All SAT II Biology M Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Sat Subject Test In Biology
Which of the following statements about the electron transport chain is true?
The electron transport chain is used to transport soluble proteins from one organelle to the next.
The electron transport chain uses glucose as its final electron acceptor.
The electron transport chain is found only in plants.
The electron transport chain is found on the inside of the inner mitochondrial membrane.
The electron transport chain produces glucose as an energy source for the cell.
The electron transport chain is found on the inside of the inner mitochondrial membrane.
The electron transport chain is found on the inside of the inner mitochondrial membrane. It is not used to transport proteins; instead, it generates ATP to be used as an energy source by the cell. The electron transport chain is found in plants and animals (though the one found in plants operates very differently than the one found in animals). Oxygen is the final electron acceptor, not glucose.
Example Question #1 : Cell Functions
When cells send a signal, it is often in the form of a secreted molecule. In some cases, a cell will secrete a molecule that binds to a receptor on its own cell surface. What type of signaling is this?
Autocrine
Exocrine
Paracrine
Endocrine
Autocrine
When a molecule binds to a receptor on a cell surface, it means that a signal has been received by that cell. In this case, the cell that sent the signal is the same cell that is receiving the signal. Autocrine signaling is the term that describes a cell sending a signal to itself ("auto" in this context means self). Exocrine signaling occurs when a substance is secreted through a gland or duct. Endocrine signaling occurs when a substance is secreted into the bloodstream. Paracrine signaling occurs when a cell sends a signal to nearby cells (often to change the behavior or properties of those cells).
Example Question #2 : Cell Functions
Which of the following organisms undergo photosynthesis?
I. Blue-green algae
II. Cyanobacteria
III. Ferns
I, II, and III
III only
II and III only
I and II only
I and III only
I, II, and III
While the photosynthetic process differs slightly among these organisms, cyanobacteria, algae, and ferns (along with all other plants) all undergo photosynthesis-the process of using sunlight to synthesize food from carbon dioxide and water.
Example Question #2 : Cell Functions
1. Chromosomes begin to condense
2. Centrioles separate and begin to form a mitotic spindle as they move towards opposite sides of the cell
3. The nucleolus breaks down
During which phase of cell division do the given processes occur?
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
Prophase
Interphase
Prophase
During prophase, the cell will begin to condense its chromosomes to prepare for separation during anaphase. The pair of centrioles in the cell will also separate and begin to move towards opposite ends of the cell, while remaining attached to each chromosome by a microtubule. These fibers form the mitotic spindle, which organizes and repositions the chromosomes during cell division. During this phase, the nuclear envelope and nucleolus also break down and disappear.
Example Question #3 : Cell Functions
Each of the following is a step in mitosis EXCEPT __________.
sister chromatids separate and are pulled toward opposite poles of the cell
spindle fibers shorten
homologous pairs separate and are pulled toward opposite poles of the cell
the cytoplasm divides into two daughter cells
chromosomes condense
homologous pairs separate and are pulled toward opposite poles of the cell
There are no homologous pairs in mitosis. Mitosis has sister chromatids that separate and result in two identical daughter cells. Meiosis has homologous pairs because it occurs in sex cells and has one chromosome from the father and the other from the mother. These chromosomes pair up in Metaphase I and then separate in Anaphase I. Mitosis occurs in somatic cells so there is only one chromosome made up of two sister chromatids that separate during Anaphase.
Example Question #4 : Cell Functions
During which phase of meiosis does crossing over occur?
Prophase II
Anaphase I
Prophase I
Anaphase II
Metaphase I
Prophase I
Crossing over occurs during Prophase I. During Prophase I, chromatin condenses and homologous chromosomes come together to form a tetrad. At this point, sometimes pieces of the chromatids within the chromosomes break off and exchange DNA. This process is known as "crossing over." This cannot occur in Prophase II because there are no homologous chromosomes in this stage, and therefore there isn't any different DNA to exchange.
Example Question #2 : Cell Functions
During which of the following phases of the cell cycle do chromosomes align in the middle of the cell?
G2
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
S
Metaphase
The correct answer is "metaphase." The chromosomes are each attached to spindle fibers at the centromere. When the chromosomes align along the middle of the cell (often called the "metaphase plate"), the cell is in metaphase. Metaphase occurs after prophase (during which the cell grows and replicates its DNA) but before anaphase (when the chromosomes are pulled by spindle fibers to opposite ends of the cell).
Example Question #3 : Cell Functions
A new organism from Mars has been discovered, and its genome has . Although these organisms are fluorescent green, their cells undergo meiosis and mitosis in the exact same way that human cells do.
After one of these cells undergoes meiosis, how many chromosomes will it have?
A somatic (body) cell is always diploid, meaning that it has chromosomes. When a cell undergoes meiosis, the number of chromosomes in each daughter cell will be half the number in the original parent cell. Each daughter cell produced from meiosis will be haploid, meaning that it will have chromosomes.
Example Question #4 : Cell Functions
A new organism from Mars has been discovered, and its genome has . Although these organisms are fluorescent green, their cells undergo meiosis and mitosis in the exact same way that human cells do.
After one of these cells undergoes mitosis, how many chromosomes will it have?
A somatic (body) cell is always diploid, meaning that it has chromosomes. When a cell undergoes mitosis, the number of chromosomes in each daughter cell is the same as the number of chromosomes in the original parent cell. Each daughter cell produced from mitosis is diploid, meaning that it will have (in this case ) chromosomes.
Example Question #5 : Cell Functions
With regards to mitosis, which checkpoint is considered the most important?
G0
M
G1
G2
S
G1
G1 is considered to be the most important checkpoint in the cell cycle. G1 precedes S and G2, so it decides if the cell is ready to commit the resources to go through the S phase, G2 phase, M phase, and then finally division. S is crucial for the replication of cellular materials and the duplication of DNA, but if the cell cannot pass G1, then it will never reach S phase.