Biological and Biochemical Foundations
of Living Systems MCAT Exam Questions
and Answers Graded A+
viral infection could lead to an increase in which cellular pathways - Correct
answer-aerobic respiration, PPP
Which cells are considered granulocytes? - Correct answer-basophils, eosinophils,
neutrophils
The adrenal cortex is derived from the ______
The adrenal medulla is derived from the _____ - Correct answer-mesoderm,
ectoderm
Which cells are considered agranulocytes? - Correct answer-lymphocytes,
monocytes
Microglia in the CNS, Langerhans cells in the skin, and osteoclasts in the bone are
examples of - Correct answer-macrophages
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,Why are CD4+ T cells most effective against bacterial, fungal, and parasitic
infections? - Correct answer-CD4+ T cells respond to antigens presented on MHC-
II which presents exogenous antigens
three hormones that can raise blood glucose level - Correct answer-glucagon,
epinephrine, cortisol
Why does it make sense for having three different hormones that can raise blood
glucose, while having only one hormone that can lower it - Correct answer-low
blood glucose levels are immediately fatal, elevated glucose is harmless in the
short term
what are the best antigen presenting cells? - Correct answer-dendritic cells
What does Pyruvate dehydrogenase do? - Correct answer-decarboxylates pyruvate
to acetyl coa
Activation of the sympathetic NS results in the release of ____ from post-
ganglionic neurons and _____ from the adrenal medulla - Correct answer-
norepinephrine, epinephrine
where does aldosterone regulate sodium reabsorption? - Correct answer-distal
convoluted tubule
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,non-specific protection the body provides (e.g. tears, skin, complement system) is
referred to as - Correct answer-innate immunity
Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs) express which proteins: - Correct answer-MHC
class I and II
humoral immunity refers to: - Correct answer-B-cells secreting antibodies
Why do the AV valves close at the beginning of systole? - Correct answer-to
prevent regurgitation of blood into the atria while the ventricles are contracting
Nuclear proteins such as TFs require what in order to be in the nucleus? - Correct
answer-nuclear localization signals
What do signal sequences do? - Correct answer-target proteins to the secretory
pathway
process whereby genes are transferred by a virus - Correct answer-transduction
sister chromatids separate during this stage - Correct answer-anaphase II of meiosis
II
sister chromatids are pulled apart at the centromeres, each becoming an
independent chromosome during this stage - Correct answer-anaphase of mitosis
homologous pairs of chromosomes are separated into the two daughter cells -
Correct answer-anaphase I of meiosis
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, lipases catalyze the hydrolysis of: - Correct answer-fats and carboxylic esters
Inbreeding has an effect on the rate of spontaneous mutation, true or false - Correct
answer-false
Inbreeding can reduce the fitness of a population in the short term because it
causes an increase in the: - Correct answer-incidence of expression of deleterious
recessive traits
What are the two factors that normally determine the blood pressure? - Correct
answer-cardiac output and resistance to blood flow
cardiac output formula: - Correct answer-SV X HR
Major functions of the liver: - Correct answer-absorption of fats in small intestine,
bile production, detoxification
Albumin has nothing to do with the immune response. True or False - Correct
answer-True
What does aldosterone do to sodium levels? - Correct answer-sodium reabsorption
by kidney tubules to decrease sodium secretion in urine
The liver can partially regenerate after illness or damage through mitosis. True or
False - Correct answer-True
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of Living Systems MCAT Exam Questions
and Answers Graded A+
viral infection could lead to an increase in which cellular pathways - Correct
answer-aerobic respiration, PPP
Which cells are considered granulocytes? - Correct answer-basophils, eosinophils,
neutrophils
The adrenal cortex is derived from the ______
The adrenal medulla is derived from the _____ - Correct answer-mesoderm,
ectoderm
Which cells are considered agranulocytes? - Correct answer-lymphocytes,
monocytes
Microglia in the CNS, Langerhans cells in the skin, and osteoclasts in the bone are
examples of - Correct answer-macrophages
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Why are CD4+ T cells most effective against bacterial, fungal, and parasitic
infections? - Correct answer-CD4+ T cells respond to antigens presented on MHC-
II which presents exogenous antigens
three hormones that can raise blood glucose level - Correct answer-glucagon,
epinephrine, cortisol
Why does it make sense for having three different hormones that can raise blood
glucose, while having only one hormone that can lower it - Correct answer-low
blood glucose levels are immediately fatal, elevated glucose is harmless in the
short term
what are the best antigen presenting cells? - Correct answer-dendritic cells
What does Pyruvate dehydrogenase do? - Correct answer-decarboxylates pyruvate
to acetyl coa
Activation of the sympathetic NS results in the release of ____ from post-
ganglionic neurons and _____ from the adrenal medulla - Correct answer-
norepinephrine, epinephrine
where does aldosterone regulate sodium reabsorption? - Correct answer-distal
convoluted tubule
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,non-specific protection the body provides (e.g. tears, skin, complement system) is
referred to as - Correct answer-innate immunity
Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs) express which proteins: - Correct answer-MHC
class I and II
humoral immunity refers to: - Correct answer-B-cells secreting antibodies
Why do the AV valves close at the beginning of systole? - Correct answer-to
prevent regurgitation of blood into the atria while the ventricles are contracting
Nuclear proteins such as TFs require what in order to be in the nucleus? - Correct
answer-nuclear localization signals
What do signal sequences do? - Correct answer-target proteins to the secretory
pathway
process whereby genes are transferred by a virus - Correct answer-transduction
sister chromatids separate during this stage - Correct answer-anaphase II of meiosis
II
sister chromatids are pulled apart at the centromeres, each becoming an
independent chromosome during this stage - Correct answer-anaphase of mitosis
homologous pairs of chromosomes are separated into the two daughter cells -
Correct answer-anaphase I of meiosis
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, lipases catalyze the hydrolysis of: - Correct answer-fats and carboxylic esters
Inbreeding has an effect on the rate of spontaneous mutation, true or false - Correct
answer-false
Inbreeding can reduce the fitness of a population in the short term because it
causes an increase in the: - Correct answer-incidence of expression of deleterious
recessive traits
What are the two factors that normally determine the blood pressure? - Correct
answer-cardiac output and resistance to blood flow
cardiac output formula: - Correct answer-SV X HR
Major functions of the liver: - Correct answer-absorption of fats in small intestine,
bile production, detoxification
Albumin has nothing to do with the immune response. True or False - Correct
answer-True
What does aldosterone do to sodium levels? - Correct answer-sodium reabsorption
by kidney tubules to decrease sodium secretion in urine
The liver can partially regenerate after illness or damage through mitosis. True or
False - Correct answer-True
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
