MCAT 2026 COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
WITH PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS| GRADED A+ |
GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers | 100% Verified
Exam Prep and Comprehensive Rationales Included
,electron microscope -atomic level
-samples must be sliced thinly and impregnated with heavy metals for contrast
prokaryotes before nuclei (no nuclei)
eukaryotes after nuclei
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 -single circle molecule of DNA
prokaryotes? -within nucleoid region
plasmids -circular DNA
-small
-few genes
-replicate independently
cocci spherical bacteria
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
largest cytoskeleton proteins microtubules
phospholipid bilayer -hydrophobic nonpolar tail
-hydrophilic polar head
-cholesterol molecules
purpose of cholesterol in phospholipid bilayer regulate fluidity
transport proteins -control entry/exit
-polar molecules and ions allowed through
,cell adhesion molecule purpose -CAMs
-allow cells to recognize each other
-proper cell differentiation and development
nucleus membrane -double membrane
-nuclear membrane/envelope
purpose of nucleolus ribosomal RNA synthesized (rRNA)
Ribosomes -protein production
-free and bound types
Endoplasmic Reticulum -production and sorting of materials from cell
smooth ER purpose lipid synthesis and detox drugs/poisons
rough ER purpose protein production
Golgi structure membrane bound sacs
golgi purpose -receives from smooth ER
-repackages to cell surface via secretory vescicles
lysosomes -'garbage dumps'
-receives from endosomes
-uses hydrolytic enzymes at lowered pH
-break down materials
-remove old cell components and replace
-can cause autolysis
autolysis cell suicide
mitochondria powerhouse
-2 layers
-semi-autonomous
-inherited only from the mother
2 layers of mitochondria outer-walls
inner-electron transport chain
what is the purpose of cristae on mitochondria? increase surface area
semi-autonomous own genes
-replicate independently
types of microbodies -peroxisomes
-glyoxysomes
, peroxisomes -create hydrogen peroxide
-break down fats
-catalyze detox
glyoxysomes -germinating plants
-convert fats to sugars
chloroplasts -in plants and algae
-powerhouse
-contain chlorophyll
-generation of energy
-own DNA
plant cell wall composition cellulose
fungi cell wall composition chitin
animal cell wall composition no cell wall!!
centrioles -specialized microtubules
-spindle formation
-no membrane
-in animals not in plants
microfilaments -rods of actin
-muscular contraction with interaction with myosin
-movement of materials within cell membrane
microtubules -hollow
-polymers of tubulin
-throughout cell
-transport and structural support
-structural basis for cilia and flagella
intermediate fillaments integrity of cytoskeleton
osmosis -water movement
-low solute to high solute
hypotonic solution -solute inside of cell greater than surrounding
-causes cell to swell
hypertonic solution -solute inside of cell less than surrounding
What types of materials are impermeable to membrane? -large
-polar
-charged
pinocytosis endocytosis of fluids and small particles
WITH PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS| GRADED A+ |
GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers | 100% Verified
Exam Prep and Comprehensive Rationales Included
,electron microscope -atomic level
-samples must be sliced thinly and impregnated with heavy metals for contrast
prokaryotes before nuclei (no nuclei)
eukaryotes after nuclei
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 -single circle molecule of DNA
prokaryotes? -within nucleoid region
plasmids -circular DNA
-small
-few genes
-replicate independently
cocci spherical bacteria
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
largest cytoskeleton proteins microtubules
phospholipid bilayer -hydrophobic nonpolar tail
-hydrophilic polar head
-cholesterol molecules
purpose of cholesterol in phospholipid bilayer regulate fluidity
transport proteins -control entry/exit
-polar molecules and ions allowed through
,cell adhesion molecule purpose -CAMs
-allow cells to recognize each other
-proper cell differentiation and development
nucleus membrane -double membrane
-nuclear membrane/envelope
purpose of nucleolus ribosomal RNA synthesized (rRNA)
Ribosomes -protein production
-free and bound types
Endoplasmic Reticulum -production and sorting of materials from cell
smooth ER purpose lipid synthesis and detox drugs/poisons
rough ER purpose protein production
Golgi structure membrane bound sacs
golgi purpose -receives from smooth ER
-repackages to cell surface via secretory vescicles
lysosomes -'garbage dumps'
-receives from endosomes
-uses hydrolytic enzymes at lowered pH
-break down materials
-remove old cell components and replace
-can cause autolysis
autolysis cell suicide
mitochondria powerhouse
-2 layers
-semi-autonomous
-inherited only from the mother
2 layers of mitochondria outer-walls
inner-electron transport chain
what is the purpose of cristae on mitochondria? increase surface area
semi-autonomous own genes
-replicate independently
types of microbodies -peroxisomes
-glyoxysomes
, peroxisomes -create hydrogen peroxide
-break down fats
-catalyze detox
glyoxysomes -germinating plants
-convert fats to sugars
chloroplasts -in plants and algae
-powerhouse
-contain chlorophyll
-generation of energy
-own DNA
plant cell wall composition cellulose
fungi cell wall composition chitin
animal cell wall composition no cell wall!!
centrioles -specialized microtubules
-spindle formation
-no membrane
-in animals not in plants
microfilaments -rods of actin
-muscular contraction with interaction with myosin
-movement of materials within cell membrane
microtubules -hollow
-polymers of tubulin
-throughout cell
-transport and structural support
-structural basis for cilia and flagella
intermediate fillaments integrity of cytoskeleton
osmosis -water movement
-low solute to high solute
hypotonic solution -solute inside of cell greater than surrounding
-causes cell to swell
hypertonic solution -solute inside of cell less than surrounding
What types of materials are impermeable to membrane? -large
-polar
-charged
pinocytosis endocytosis of fluids and small particles
