Blueprint MCAT Blog: MCAT Biology

MCAT Biology Question — Cellular Activity

In nerve cells, microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), most notably MAP2 and MAP tau, act to stabilize microtubules. In a mouse model, a mutant is developed that vastly reduced function across all families of MAPs, leading to increased microtubule degradation. Which cellular activity would likely be most affected? A) Cardiac muscle contraction B) Transcription of mRNA READ MORE

Dec 23, 2014

MCAT Biology Question — Bile Salts

In response to CCK, the gall bladder will release bile salts into the duodenem where they aid in fat digestion. Which of the following best describes the function of bile salts? A) Breakdown of fat molecules by cleaving the linkage between the fatty acid chains and the glycerol backbone B) Increasing the speed at READ MORE

Dec 17, 2014

MCAT Biology Question — Complement System of the Blood

Which of the following is NOT a function of the complement system of the blood? A) Aiding the immune response by selectively binding to specific foreign antigens. B) Increasing opsonization by enhancing the phagocytosis of foreign antigens. C) Using a chemotaxis effect to attract greater numbers of macrophages and neutrophils to an infection site. READ MORE

Dec 11, 2014

MCAT Biology Question — Liver & Drug Byproducts

The liver functions to detoxify many of the drugs humans take. If a drug byproduct is created in the liver and then released into the blood stream, which chamber of the heart will it arrive in first? A) left ventricle B) left atrium C) right ventricle D) right atrium READ MORE

Dec 05, 2014

MCAT Biology Question — Virus Genome

A virus may carry its genome through which of the following? I. Single stranded RNA II. Single stranded DNA III. Double stranded DNA A) I and II only B) II and III only C) I and III only D) I, II, and III READ MORE

Dec 03, 2014

MCAT BioChem Question — Enzyme Catalyst

An enzyme catalyst is kept in a solution buffered to the pH that maximizes activity for those enzymes found in the blood. The enzyme catalyzes a reaction that produces an acid whose pKa is 4.5. In this buffer solution, the acid product will be: A) Primarily deprotonated B) Primarily protonated C) Protonated and deprotonated READ MORE

Dec 01, 2014

MCAT Biology Question — Pisaster Ochraceus

Sea stars of the species Pisaster ochraceus prey on mussels and other shellfish that have no other natural predators. In one bay, a toxic chemical is introduced that creates reproductive anomalies, wiping out the sea star population in a handful of years. As a result, the mussel population explodes, driving out two dozen other species READ MORE

Nov 25, 2014

MCAT Biology Question — Enzyme Function

Each of the following correctly describes an aspect of enzyme function EXCEPT: An enzyme will increase the rate at which a reaction will reach equilibrium by lowering the activation energy needed to convert reactants to products. Enyzmes function best in the presence of a large concentration of substrate and across a wide range of READ MORE

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