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MCAT sample question 1: Biology/BiochemistryApoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that can occur in multicellularorganisms. The proteins involved in apoptosis are associated with pathways for cell cyclearrest and DNA repair. These processes are mostly regulated through the interplay ofvarious proteins involved in feedback loops including some of the ones shown in Figure 1.Figure 1: Feedback loops forming a regulatory network affecting apoptosis, cell cycle arrestand DNA repair. (Bioformatics Institute)According to Figure 1, CDK2 activity would most reasonably increase due to all of thefollowing EXCEPT: oo A. degradation of p21.B. high cyclin G concentrations.C. a mutation in the gene that produces PTEN.D. high p53 concentrations.MCAT Sample Question 2-3: Biology/BiochemistryThe red bread mold Neurospora crassa grows well on a cultural plate with “minimal”medium which is a fluid containing only a few simple sugars, inorganic salts, andvitamin. Neurospora that grows normally in nature (wild type) has enzymes that convertthese simple substances into the amino acids necessary for growth. Mutating any one of the
genes that makes an enzyme can produce a Neurospora strain that cannot grow on minimalmedium. The mutant would only grow if the enzyme product were to be added as asupplement. On the other hand, if a “complete” medium is provided, containing all requiredamino acids, then Neurospora would grow, with or without mutation.Figure 1: A synthesis pathway for the amino acid arginine. Each gene in italics in thediagram produces one enzyme necessary for the synthesis of this essential amino acidrequired for growth.Table 1: Growth response of mutant strains in “minimal” media with supplements asindicated. Growth is indicated by ( ), and no growth is indicated by (-).Question 2According to the information provided, a conclusion that can be made with certainty is thatneither mutant strain P nor Q have the defective enzyme: A. carbamoyltransferase.
B. argininosuccinate synthase.C. argininosuccinase.D. None of the above enzymes are defective in either mutant strain P nor Q.Question 3Experiments using the two mutant strains P and Q, reveal that strain P accumulates citrulline,but strain Q does not. Which of the following statements is most consistent with the dataprovided? A. Strain Q has only one mutation.B. Strain P has a mutation in argF only.C. Strain P has mutations in argF, argG and argH.D. Strain P has a mutation in argG only.MCAT Sample Question 4: BiologyThe human kidney can be damaged from a number of causes resulting in a patient’s inability tofilter toxins (i.e. urea) from the body which could result in death. Complete kidney failure isusually first treated with dialysis which “cleans” the blood.
Figure 1: Dialysis. The “dialyzer” is a glass container that has 3 main components: (1) bloodpercolating through to be cleaned; (2) a dividing membrane; and (3) the dialysate. The latter isliquid containing chemicals used to draw fluids and toxins out of the bloodstream and supplyelectrolytes and other chemicals to the bloodstream. (kidney.niddk.nih.gov)Considering the information provided, which of the following is NOT consistent with theprocess of dialysis?A. The membrane in the dialyzer separating the dialysate and the blood must besemipermeable.B. The concentration of toxins in the dialysate must increase during dialysis.C. The concentration of glucose and vital minerals in the dialysate must be similar to that of thepatient’s blood.D. Excessive minerals and toxins cross the membrane in the dialyzer by osmosis.MCAT Sample Question 5: BiochemistryIn order to become active, a Map kinase has to undergo phosphorylation of its catalytic domainon amino acids 183 and 185 according to the primary structure. To create a catalyticallyinactive Map kinase – a kinase dead mutant – the most likely substitution within its activedomain would be:A. A183T185.B. Y183A185.C. G183A185.D. S183Y185.MCAT Sample Question 6: PsychologyDrinking a cup of coffee is something people do every day, alone or with friends, at home or atwork. A researcher following the theory of symbolic interactionism who is observing twopeople enjoying a coffee together would primarily point out that:
A. The symbolic value of coffee is that the drinking ritual is more important than the drinkitself.B. Coffee is a stimulant drug.C. Coffee is the second most valuable commodity in international trade.D. Coffee is a branded and politicized consumption good.MCAT Sample Question 7: SociologyIf the goal of the health communication is to have influence on individuals, families,neighborhoods, medical and social service organizations, and ultimately public health policy,they are adhering to:A. Ecological theory.B. Family systems theory.C. John Bowlby’s attachment theory.D. Milton Gordon’s assimilation theory.BIOLOGY SAMPLE QUESTIONPassage (Questions 1–2)In an attempt to develop a vaccine for pneumonia, Fred Griffith performed a series ofexperiments in 1928 using mice and two strains of the pneumococcus bacteria: avirulent encapsulated strain and a nonvirulent unencapsulated strain. The encapsulatedstrain was called the "smooth strain" because the colonies looked smooth on a cultureplate due to their polysaccharide capsules, whereas the unencapsulated strain wasdenoted as the "rough strain" due to the irregularity of its surface.Four different groups of mice were injected with different combinations of the bacterialstrains. The experimental results are shown in Table 1.Table 1: Results of Griffith's experiment
MiceInjected Bacteria1Live smooth2Live rough3Heat-killed smooth4Heat-killed smooth live roughAutopsies performed on Group 4 mice revealed blood samples filled with live smoothstrain bacteria. Some component had been transferred from the heat-killed smoothstrain bacteria to the live rough-strain bacteria, transforming them into the virulentsmooth-strain bacteria. This process later became known as transformation. Griffithbelieved the protein from the dead smooth-strain bacteria was the active transformingagent.1. A colony of smooth strain bacteria is grown on a culture containing an experimentaldrug that cleaves nucleic acid base sequences wherever adenine is paired with uracil.Which of the following processes will be directly affected?I. TranscriptionII. TranslationIII. TransformationA. I onlyB. I and II onlyC. I and III onlyD. I, II and III2. If Griffith had injected a fifth group of mice with a combination of heat-killed roughstrain and heat-killed smooth strain, would the mice have died?A. No, because the heat-killed rough strain cannot infect mice.B. No, because the heat-killed smooth strain cannot transform mice cells.
C. Yes, because the heat-killed rough strain is transformed into the smooth strain.D. Yes, because the mice do not have acquired immunity to pneumococcus bacteria.PHYSICS SAMPLE QUESTION3. In which of the following cases will the normal force on a box be the greatest?A. When the box is placed in a stationary elevatorB. When the box is placed in an elevator moving upwards at constant velocityC. When the box is placed in an elevator accelerating downwardD. When the box is placed in an elevator accelerating upwardORGANIC CHEMISTRY SAMPLE QUESTION4. Which of the following addition reactions occurs the fastest?A. I, because a primary cation is formed in the rate-determining stepB. II, because the cation formed in the rate-determining step is stabilized through aninductive effectC. III, because a secondary cation which is resonance-stabilized is formed in the ratedetermining stepD. II, because a secondary cation which is resonance-stabilized is formed in the ratedetermining step
MCAT Sample Question 5: Biochemistry In order to become active, a Map kinase has to undergo phosphorylation of its catalytic domain on amino acids 183 and 185 according to the primary structure. To create a catalytically inactive Map kinase - a kinase dead mutant - the most likely substitution within its active domain would be: A. A183T185.
