NBME BIOCHEMISTRY SHELF EXAM 2026 MOCK PAPER COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW NOTES ANALYTICAL SUMMARY

NBME BIOCHEMISTRY SHELF EXAM 2026
MOCK PAPER COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
NOTES ANALYTICAL SUMMARY

◉ What pairs of atoms in bases are involved in hydrogen bonds?
A) N-H and O-H
B) N-H and S-H
C) O-H and P-O
D) All of the above
E) None of the above
Answer: A) N-H and O-H


◉ The structure of DNA described by Watson and Crick included
A) a double helix
B) the sugar phosphate backbone aligned in the center of the helix
C) the base pairs that are stacked on the inside of the double helix
D) A and B
E) A and C
Answer: E) A and C

, ◉ What two properties of water are important for biological
interactions?
Answer: The polarity of water
The cohesive properties of water


◉ How many hydrogen bonds are formed between A and T?
Answer: 2


◉ What gives proteins a dominant role in biochemistry?
Answer: Their ability to spontaneously fold into complex three-
dimensional structures


◉ Which of the following is considered a noncovalent bond?
A) Electrostatic interactions
B) Hydrogen bonds
C) Van der Waals interactions
D) All of the above
E) None of the above
Answer: D) All of the above


◉ The First Law of Thermodynamics states what?