MCAT Review

• Viruses have genomic information bundled in a protein coat.
• Prokaryotes keep their genomic information free-floating in the cytoplasm
• Bacteria and viruses have double-stranded DNA
• an operon is a prokaryote transcriptional unit that consists of multiple related genes under the control of a single promoter.
• Insulin levels are reduced at times of low blood glucose concentration in order to conserve glucose for use by the brain and muscles.
• Ammonia (NH3) is an electron donor.
• Solvation layers involve the organization of water molecules around nonpolar residues. This maximizes hydrogen bonding between the water of the solvation layer and the water molecules surrounding it.
• Polypeptides are chains of amino acids linked together via peptide bonds.
• Prions promote abnormal folding of specific normal cellular proteins called prion proteins that are primarily found in the brain.
• During fertilization, the sperm mitochondria disintegrate, which explains why the mitochondrial genome is donated by the mother.
• The antigen-binding sites of antibodies are formed by three-dimensional structures of the constant and variable domains of the heavy and light chains.
• antigen binding sites is the region of an antibody that interacts with antigen
• Epitope is the part of an antigen recognized by an antibody.
• Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell (leukocytes) that act as your immune system’s first line of defense.
• Krebs cycle occurs inside the matrix of the mitochondrion.
• cardiac myocytes are unique because they communicate through intercalated discs that contain gap junctions
• Gap Junction allows for direct communication between cells, allowing them to coordinate their actions.
• Glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose into pyruvic acid without oxygen present.
• adherens junctions and desmosomes anchor and connect cells.
• The S phase is when DNA is fully replicated and before the cell begins to grow again in G2
• Anterior vasodilation is used to reduce body temperature
• increase in aldosterone there is an increase in sodium reabsorption
• Increased levels of thyroid hormones lead to increased metabolic rate
• Force equals mass times acceleration
• OH is the functional group of alcohols.
• -ol is used as a suffix for alcohols.
• Hydroxy is the prefix of alcohol groups
• Alcohols are organic compounds that contain hydroxyl (-OH) functional groups attached to carbon atoms.
• If F, O and N are bound to H will do hydrogen bonding
• Specific rotation is constant for a given molecule at any temperature, solvent, and wavelength of light.
• Observed rotation depends on the solution's concentration and the distance that light travels through the solution.
• Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation is pH= pKa + log ([A-]/[HA])
• Triglycerides are made of a glycerol backbone attached via ester bonds to three fatty acids.
• The solubility product constant (Ksp) is affected by changes in temperature.
• A ketone is a carbonyl with two R-groups attached to the carbon.
• According to Ohm's Law, Current and Resistance are irreversibly proportional to one another.
• During charge, the positive electrode is an anode, and the negative electrode is a cathode.
• The net potential formula is Ecell = Ecat - Ean
• A negative control is a control that is not exposed to the experimental variable.
• Oligodendrocytes are glial cells that myelinate neurons in the brain and spinal cord.