MCAT EXAM 2026 – COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS | GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED PASS

MCAT EXAM 2026 – COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS | GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED PASS 5 main steps of replication - ANSWER=1) helicase unzips double helix 2) RNA polymerase (primase) builds a primer 3) DNA polymerase assembles the leading and lagging strands 4) RNAse H removes the primers 5) DNA ligase joins okazaki fragments together telomeres - ANSWER=repeated 6 nucleotide units -protect ends of chromosomes -can become shortened telomerase - ANSWER=catalyzes the lengthening of telomeres Mendelian ratio - ANSWER=3:1 dihybrid cross (WwGg x WwGg) - ANSWER=9:3:3:1 glucose > storage - ANSWER=glycogen 2 | P a g e glucose > use - ANSWER=Acetyl-CoA fatty acid > storage - ANSWER=glycerides fatty acid > use - ANSWER=Acetyl-CoA glycogenesis - ANSWER=storage of glucose glycogenolysis - ANSWER=breakdown of glycogen You can recognize the steps that have large ~G values because they usually involve either ATP or NADH. If the MCA~ asks you to predict which reaction has the largest ~G. or which would need a distinct enzyme to run in the reverse direction, you should pick the step that involves ATP or NADH. - ANSWER= glucose-6-phosphate - ANSWER=intersection of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogenesis, and glycogenolysis 3 | P a g e What is a limitation in many observational (non-experimental) studies? - ANSWER=confound variables could explain the relationship between the variables of interest discrimination vs. stereotyping - ANSWER=Discrimination: *actions (behavior!)* against people due to their race (different treatment of people based on race or color) Stereotyping: a cognitive *belief* of associating preconceived notions or beliefs with people based on group membership. negative reinforcement - ANSWER=Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: negative reinforcement is not punishment.) What best describes the relationship between attribution theory and fundamental attribution error? - ANSWER=Attribution theory relates to an attempt by an individual to interpret actions by assigning causes to them, while fundamental attribution error is when an individual interprets another's actions incorrectly by overemphasizing internal characteristics instead of external events. A private school sets up a system by which students may advance to the next grade solely on the basis of their individual performance on an exam. Given the wide variety of talents each student has, some students are able to advance to the next grade months or even years before other students. This system is: - ANSWER=a meritocracy Alleles - ANSWER=different versions of a gene homologous chromosomes - ANSWER=Chromosomes that have the same sequence of genes, that have the same structure, and that pair during meiosis. How many alleles does each gene have? - ANSWER=2 one from mom one from dad 4 | P a g e dominant allele - ANSWER=An allele whose trait always shows up in the organism when the allele is present. (i.e. BB or Bb) beta-oxidation - ANSWER=fatty acids broken down into acetyl-CoA ketogenesis - ANSWER=fatty acid coverted into a ketone body in the liver -ketone body can be shared with other organs resolution - ANSWER=differentiate close objects magnification - ANSWER=increase size eyepiece magnification - ANSWER=10x objective magnification - ANSWER=4x,10x,20x, 100x Cell Theory - ANSWER=-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 - ANSWER=eyepiece x objective diaphragm (microscope) - ANSWER=controls light 5 | P a g e image contrast hematoxylin - ANSWER=-commonly used dye -shows nucleic acids (DNA,RNA) how does the dye hematoxylin show nucleic acids? - ANSWER=binds to the negative sugar- phosphate backbone phase contrast microscope - ANSWER=-living organisms -differences in refractive indices among different subcellular structures electron microscope - ANSWER=-atomic level -samples must be sliced thinly and impregnated with heavy metals for contrast prokaryotes - ANSWER=before nuclei (no nuclei) eukaryotes - ANSWER=after nuclei types of prokaryotes - ANSWER=bacteria and blue-green algae prokaryote characteristics - ANSWER=-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? - ANSWER=-single circle molecule of DNA 6 | P a g e -within nucleoid region plasmids - ANSWER=-circular DNA -small -few genes -replicate independently