucose molecules has the same alpha linkages as glycogen






4. Process in which homologous chromosomes exchange portions of their chromatids during meiosis






5. Series of anaerobic chemical reactions in which pyruvic acid uses NADH to form lactic acid and NAD+ - which is then used in glycolysis; supplies energy when oxygen for aerobic respiration is scarce






6. Weak acids or bases that can react with strong acids or bases to prevent sharp sudden changes in pH






7. A mixed nerve that supplies the pharynx and larynx and lungs and heart and esophagus and stomach and most of the abdominal viscera






8. The changing of the vitelline membrane into a hard fertilization envelope that further resists the entry of other sperm.






9. The specific portion of an enzyme that attaches to the substrate by means of weak chemical bonds.






10. Organic compound with a backbone of three carbon atoms. Two molecules form as end products of glycolysis






11. A digestive enzyme of the saliva that turns starch into maltose (salivary amylase)






12. Products of the first meiotic division - contain a haploid number of dyads - and undergo the second stage of meiotic division.






13. When the chromosomes replicate






14. Fibers in the ventricles that transmit impulses to the right and left ventricles - causing them to contract






15. Stimulates cortex of the adrenal glands to make cortisol/ cortisone which is needed in stressful situations






16. Excited electrons are passed from protein to protein in the thylakoid membrane






17. A compound - such as hemoglobin - made up of a protein molecule and a nonprotein prosthetic group.






18. For very fatty foods - the duodenum releases this hormone to slow down the release of chyme by the stomach. (Fats take longer to digest).






19. A way of assessing the function of a gene by introducing special transgenic constructs to inactivate its mRNA






20. Rapid antibody production that occurs following re - exposure to the antigen. IgG is the predominant antibody produced during this.






21. The breakdown of carbohydrates by enzymes - bacteria - yeasts - or mold in the absence of oxygen






22. Stimulate production of platelets






23. A muscle that is connected at either or both ends to a bone and so move parts of the skeleton






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






25. They way in which DNA base pairs are arranged






26. An enzyme from the pancreas that digests proteins in the small intestine






27. A muscle cell or gland cell that performs the body's responses to stimuli; responds to signals from the brain or other processing center of the nervous system.






28. Volume of blood pumped by one ventricle per minute; stroke volume x heart rate






29. Cartilaginous area at the ends of long bones where lengthwise growth takes place in the immature skeleton






30. The removal of an amino group from an organism - particularly from an amino acid






31. Made from cholesterol. Composed of 4 carbon rings attached to distinctive side chains that determine the unique properties of the hormones. Hydrophobic and fat soluble.






32. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin - a hormone secreted by the trophoblast cells of a blasocyst (i.e. developing embryo) that prolongs the life of the corpus luteum - and thus increases the duration and amount of secreted progesterone. This helps to mainta






33. Two spongy organs - located in the thoracic cavity enclosed by the diaphragm and rib cage - responsible for respiration






34. The movement of substances into or out of cells without the expenditure of energy or the involvement of transport proteins in the cell membrane. Also called simple diffusion.






35. Hormone that is released from the posterior pituitary in response to nerve impulses. This causes the distal and collecting tubules of the kidneys to reabsorb more water from the urinary filtrate.






36. The opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge






37. Dynamic - temporary array of microtubules that moves chromosomes in precise directions during mitosis or meiosis.






38. A globular protein that links into chains - two of which twist helically about each other - forming microfilaments in muscle and other contractile elements in cells.






39. Km - is the ratio of the breakdown of an enzyme - substrate complex to its formation in simple Michaelis - Menton reactions. Km is also half Vmax - and a low Km indicates a strong affinity between an enzyme and its substrate.






40. The first phase of meiosis I. During prophase I the replicated chromosomes condense - homologous chromsomes pair up - crossing over occurs between homologous chromosomes - the spindle is formed - and the nuclear envelope breaks apart into vesicles. P






41. Area of prokaryotic cells where the DNA is concentrated.






42. An enzyme complex in the inner membrane of a mitochondrion and the thylakoid membrane of a chloroplast that catalyzes the formation of ATP.






43. The protective skin pigment responsible for the tan - brown - or black color of human skin; produced in abundance upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation






44. Another term for R- group; variable grp of an amino acid that differs w/ each and determines the unique characteristics of a particular amino acid. also attached to the alpha carbon.






45. Adrenaline; activates a sympathetic nervous system by making the heart beat faster - stopping digestion - enlarging pupils - sending sugar into the bloodstream - preparing a blood clot faster






46. Aid in expiration by contracting to pull the ribs downward and decrease the volume of the thoracic cavity (internal intercostal muscles originate in the inferior rib and insert on the superior rib)






47. Package of nucleic acid wrapped in a protein coat that must use a host cell's machinery to reproduce itself. are not considered living cells.






48. A lymphocyte that matures in the bone marrow; after encountering an antigen - it will differentiate into antibody- secreting plasma cells (effector cells of humoral immunity)






49. Series of events that cells go through as they grow and divide






50. The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron