MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) · Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
Cell Biology, Genetics and Physiology
69 practice questions, each with the answer and an explanation.
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Random questions from this topic, one at a time. You see the answer and the explanation straight after each one.
All 69 questions
- Which organelle contains hydrolytic enzymes for intracellular digestion?
- Which organelle is mainly responsible for modifying, sorting and packaging proteins for secretion?
- During which phase of mitosis do the sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles?
- In which phase of meiosis does crossing over between homologous chromosomes occur?
- In a population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, 4% of people have a recessive condition. What is the frequency of carriers?
- A woman who is a carrier of an X-linked recessive disease has children with an unaffected man. What proportion of their sons are expected to be affected?
- Which two hormones are released from the posterior pituitary?
- How does antidiuretic hormone increase water reabsorption in the collecting duct?
- Where is the main pacemaker of the heart located?
- Which organ produces bile?
- Which cell type secretes antibodies?
- Which cell is a professional antigen-presenting cell that activates naive helper T cells?
- Cytotoxic T cells recognize antigen displayed on which molecule?
- Which ion flows into a neuron mainly during the depolarization phase of an action potential?
- What is the main effect of myelin on a neuron's axon?
- In the polymerase chain reaction, which step requires the highest temperature?
- Which technique separates DNA fragments according to their size?
- Which cells in the stomach secrete hydrochloric acid?
- Which of these is a function of the lymphatic system?
- Which cells produce antibodies?
- Which type of RNA carries amino acids to the ribosome?
- A neuron membrane potential becomes more negative than the resting potential. What is this called?
- Which chambers of the heart pump blood out to the body and lungs?
- Which part of the brain regulates body temperature and hunger?
- During which phase of meiosis does crossing over occur?
- Which structure in the lungs is the site of gas exchange?
- Which gland secretes thyroxine?
- What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?
- Which type of immunity is provided by a vaccine?
- Which hormone released from the posterior pituitary increases water reabsorption in the collecting duct?
- Which event occurs first in an action potential?
- Which enzyme begins the digestion of starch?
- Which hormone causes the uterine lining to thicken after ovulation?
- Which structure connects the placenta to the fetus?
- Which of the following describes a dominant allele?
- Which type of muscle is under voluntary control and striated?
- A cross of two heterozygous individuals (Aa x Aa) produces what ratio of genotypes?
- What is the role of calcium in skeletal muscle contraction?
- Which germ layer gives rise to the nervous system?
- Which ion is primarily responsible for the plateau phase of the cardiac ventricular action potential?
- Which vitamin deficiency causes night blindness?
- Which process allows bacteria to take up DNA from the environment?
- Which hormone is released by the adrenal medulla during the fight-or-flight response?
- Which receptor type is a ligand-gated ion channel?
- Which organelle is the site of oxidative phosphorylation?
- A person with blood type AB can receive red blood cells from which donors?
- Which phase of the cell cycle includes DNA replication?
- Which cytoskeletal element forms the mitotic spindle?
- Which cell division produces gametes?
- Which cell type in the pancreas secretes insulin?
- Which organ is the main site of bile production?
- Which type of cell junction allows direct passage of small molecules between adjacent cells?
- In a population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of the recessive allele is 0.3. What is the frequency of heterozygotes?
- Which structure transmits sound vibrations from the eardrum to the oval window?
- Where does most chemical digestion of fats occur?
- Which structure of the nephron is the main site of glucose reabsorption?
- Which blood vessel carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart?
- Which enzyme unwinds the DNA double helix at the replication fork?
- Which organelle contains hydrolytic enzymes that digest worn-out cell components?
- Which amino acid contains a sulfhydryl group able to form disulfide bonds?
- In which part of the cell does glycolysis occur?
- Which hormone is secreted by the anterior pituitary and stimulates the thyroid?
- Which type of bond holds the two strands of DNA together?
- Which cells of the immune system present antigen on MHC class II molecules?
- Which stage of mitosis aligns the chromosomes at the cell's equator?
- Which molecule carries the genetic code out of the nucleus?
- Which structure of a neuron receives incoming signals from other neurons?
- Which ion enters the presynaptic terminal to trigger neurotransmitter release?
- Which organ stores bile?