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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. 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.






2. A hair - like structure on teh cell surface composed of microtubules ina '9+2' arrangement (nine pairs of microtubles surrounding 2 single microtubules in the center). Teh microtubules are conneted with a contractile protien called dynein. Cilia beat






3. 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.






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






5. A projection of the cell body of a neuron that recieves a nerve impulse form a different neuron and send the impulse to the cell body. Neurons can have one or several dendrites!






6. An enzyme that transcribes RNa. Prokaryotes have a single RNA pol - while eukaryotes have three; in eukaryotes - RNA pol I transcribes rRNA - RNA pol II transcribes mRNA - and RNA pol III transcribes tRNA.






7. The hollow center of an osteon - also known as a Haversian canal. The central canal contains blood vessels - lymphatic vessels - lymphatic vessels - and nerves. Bone is laid down around the central canal in concentric rings called lamellae.






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






9. A region at the head of a sperm cell that contains digestive enzyems which - when released during the acrosome reaction - can facilitate penetration of the corona radiata of the egg - and subsequently - fertilization






10. The theory that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated as independent unicellular organsims living in symbiosis with larger cells






11. Chemoreceptors in the upper nasal cavity that respond to odo chemicals.






12. The attachment of an amino acid to a tRNA (not that this a specific interaction). tRNa loading requires two high - energy phosphate bonds.






13. A period of time following an action potential during which no additional action potential can be evoked regardless of the level of stimulation. (usually because Na+ channel closed whle K+ efflux)






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






15. 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






16. The tendency of certain factors to stablize the hemoglobin in the tense conformation - thus reducing its affinity for oxygen and enhancing the relase of oxygen to the tissues. The factors include increased PCO2 - increase temperature - increased bisp






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






18. An incrase in the fragility of the membranes of sperm cells when exposed to the female reproductive tract. Capacitation is required sot aht the acrosomal enzymes can be relased to faciliate fertilization.






19. An organism (such as a fungus) that feeds of dead plants and animals.






20. A band of carilage (hyaline) found between the diaphysis and epiphyses of long bones during childhood and adolescence. Cell proliferation in the middle of the eiphyseal plate essentially forces teh diaphysis and epiphyses further apart - while the ol






21. The largest organ in the abdominal cavity. The liver has many roles - including procesing of carbohydrates and fats - synthesis of urea - production of blood proteins - production of bile - recycling heme - and storage of vitamins.






22. The transfre by a lysogenic virus of a portion of a host cell genome to a new host.






23. An organ that develops during pregnacy - derived in part from the mother and in part from the zygote. The placenta is the site of exchange of nutrients and gases between the mother's blood and the fetus' blood. The placenta is formed during the first






24. Mendels' first law. The Law of Segregation states that the two alleles of a given gene will be separate from one another during gamete formation (meiosis).






25. The first substrate in teh Krebs cycle - produced primarily from the oxidation of pyruvate by the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex - however acetyl - CoA is also produced during fatty acid oxidation and protein catabolism.






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






27. A receptor that responds to light






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






29. The small artery that carries blood away from the capillaries of the glomerulus.






30. The synthesis of blood cells (occurs in the red bone marrow)






31. Proteins that bind to and stabilize the signle strands of DNA exposed when helicase unwinds the double helix in preparation for replication.






32. 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.






33. A cell produced when a B cell is activated by antigen. Memory cells do not actively fight the current infection - but patrol the body in case of future infection with the same antigen. If the antigen should appear again the future - memory cells are






34. The specialized cells of the heart that spontaneously initiate action potentials and transmit them to the cardiac muscle cells. The cells of the conduction system are essentially cardiac muscle cells - but lack the contractile fibers of the muscle ce






35. Strong bands of connective tissue that connect skeletal muscle to bone.






36. Aromatic bases found in DNa and RNA that have a single - ring structure. They include cytosine - thymine - and uracil.






37. The portion of the cell membrane at the neuromusclar junction; essentially the postsynaptic membrane at the synapse.






38. The outer ring of cells of a blastocyst. The trophoblast takes part in the formation of the placenta.






39. Sensory receptors found in the inner ear. Cochlear hair cells respond to vibration in the cochlea caused by sound waves and vestibular hair cells respond to changes in position and acceleration (used for balance).






40. One of several vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.






41. The force required to resist the movement of water by osmosis. Osmotic pressure is essentialy a measure of the concentration of a solution. A solution that is hyighly concnetrated has a strong tendency to draw water into itself - so the pressure requ






42. A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart chambers. Arteries have muscular walls to regulate blood flow and are typically high - pressure vessles.






43. 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).






44. The first phase of meiosis II. Prophase II is identical to mitotic prophase - except that the number of chromosomes was reduced by half during meiosis I.






45. The phase of mitosis during which the cell physically splits into two daugter cells. Cytokinesis begins near the end of anaphase - and is completed during telophase.






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






47. Toward the 5' end of an Rna transcript (the 5' end of the DNA coding strand). The promoter and start sites are upstream.






48. The pressure in the (theoretical) space between the lung surface and the inner wall of the chest cavity.






49. Connective tissue that lacks great amount of collagen or elastic fibers (hence - loose) - e.g. - adipose tissue and areolar (general connective) tissue.






50. A cell characterized by the presence of a nucleus and other membrane - bound organelles. Eukaryotes can be unicellular (protists) or multicellular (fungi - plants and animals).