MEDICAL SCIENCES AND PRE-CLINICAL STUDIES
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSION TEST (MCAT) BIOLOGY PRACTICE
EXAMINATION -2026
BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF LIVING SYSTEMS 2026
SPRING SEMESTER EXAMINATION SET 2025/2026
Cell Theory
-all living things composed of cells
-cell=basic functional unit of life
-cells from other cells only
-cells have DNA (parent-->daughter cells)
total magnification
eyepiece x objective
diaphragm (microscope)
controls light
image contrast
1
Page
hematoxylin
, -commonly used dye
-shows nucleic acids (DNA,RNA)
how does the dye hematoxylin show nucleic acids?
binds to the negative sugar-phosphate backbone
phase contrast microscope
-living organisms
-differences in refractive indices among different subcellular structures
electron microscope
-atomic level
-samples must be sliced thinly and impregnated with heavy metals for contrast
prokaryotes
before nuclei (no nuclei)
eukaryotes
after nuclei
2
Page
, types of prokaryotes
bacteria and blue-green algae
prokaryote characteristics
-unicellular
-no nucleus or membrane bound organelles
-cell wall in all
-ability to carry other pieces of DNA
What type of genetic material is present within prokaryotes?
-single circle molecule of DNA
-within nucleoid region
plasmids
-circular DNA
-small
-few genes
-replicate independently
cocci
spherical bacteria
3
Page
, bacilli
rod-shaped bacteria
how do antibacterials work?
tend to attack bacterial specific structures
Eukaryote characteristics
-protists, fungi, plants, and animals
-cell walls in fungi and plants
-nucleus
-unicellular or multicellular
cytoskeleton proteins
-actin filaments
-intermediate filaments
-microtubules
Smallest cytoskeleton proteins
actin filaments
4
Page
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSION TEST (MCAT) BIOLOGY PRACTICE
EXAMINATION -2026
BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF LIVING SYSTEMS 2026
SPRING SEMESTER EXAMINATION SET 2025/2026
Cell Theory
-all living things composed of cells
-cell=basic functional unit of life
-cells from other cells only
-cells have DNA (parent-->daughter cells)
total magnification
eyepiece x objective
diaphragm (microscope)
controls light
image contrast
1
Page
hematoxylin
, -commonly used dye
-shows nucleic acids (DNA,RNA)
how does the dye hematoxylin show nucleic acids?
binds to the negative sugar-phosphate backbone
phase contrast microscope
-living organisms
-differences in refractive indices among different subcellular structures
electron microscope
-atomic level
-samples must be sliced thinly and impregnated with heavy metals for contrast
prokaryotes
before nuclei (no nuclei)
eukaryotes
after nuclei
2
Page
, types of prokaryotes
bacteria and blue-green algae
prokaryote characteristics
-unicellular
-no nucleus or membrane bound organelles
-cell wall in all
-ability to carry other pieces of DNA
What type of genetic material is present within prokaryotes?
-single circle molecule of DNA
-within nucleoid region
plasmids
-circular DNA
-small
-few genes
-replicate independently
cocci
spherical bacteria
3
Page
, bacilli
rod-shaped bacteria
how do antibacterials work?
tend to attack bacterial specific structures
Eukaryote characteristics
-protists, fungi, plants, and animals
-cell walls in fungi and plants
-nucleus
-unicellular or multicellular
cytoskeleton proteins
-actin filaments
-intermediate filaments
-microtubules
Smallest cytoskeleton proteins
actin filaments
4
Page
