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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. A cyoplasmic Ca2+- binding protein. Calmodulin is particularly important in smooth muscle cells - where binding of Ca2+ allows calmodulin to activate myosin light - chian kinase - the first step in smooth muscle cell contraction.






2. The outer protein coat of a virus (the whole coat)






3. The set of adult characteristics that develop during puberty under the control of the sex steroids. In males the secondary sex characteristics include enlargement and maturation of the genitalia - growth of facial - body - and pubic hair - increased






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






5. The formation of haploid gametes (sperm or ova) via meiosis.






6. The mechanism that ensures tehat skeletal muscle contraction does not occur without neural stimulation (excitation). A trest - cytosolic [Calcium] is low - and the troponin - tropomyosin complex covers the myosin - binding sites on actin. When the mu






7. A pigment produced by melanocytes in teh bottom cell layer of the epidermis. Melanin production is increased on sun exposure and helps prevent cllular damage due to UV radiation.






8. In skeletal and cardiac muscle tissue - a filament composed of bundles of myosin molecules. The myosin head groups attach to the thick filaments and pull the toward the center of the sarcomere during muscle contraction.






9. Transfer RNA; the type of RNA that carries an amino acid from the cytoplasm to the ribosome for incorporation into a growing protein.






10. A situation in which a heterozygot displays a blended version of the pheotypes associated with each allele - e.g. pure - breeding white - flowered plants crossed with pure - breeding red - flowered plants produces heterozygous offspring plants with p






11. The three small bones found in the middle ear (the malleus - the incus - and the stapes) that help to amplify the vibrations from sound waves. The malleus is atached to the tympanic membrane and the stapes is attached to the oval window of the cochle






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






13. A bacterium having a spiral shape (plural = spirochetes)






14. The 3D site of an enzyme where substrates (reactants) bind and a chemical reaction is facilitated.






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






16. A region within the nucleus where rRNA is transribed and ribosomes are partially assembled.






17. A four - carbon molecule that binds with the two - carbon acetyl unit of acetyl - CoA to form citric acid in the first step of the Krebs cycle.






18. General - non - specific protection to the body - including the skin (barrier) - gastric acid - phagocytes - lysozyme - and complement.






19. 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






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






21. A hydrophobic molecule - usually fomred from long hydrocarbon chains. The most common forms in which lipids are found in the body are as triglycerides (energy storage) - phospholipids (cell membranes) - and cholestero (cell membranes and steroid synt






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






23. The valve that controls the release of urine from the bladder. It has an internal part made of smooth muscle (thus involuntary) and an external part made of skeletal muscle (thus voluntary).






24. An X- linked recessive disorder in Which blood fails to clot properly - leading to excessive bleeding if injured.






25. A short period of time **prior to exponential growth of a bacterial population during which no - or very limited - cell division occurs.






26. The second phase of meiosis II. Metaphase II is identical to mitotic metaphase - except that the number of chromosomes was reduced by half during meiosis I.






27. Enzymes secreted by the mucosal cells lining the intestine. The brush border enzymes are disaccharides adn dipeptidases taht digest the smallest peptides and carbohydrates into their respective monomers.






28. The small artery that carries blood toward the capillaries of the glomerulus.






29. 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).






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






31. The flow of blood from the heart - through the lungs - and back to the heart.






32. Molecules made from monosaccharides that serve as the primary source of cellular energy -. Carbohydrates can also act as cell surface markers (good thing to remember).






33. A person with blood type AB+. Because this person's red blood cells possess all of the typical blood surface proteins - they will not display an immune reaction if transfused with any of the other blood types.






34. The movement of a substance from the filtrate (in the renal tuble) bak into the bloodstream. Reabsorption reduces the amount of a substance in the urine.






35. Summation by a postsynaptic cell of input (EPSPs or IPSPs) from a single source over time.






36. The stoppage of bleeding; blood clotting.






37. The outer layer of smooth muscle in the wall of the digestive tract. When the longitudinal muscle contracts the tube shortens.






38. The reduced from (carries electrons) of FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide). this is the other main electron carrier in cellular respiration (NADH is the most common).






39. HCO3-. THis ion results from the dissociation of carbonic acid - together wiht carbonic acid forms the the major blood buffer system. Bicarbonate is also secreted by teh pancreas to neutralize stomach acid in the intestines.






40. 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.






41. An ion channel specific for potassium found in the plasma membrane of all cells in the body. Leak channels are constitutively open and allow their specifi ion to move across the membrane according to its gadient. Potassium leak channels allow potassi






42. A carrier protein that transports a single molecule across the plasma membrane.






43. A person with blood type O-. Because this person's red blood cells possess none of the typical blood suface proteins - they cannot initiate an immune reaction in a recipient.






44. 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






45. A bacterium having a rod - like shaped (plural = bacilli).






46. The sum of all genetic material in a population.






47. The basic functional and structural unit of the nervous system. The neuron is a highly specialized cell - designed to transmit action potentials.






48. The blood vessels taht carry blood to and from cardiac muscle. The coronary arteries branch off teh aorta and carry oxygenated blood to the cardiac tissue. The coronary veins collect deoxygenated blood from teh cardiac tissue - merge to form teh coro






49. A blood clot that forms in an unbrokened blood vessel. Thrombi are dangerous they can break free and begin travelin in the bloodstream (become an embolus). Emboli ultimately become stuck in a small vessel and prevent adequate blood delivery to tissue






50. An organelle bounded by a double membrane (double lipid bilayer) called the nuclear envelope. The nucleus contains the genome and is the site of replication and transcription.