AAMC MCAT Practice Exam 2 Questions and
Correct Answers
Question 1
P/S: Compared to control mice, the genetically modified mice were more likely to
exhibit which expression levels of Aβ and NFT?
A) Higher expression levels of both Aβ and NFT in the brain regions examined in the
study
B) Lower expression levels of both Aβ and NFT in the brain regions examined in the
study
C) Lower expression levels of Aβ, but higher expression levels of NFT in the brain
regions examined in the study
D) Higher expression levels of Aβ, but lower expression levels of NFT in the brain
regions examined in the study
Correct Answer
A) Higher expression levels of both Aβ and NFT in the brain regions examined in the
study
The answer to this question is A because AD is associated with a build-up of Aβ and
NFT levels in certain brain regions. Therefore, the researchers would most likely
overexpress both Aβ and NFT in the genetically modified mice to create a good
mouse model for AD.
Question 2
B/B: Vasopressin regulates the insertion of aquaporins into the apical membranes of
the epithelial cells of which renal structure?
A) Collecting duct
B) Proximal convoluted tubule
C) Bowman's capsule
D) Ascending loop of Henle
Correct Answer
A) Collecting duct
The answer to this question is A because vasopressin regulates the fusion of
aquaporins with the apical membranes of the collecting duct epithelial cells.
Page 1 of 98
,Question 3
ionic bond
Correct Answer
complete transfer of valence electron(s) between atoms
Question 4
B/B: In humans, eggs and sperm are most similar with respect to:
A) cell size
B) genome size
C) the time required for development
D) the numbers produced by a single individual
Correct Answer
B) genome size
The answer to this question is B because both eggs and sperm contain a haploid
number of chromosomes and therefore they are most similar with respect to their
genome size.
Question 5
Epididymis
Correct Answer
highly convoluted duct behind the testis, along which sperm passes to the vas
deferens
Page 2 of 98
,Question 6
C/P: Which amino acid will contribute to the CD signal in the far UV region, but NOT
the near UV region, when part of a fully folded protein?
"Asymmetry resulting from tertiary structural features causes the largest increase in
CD signal intensity in the near UV region of peptides. The side chains of amino acid
residues absorb in this region.
The peptide bond absorbs in the far UV region (190-250 nm). The CD signals of these
bonds are dramatically impacted by their proximity to secondary structural elements."
A) Trp
B) Phe
C) Ala
D) Tyr
Correct Answer
C) Ala
Question 7
C/P: At 25°C, the formation of [Cu(NH3)4]2+ according to Equation 1 is most likely a:
"The value of the formation constant of [Cu(NH3)4]2+ is 5.6 x 1011 at 25°C."
A) spontaneous process with positive ΔG°.
B) spontaneous process with negative ΔG°.
C) nonspontaneous process with positive ΔG°.
D) nonspontaneous process with negative ΔG°.
Correct Answer
B) spontaneous process with negative ΔG°.
The answer to this question is B because the equilibrium constant for the reaction is
very large (much greater than 1). This necessarily means that ΔG° is negative and
the reaction is spontaneous.
Page 3 of 98
, Question 8
B/B: NPY is not classified as a releasing factor because it has:
"These factors are known as neuromodulators, in contrast to releasing factors,
because they do not stimulate LH release on their own, but modulate (enhance or
inhibit) the responses of the secretory cells of the anterior pituitary to GnRH."
A) no effect on LH secretion.
B) no effect on LH secretion without GnRH.
C) no effect on LH secretion in combination with GnRH.
D) the same effect on LH secretion as GnRH.
Correct Answer
B) no effect on LH secretion without GnRH.
The answer to the question is B because LH levels in the control and NPY alone
treatment conditions were similar, and GnRH had to be present for LH levels to be
significantly different from control levels. According to the passage, releasing
factors stimulate LH release on their own. Therefore, NPY cannot be classified as a
releasing factor because it had no effect on LH secretion without GnRH. In this case,
NPY functioned as a neuromodulator.
Page 4 of 98
Correct Answers
Question 1
P/S: Compared to control mice, the genetically modified mice were more likely to
exhibit which expression levels of Aβ and NFT?
A) Higher expression levels of both Aβ and NFT in the brain regions examined in the
study
B) Lower expression levels of both Aβ and NFT in the brain regions examined in the
study
C) Lower expression levels of Aβ, but higher expression levels of NFT in the brain
regions examined in the study
D) Higher expression levels of Aβ, but lower expression levels of NFT in the brain
regions examined in the study
Correct Answer
A) Higher expression levels of both Aβ and NFT in the brain regions examined in the
study
The answer to this question is A because AD is associated with a build-up of Aβ and
NFT levels in certain brain regions. Therefore, the researchers would most likely
overexpress both Aβ and NFT in the genetically modified mice to create a good
mouse model for AD.
Question 2
B/B: Vasopressin regulates the insertion of aquaporins into the apical membranes of
the epithelial cells of which renal structure?
A) Collecting duct
B) Proximal convoluted tubule
C) Bowman's capsule
D) Ascending loop of Henle
Correct Answer
A) Collecting duct
The answer to this question is A because vasopressin regulates the fusion of
aquaporins with the apical membranes of the collecting duct epithelial cells.
Page 1 of 98
,Question 3
ionic bond
Correct Answer
complete transfer of valence electron(s) between atoms
Question 4
B/B: In humans, eggs and sperm are most similar with respect to:
A) cell size
B) genome size
C) the time required for development
D) the numbers produced by a single individual
Correct Answer
B) genome size
The answer to this question is B because both eggs and sperm contain a haploid
number of chromosomes and therefore they are most similar with respect to their
genome size.
Question 5
Epididymis
Correct Answer
highly convoluted duct behind the testis, along which sperm passes to the vas
deferens
Page 2 of 98
,Question 6
C/P: Which amino acid will contribute to the CD signal in the far UV region, but NOT
the near UV region, when part of a fully folded protein?
"Asymmetry resulting from tertiary structural features causes the largest increase in
CD signal intensity in the near UV region of peptides. The side chains of amino acid
residues absorb in this region.
The peptide bond absorbs in the far UV region (190-250 nm). The CD signals of these
bonds are dramatically impacted by their proximity to secondary structural elements."
A) Trp
B) Phe
C) Ala
D) Tyr
Correct Answer
C) Ala
Question 7
C/P: At 25°C, the formation of [Cu(NH3)4]2+ according to Equation 1 is most likely a:
"The value of the formation constant of [Cu(NH3)4]2+ is 5.6 x 1011 at 25°C."
A) spontaneous process with positive ΔG°.
B) spontaneous process with negative ΔG°.
C) nonspontaneous process with positive ΔG°.
D) nonspontaneous process with negative ΔG°.
Correct Answer
B) spontaneous process with negative ΔG°.
The answer to this question is B because the equilibrium constant for the reaction is
very large (much greater than 1). This necessarily means that ΔG° is negative and
the reaction is spontaneous.
Page 3 of 98
, Question 8
B/B: NPY is not classified as a releasing factor because it has:
"These factors are known as neuromodulators, in contrast to releasing factors,
because they do not stimulate LH release on their own, but modulate (enhance or
inhibit) the responses of the secretory cells of the anterior pituitary to GnRH."
A) no effect on LH secretion.
B) no effect on LH secretion without GnRH.
C) no effect on LH secretion in combination with GnRH.
D) the same effect on LH secretion as GnRH.
Correct Answer
B) no effect on LH secretion without GnRH.
The answer to the question is B because LH levels in the control and NPY alone
treatment conditions were similar, and GnRH had to be present for LH levels to be
significantly different from control levels. According to the passage, releasing
factors stimulate LH release on their own. Therefore, NPY cannot be classified as a
releasing factor because it had no effect on LH secretion without GnRH. In this case,
NPY functioned as a neuromodulator.
Page 4 of 98
