DAT EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS|ACCURATE ACTUAL EXAM WITH FREQUENTLY
TESTED QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE|500+
QUESTIONS|ALREADY GRADED A+|GUARANTEED
PASS|LATEST UPDATE 2025.
What is a glycocalyx? - CORRECT ANSWER A carb coat that covers the outer face of the cell
wall of some bacteria and the outer face of the plasma membrane of certain animal cells. It
consists of various oligosaccharides that are attached to membrane phospholipids (glycolipids)
and proteins (such as the glycoproteins of recognition proteins). May provide adhesive
capabilities, a barrier to infection, or markers for cell-cell recognition.
What are 3 types of protein fibers? Protein fibers are involved in establishing shape and
movement of the cytoskeleton - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Microtubules (widest): tubulin and
provides support/motility (spindle apparatus in chromosome division, flagella, and cilia).
2) Intermed Filament: support and maintain shape (eg keratin)
3) Microfilament (skinnest): actin involved in cell motility (muscle cells)
What are microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs)? - CORRECT ANSWER Made of centrioles
and basal bodies.
A pair of centrioles enclosed in a centrosome, which is the apparatus used during cell div.
Microtubules from each MTOC connect to a specialized region in the centromere called a
kinetochore
Basal bodies are the base of each flagellum and cilium.
What is a plasmodesmata? It is a communicating junction - CORRECT ANSWER Narrow
channels between plant cells. A narrow tube of endoplasmic reticulum, called a desmotubule,
surrounded by cytoplasm and the plasma membrane, passes through
the channel.
Material exchange occurs through the cytoplasm surrounding the desmotubule.
What is a desmosome? Present in anchoring junction of adj animal cells - CORRECT ANSWER
Proteins (including keratin) that bind adjacent cells together, providing mechanical stability
to tissues. Associated with protein filaments that extend into the interior of the cell and serve to
hold cellular structures together.
What are connexins? In gap junctions - CORRECT ANSWER The proteins prevent the
cytoplasms of each cell from mixing, but allow the passage of ions and small molecules. Allow
communication between cells through the exchange of materials or through the transmission of
,electrical impulses. Gap junctions are essentially channel proteins of two adjacent cells that are
closely aligned. Because the proteins of each cell extend beyond the plasma membranes before
they meet, a small gap occurs between the two plasma membranes.
For photosynthesis, what color spectrum for the following:
chlorophyll a (P680 and P700) and b
carotenoids - CORRECT ANSWER 1) green
2) red, orange, yellow
Photophosphorylation cyclic vs noncyclic
Light dependent reaction
Occurs in thylakoid pancake (granum) within inner membrane. Thylakoid lumen = proton
gradient - CORRECT ANSWER cyclic: Photosystem II --> photosystem I and continues to
cycle
noncyclic: Photosystem II --> photosystem I --> NADP --> NADPH
Sidenote: P680 makes O2 from water, but used to reduce NADP
Calvin Cycle / Dark Reaction Purpose: Fix 6CO2 --> glucose
Occurs in stroma of chloroplast (fluid within inner membrane) - CORRECT ANSWER
RuBisCo enzyme is major part of this cycle.
Final goal: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate --> carbohydrates
Goes through cycle at least 3 times to form 1 G3P
C4 vs CAM vs C3 photosynthesis - CORRECT ANSWER C4: CO2 combines with PEP -->
OAA --> malate (shuttled through plasmodesmata) --> bundle sheath cells --> pyruvate / CO2 --
> pyruvate returns to mesophyll and converted back to PEP
Take home: CO2 is spatially segregated. C4 better than C3 b/c rubisco can fix CO2 w/o O2
competition
2 advantages: 1) reduce photorespiration (O2 combined with RuBP) and 2) reduce water loss
CAM is same as C4, but convert to malic acid instead of malate that is transported to vacuole
cell. NIGHT - stomata open and form malic acid DAY - stomata closed and release CO2.
Therefore, only temporary segregation and not permanent
,How do cell plates form? - CORRECT ANSWER In plants, vesicles originating from Golgi
bodies migrate to the plane between the two newly forming nuclei. The vesicles fuse to form a
cell plate, which subsequently becomes the plasma membranes for the two daughter cells. Cell
walls develop between the membranes.
Synapsis - CORRECT ANSWER Once the chromosomes are condensed, homologous
chromosomes pair,
Tetrads are also called? - CORRECT ANSWER Bivalent
What is a synaptonemal complex? - CORRECT ANSWER A tetrad together with chiasmata and
crossover events
Fern Life Cycle - CORRECT ANSWER
Law of Segregation
Law of Indpt Assortment - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Anaphase II. Separation of alleles into
gametes
2) Metaphase I: Migration of homologous pair of chromosome is indept of other homologous
pairs
Epistasis - CORRECT ANSWER When one gene affects the phenotypic expression of a second
gene
(If baldness affects red hair)
What is an allele? - CORRECT ANSWER The variation of one gene
(round vs wrinkled)
Provirus vs prophage - CORRECT ANSWER A virus in this dormant state is called a provirus
(or, if a bacteriophage, a prophage)
Episomes - CORRECT ANSWER Some plasmids that can be incorporated into the bacterial
chromosome.
Where are ribosomes, RNA and DNA produced in eukaryotes? - CORRECT ANSWER
Nucleus. Ribosomes are made at the nucleous
Homologous (divergent) vs Analogous (convergent) Structures - CORRECT ANSWER
Homologous: same common ancestors that evolved differently due to environment
Analogous: different ancestors but similar function due to environment.
, Describe the 5 types of selection - CORRECT ANSWER 1) stabilized: eliminates the
extremes/outliers
2) directional: favors one extreme/outlier
3) disruptive/diversifying: favors both extremes
4) sexual: male competition/female choice both leads to sexual dimorphism where both male and
female difference in appearance
5) Artificial. Selection by humans.
What is polymorphism? What is a balanced polymorphism? How do you maintain it? -
CORRECT ANSWER Coexistence of 2+ diff phenotypes
Balanced means maintenance of diff phenotype in population.
Maintained by: 1) Heterozygote advantage: occurs when the heterozygous condition bears a
greater selective advantage than either homozygous condition. 2) Hybrid vigor (or heterosis):
describes the superior quality of offspring resulting from crosses between two different inbred
strains of plants. 3) Frequency-dependent selection (or minority advantage): occurs when the
least common phenotypes have a selective advantage. Common phenotypes are selected against.
What are the 3 types of speciation? - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Allopatric speciation: a
population is divided by a geographic barrier.
2) Sympatric speciation: formation of new species without the presence of a geographic barrier.
Could be due to- i) balanced polymorphism among subpopulations, ii) polypoidy, possessing
more than the normal set of chromosomes (plants), iii) hybridization: forms a hybrid zone.
3) Adaptive radiation: rapid evolution of many species from a single ancestor. It occurs when the
ancestral species is introduced to a diverse area
4 patterns of evolution - CORRECT ANSWER 1) divergent
2) convergent
3) parallel: two related species or two related lineages that have made similar evolutionary
changes after their divergence from a common ancestor.
4) coevolution: tit-for-tat evolution of one species in response to new adaptations that appear in
another species. Prey and predator
2 macroevolution - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Phyletic Gradualism (small change)
2) Punctuated Equilibrium (rapid)
ANSWERS|ACCURATE ACTUAL EXAM WITH FREQUENTLY
TESTED QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE|500+
QUESTIONS|ALREADY GRADED A+|GUARANTEED
PASS|LATEST UPDATE 2025.
What is a glycocalyx? - CORRECT ANSWER A carb coat that covers the outer face of the cell
wall of some bacteria and the outer face of the plasma membrane of certain animal cells. It
consists of various oligosaccharides that are attached to membrane phospholipids (glycolipids)
and proteins (such as the glycoproteins of recognition proteins). May provide adhesive
capabilities, a barrier to infection, or markers for cell-cell recognition.
What are 3 types of protein fibers? Protein fibers are involved in establishing shape and
movement of the cytoskeleton - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Microtubules (widest): tubulin and
provides support/motility (spindle apparatus in chromosome division, flagella, and cilia).
2) Intermed Filament: support and maintain shape (eg keratin)
3) Microfilament (skinnest): actin involved in cell motility (muscle cells)
What are microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs)? - CORRECT ANSWER Made of centrioles
and basal bodies.
A pair of centrioles enclosed in a centrosome, which is the apparatus used during cell div.
Microtubules from each MTOC connect to a specialized region in the centromere called a
kinetochore
Basal bodies are the base of each flagellum and cilium.
What is a plasmodesmata? It is a communicating junction - CORRECT ANSWER Narrow
channels between plant cells. A narrow tube of endoplasmic reticulum, called a desmotubule,
surrounded by cytoplasm and the plasma membrane, passes through
the channel.
Material exchange occurs through the cytoplasm surrounding the desmotubule.
What is a desmosome? Present in anchoring junction of adj animal cells - CORRECT ANSWER
Proteins (including keratin) that bind adjacent cells together, providing mechanical stability
to tissues. Associated with protein filaments that extend into the interior of the cell and serve to
hold cellular structures together.
What are connexins? In gap junctions - CORRECT ANSWER The proteins prevent the
cytoplasms of each cell from mixing, but allow the passage of ions and small molecules. Allow
communication between cells through the exchange of materials or through the transmission of
,electrical impulses. Gap junctions are essentially channel proteins of two adjacent cells that are
closely aligned. Because the proteins of each cell extend beyond the plasma membranes before
they meet, a small gap occurs between the two plasma membranes.
For photosynthesis, what color spectrum for the following:
chlorophyll a (P680 and P700) and b
carotenoids - CORRECT ANSWER 1) green
2) red, orange, yellow
Photophosphorylation cyclic vs noncyclic
Light dependent reaction
Occurs in thylakoid pancake (granum) within inner membrane. Thylakoid lumen = proton
gradient - CORRECT ANSWER cyclic: Photosystem II --> photosystem I and continues to
cycle
noncyclic: Photosystem II --> photosystem I --> NADP --> NADPH
Sidenote: P680 makes O2 from water, but used to reduce NADP
Calvin Cycle / Dark Reaction Purpose: Fix 6CO2 --> glucose
Occurs in stroma of chloroplast (fluid within inner membrane) - CORRECT ANSWER
RuBisCo enzyme is major part of this cycle.
Final goal: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate --> carbohydrates
Goes through cycle at least 3 times to form 1 G3P
C4 vs CAM vs C3 photosynthesis - CORRECT ANSWER C4: CO2 combines with PEP -->
OAA --> malate (shuttled through plasmodesmata) --> bundle sheath cells --> pyruvate / CO2 --
> pyruvate returns to mesophyll and converted back to PEP
Take home: CO2 is spatially segregated. C4 better than C3 b/c rubisco can fix CO2 w/o O2
competition
2 advantages: 1) reduce photorespiration (O2 combined with RuBP) and 2) reduce water loss
CAM is same as C4, but convert to malic acid instead of malate that is transported to vacuole
cell. NIGHT - stomata open and form malic acid DAY - stomata closed and release CO2.
Therefore, only temporary segregation and not permanent
,How do cell plates form? - CORRECT ANSWER In plants, vesicles originating from Golgi
bodies migrate to the plane between the two newly forming nuclei. The vesicles fuse to form a
cell plate, which subsequently becomes the plasma membranes for the two daughter cells. Cell
walls develop between the membranes.
Synapsis - CORRECT ANSWER Once the chromosomes are condensed, homologous
chromosomes pair,
Tetrads are also called? - CORRECT ANSWER Bivalent
What is a synaptonemal complex? - CORRECT ANSWER A tetrad together with chiasmata and
crossover events
Fern Life Cycle - CORRECT ANSWER
Law of Segregation
Law of Indpt Assortment - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Anaphase II. Separation of alleles into
gametes
2) Metaphase I: Migration of homologous pair of chromosome is indept of other homologous
pairs
Epistasis - CORRECT ANSWER When one gene affects the phenotypic expression of a second
gene
(If baldness affects red hair)
What is an allele? - CORRECT ANSWER The variation of one gene
(round vs wrinkled)
Provirus vs prophage - CORRECT ANSWER A virus in this dormant state is called a provirus
(or, if a bacteriophage, a prophage)
Episomes - CORRECT ANSWER Some plasmids that can be incorporated into the bacterial
chromosome.
Where are ribosomes, RNA and DNA produced in eukaryotes? - CORRECT ANSWER
Nucleus. Ribosomes are made at the nucleous
Homologous (divergent) vs Analogous (convergent) Structures - CORRECT ANSWER
Homologous: same common ancestors that evolved differently due to environment
Analogous: different ancestors but similar function due to environment.
, Describe the 5 types of selection - CORRECT ANSWER 1) stabilized: eliminates the
extremes/outliers
2) directional: favors one extreme/outlier
3) disruptive/diversifying: favors both extremes
4) sexual: male competition/female choice both leads to sexual dimorphism where both male and
female difference in appearance
5) Artificial. Selection by humans.
What is polymorphism? What is a balanced polymorphism? How do you maintain it? -
CORRECT ANSWER Coexistence of 2+ diff phenotypes
Balanced means maintenance of diff phenotype in population.
Maintained by: 1) Heterozygote advantage: occurs when the heterozygous condition bears a
greater selective advantage than either homozygous condition. 2) Hybrid vigor (or heterosis):
describes the superior quality of offspring resulting from crosses between two different inbred
strains of plants. 3) Frequency-dependent selection (or minority advantage): occurs when the
least common phenotypes have a selective advantage. Common phenotypes are selected against.
What are the 3 types of speciation? - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Allopatric speciation: a
population is divided by a geographic barrier.
2) Sympatric speciation: formation of new species without the presence of a geographic barrier.
Could be due to- i) balanced polymorphism among subpopulations, ii) polypoidy, possessing
more than the normal set of chromosomes (plants), iii) hybridization: forms a hybrid zone.
3) Adaptive radiation: rapid evolution of many species from a single ancestor. It occurs when the
ancestral species is introduced to a diverse area
4 patterns of evolution - CORRECT ANSWER 1) divergent
2) convergent
3) parallel: two related species or two related lineages that have made similar evolutionary
changes after their divergence from a common ancestor.
4) coevolution: tit-for-tat evolution of one species in response to new adaptations that appear in
another species. Prey and predator
2 macroevolution - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Phyletic Gradualism (small change)
2) Punctuated Equilibrium (rapid)
