MCAT Biology : MCAT Biological Sciences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for MCAT Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #26 : Cellular Structures And Organelles

Prions are the suspected cause of a wide variety of neurodegenerative diseases in mammals. According to prevailing theory, prions are infectious particles made only of protein and found in high concentrations in the brains of infected animals. All mammals produce normal prion protein, PrPC, a transmembrane protein whose function remains unclear. 

Infectious prions, PrPRes, induce conformational changes in the existing PrPC proteins according to the following reaction:

PrPC  + PrPRes  → PrPRes + PrPRes

The PrPRes is then suspected to accumulate in the nervous tissue of infected patients and cause disease. This model of transmission generates replicated proteins, but does so bypassing the standard model of the central dogma of molecular biology. Transcription and translation apparently do not play a role in this replication process.

This theory is a major departure from previously established biological dogma. A scientist decides to test the protein-only theory of prion propagation. He establishes his experiment as follows:

Homogenized brain matter of infected rabbits is injected into the brains of healthy rabbits, as per the following table:

Rabbit 1 and 2: injected with normal saline on days 1 and 2

The above trials serve as controls.

Rabbit 3 and 4: injected with homogenized brain matter on days 1 and 2

The above trials use unmodified brain matter.

Rabbit 5 and 6: injected with irradiated homogenized brain matter on days 1 and 2

The above trials use brain matter that has been irradiated to destroy nucleic acids in the homogenate.

Rabbit 7 and 8: injected with protein-free centrifuged homogenized brain matter on days 1 and 2

The above trials use brain matter that has been centrifuged to generate a protein-free homogenate and a protein-rich homogenate based on molecular weight.

Rabbit 9 and 10: injected with boiled homogenized brain matter on days 1 and 2

The above trials use brain matter that have been boiled to destroy any bacterial contaminants in the homogenate.

A scientist realizes that the PrPC protein functions in normal cells to help regulate the cell membrane potential. Her research shows that cells with PrPC have a normal resting membrane potential at around –70 mV. Activation of PrPC causes depolarization, with a peak depolarization at around +60 mV. What ion, also present in action potentials, is PrPC most likely allowing to flow freely?

Possible Answers:

Cl–

Mg2+

K+

Na+

Ca2+

Correct answer:

Na+

Explanation:

Students should know the main players in establishing action potentials are K+ and Na+.  Further, Na+ inward flow through open channels brings an action potential to a peak depolarization of about +60 mV, which is sodium's equilibrium potential

Example Question #182 : Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, And Genetics

Which of the following is generally permeable to the cell membrane?

Possible Answers:

Albumin

Testosterone

Potassium ions

Glucose

Correct answer:

Testosterone

Explanation:

Albumin, glucose, and potassium ions are all examples of NON-permeable solutes. To be permeable, a solute must be small and nonpolar. Albumin, the main osmoregulatory protein, is bulky and too large to cross the membrane freely. Glucose is also large, as well as polar, and cannot cross the membrane. Potassium cannot freely cross due to the positive charge on the ion. All of these will require facilitated means of entering the cell.

Testosterone is a steroid hormone, and as such is small and nonpolar. All steroid hormones have intracellular receptors, and are able to enter a cell freely. Of the four choices, it is the only solute that can permeate the cell membrane.

Example Question #28 : Cellular Structures And Organelles

Plasma membrane channels are classified as which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Integral membrane proteins because they are not amphipathic

Peripheral membrane proteins because they contain hydrophobic regions that can span the phospholipid bilayer

Integral membrane proteins because they contain hydrophobic regions that can span the phospholipid bilayer

Peripheral membrane proteins because they are not amphipathic

Correct answer:

Integral membrane proteins because they contain hydrophobic regions that can span the phospholipid bilayer

Explanation:

Integral membrane proteins are proteins that span the entire membrane, whereas peripheral membrane proteins are proteins that associate only with only one side of the membrane (the "periphery").

Plasma membrane channels are proteins that facilitate the exchange of ions and other molecules between the extracellular and intracellular sides of a cell. To accomplish this task, a channel must span through the membrane (phospholipid bilayer); therefore, membrane channels are classified as integral membrane proteins. Recall that the inside of a phospholipid bilayer is extremely hydrophobic. Since like dissolves like, a membrane channel must contain hydrophobic regions that can interact with the interior of the phospholipid bilayer.

Amphipathic molecules contain both polar and nonpolar regions. Integral proteins (and most peripheral proteins) are amphipathic molecules. Phospholipids are also amphipathic molecules because they contain a polar head and a nonpolar tail.

Example Question #21 : Cellular Structures And Organelles

Which of the following is true regarding plasma membrane channels?

Possible Answers:

Facilitated diffusion of molecules occurs at a slower rate than simple diffusion

Water can traverse the phospholipid bilayer via simple or facilitated diffusion

Some plasma membrane channels use facilitated diffusion to move molecules against their electrochemical gradients

The hydrophobic regions on plasma membrane channels are made up of lipids

Correct answer:

Water can traverse the phospholipid bilayer via simple or facilitated diffusion

Explanation:

Water molecules are small and can travel through the membrane via simple diffusion. The rate of simple diffusion, however, is extremely slow due to the polarity of water molecules and their reluctance to enter the hydrophobic core of the membrane. Faster transportation of water molecules occurs via facilitated diffusion by specialized membrane channels called aquaporins; therefore, water can be transported via simple diffusion and facilitated diffusion.

Hydrophobic regions on membrane channels are essential to span the hydrophobic portions of the phospholipid bilayer. Although they are hydrophobic, lipids are not the main components of the hydrophobic regions. The hydrophobic regions in a membrane channel consist of hydrophobic amino acids that contain nonpolar side chains. 

Remember that facilitated diffusion and simple diffusion are both forms of passive transport; therefore, these processes do not require energy and transport molecules from a region of high concentration to low concentration. They don’t move molecules against their electrochemical gradient. 

Facilitated diffusion occurs at a much higher rate than simple diffusion. Facilitated diffusion uses membrane channels to transport molecules; therefore, it is much easier for molecules to traverse through a channel (facilitated diffusion) than the phospholipid bilayer (simple diffusion).

Example Question #31 : Plasma Membrane And Transport

Which of the following are true about a cell's phospholipid bilayer?

Possible Answers:

Consists of both polar heads and polar tails

Consists of outward facing polar heads and non-polar tails packed between

Consists of outward facing non-polar tails and polar heads packed between

Consists of both non-polar heads and non-polar tails

Correct answer:

Consists of outward facing polar heads and non-polar tails packed between

Explanation:

Each phospholipid consists of a polar phosphate head and two non-polar lipid tails. The phospholipid bilayer consists of polar heads facing the inside and outside of the cell, which interact with polar, aqueous environments. The non-polar hydrocarbon tails are packed on the inside of the bilayer, as far away from the polar environments as possible.

Example Question #182 : Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, And Genetics

Which is not a difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Possible Answers:

Eukaryotes can be multicellular, while prokaryotes are always unicellular

Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles that prokaryotes do not

Eukaryotic cells have a plasma membrane, while prokaryotic cells do not

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have different sizes of ribosomes

Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus

Correct answer:

Eukaryotic cells have a plasma membrane, while prokaryotic cells do not

Explanation:

Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have plasma membranes that separates the cell's contents from the external environment. Prokaryotic cells frequently have more external layers (cell wall and cell capsule), since they are generally more exposed and require additional protection from the environment, but these layers will always lie one top of the fundamental cell membrane.

Prokaryotes have 70S ribosomes, while eukaryotes have 80S ribosomes. Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus, while prokaryotes lack such organelles. Prokaryotic organisms are always unicellular, while eukaryotic organisms can be either unicellular (protists) or multicellular.

Example Question #33 : Plasma Membrane And Transport

Which of the following structures plays the biggest role in cell containment?

Possible Answers:

Lysosomes

Phospholipid bilayer

Peroxisomes

Mitochondria

Correct answer:

Phospholipid bilayer

Explanation:

Cell containment, as the name suggests, is the process by which the contents of a cell (organelles, cytoskeleton, etc.) are contained within a region of space inside the cell. This means that there must be a barrier that prevents the contents from leaking out of the cell. This barrier is the phospholipid bilayer, or cell membrane. Phospholipid bilayers can be found in plasma membranes or in the membranes that cover the organelles. Recall that most organelles in an eukaryotic cell contain a phospholipid bilayer that separates the contents of the organelle from the cytosol.

Example Question #183 : Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, And Genetics

Which of the following is important for proper cell containment?

I. Semipermeability of the cell membrane

II. Acidity of lysosomes

III. Mitochondrial DNA

Possible Answers:

I and II

I only

II only

II and III

Correct answer:

I only

Explanation:

Proper cell containment depends heavily on the properties of the phospholipid bilayer. The cell membrane is semipermeable; this means that the cell membrane only permits certain molecules to pass through. If the cell membrane were permeable to everything, then the contents inside the cell can easily traverse the cell membrane and exit the cell. The semipermeability of the cell membrane is very important to maintain cell containment and regulate the homeostatic environment of the cell interior.

The acidity of lysosomes and presence of mitochondrial DNA are irrelevant to cell containment. The acidity of lysosomes is important for eliminating biological waste products inside the cell, and the mitochondrial DNA is important to produce unique mitochondrial proteins; however, they do not play a role in maintaining the contents of the cell or an organelle.

Example Question #1235 : Biology

Cryptosporidium is a genus of gastrointestinal parasite that infects the intestinal epithelium of mammals. Cryptosporidium is water-borne, and is an apicomplexan parasite. This phylum also includes Plasmodium, Babesia, and Toxoplasma. 

Apicomplexans are unique due to their apicoplast, an apical organelle that helps penetrate mammalian epithelium. In the case of cryptosporidium, there is an interaction between the surface proteins of mammalian epithelial tissue and those of the apical portion of the cryptosporidium infective stage, or oocyst. A scientist is conducting an experiment to test the hypothesis that the oocyst secretes a peptide compound that neutralizes intestinal defense cells. These defense cells are resident in the intestinal epithelium, and defend the tissue by phagocytizing the oocysts. 

She sets up the following experiment:

As the neutralizing compound was believed to be secreted by the oocyst, the scientist collected oocysts onto growth media. The oocysts were grown among intestinal epithelial cells, and then the media was collected. The media was then added to another plate where Toxoplasma gondii was growing with intestinal epithelial cells. A second plate of Toxoplasma gondii was grown with the same type of intestinal epithelium, but no oocyst-sourced media was added.

Upon studying cryptosporidium under a microscope, the scientist in the passages notices that each oocyst has a thick cell wall. When the scientist puts the oocysts into pure water, the oocysts remain intact while other cells swell. Against what kind of stress is the oocyst cell wall protecting?

Possible Answers:

Tensile

Osmotic

Dilutional

Halo-tonic

Hydropic

Correct answer:

Osmotic

Explanation:

As described in the question, the shell is protecting against osmotic stress. We would expect osmotic stress to be present when we put the oocysts in pure water, which is hypotonic relative to the oocyst itself. The tendency of non-protected cells to burst in such a condition is the result of osmotic stress caused by the influx of water diffusing across the membrane.

Example Question #1231 : Biology

An erythrocyte is placed into a solution with a large concentration of sodium. The erythrocyte is in a __________ solution and it will __________.

Possible Answers:

hypotonic . . . burst 

hypertonic . . . burst 

hypertonic . . . crenate 

hypotonic . . . crenate 

Correct answer:

hypertonic . . . crenate 

Explanation:

Because there is a smaller concentration of solute inside the cell than in the solution, it is said to be in a hypertonic solution. This will cause water from inside the cell to move outside the plasma membrane to account for this difference; therefore, the cell will crenate (shrink).

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