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Unit 2: Practice Passages: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

About this unit

This unit contains over 80 Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (BBLS) passages. We continue to work to improve the MCAT course to make it the very best it can be. Towards this end, we have updated the BBLS passages in this unit in 2023.

Foundation 1: Biomolecules

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No videos or articles available in this lesson

Practice

Amino acids: Dietary supplements and the mTOR pathway
6 questions
Enzyme kinetics: Forms of hexokinase
6 questions
Enzyme kinetics: NTKase and NTKase deficiency
6 questions
Enzyme kinetics: Phenylalanine hydroxylase and phenylketonuria
6 questions
Enzyme study: PMM/PGM and its substrates
6 questions
Protein expression: RbAp48 and age-related memory loss
6 questions
Gene expression: STAT3 and RORγT in hyper IgE syndrome
7 questions
Gene expression (prokaryotes): the lac operon model
6 questions
Gene expression (prokaryotes): additional lac operon practice
6 questions
Gene expression: Investigating families with hormone deficiencies
5 questions
DNA replication: Kinetics and thermodynamics of base mismatch
6 questions
DNA replication: The "speed" of DNA polymerase
6 questions
DNA technology: Genetic recombination and conditional knockouts
6 questions
DNA technology: DNA cloning using an E. coli vector
6 questions
DNA technology: RT-PCR analysis of POMC cDNA
6 questions
Chromosomal abnormalities: Translocations in the germline
7 questions
Gene mutation: IDH mutation in glioblastoma
6 questions
Gene mutations: Types of muscular dystrophy
6 questions
Genetics: Mendelian inheritance of immunodeficiency disorders
6 questions
Genetics: Mutations in Parkinson disease pathology
6 questions
Genetics: Inheritance and expression of Marfan syndrome
6 questions
Genetics: Crosses between flowering plants
6 questions
Genetics: The evolution of gecko toepads
5 questions
Genetics: Cancer-causing NF1 mutations in mice
6 questions
Bioenergetics: Phosphoryl group transfers and ATP hydrolysis
6 questions
Cellular effects of metformin, a drug for diabetes mellitus
5 questions
Metabolism: The pentose phosphate pathway and G6PD deficiency
6 questions
Metabolism: The structure and function of glycogen
6 questions
Metabolism: The carnitine shuttle and fatty acid metabolism
6 questions
Metabolism: Enzymes and reactions involved in fermentation
5 questions
Metabolism: Acetyl-CoA and fatty acid synthesis
5 questions

Foundation 2: Cells

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No videos or articles available in this lesson

Practice

Organelles: Lysosomal storage disease NPC
6 questions
Cell membranes: The CFTR ion channel
6 questions
Viruses: The only known case of HIV cure
6 questions
Viruses: EBOV and clathrin-mediated endocytosis
6 questions
Viruses: HIV entry and accessory genes
6 questions
Bacteria: Listeria monocytogenes studies
6 questions
Bacteria: Antibiotic resistance in S. aureus
6 questions
Bacteria: S. typhi and typhoid toxin
5 questions
Bacteria: Virulence factors of Staph and Strep
6 questions
Cell cycle: Cardiomyocyte cell cycle arrest
6 questions
Cancer: Follicular lymphoma and bcl-2
6 questions
Cancer: CML and the Philadelphia chromosome
6 questions
Stem cells: Inducing pluripotency
6 questions
Embryonic development: Abnormal neurulation and holoprosencephaly
6 questions
Cell studies: CD40 receptor expression in hyper IgM syndrome
6 questions
Cell studies: Spherocytosis and osmotic fragility
6 questions

Foundation 3: Organ Systems

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No videos or articles available in this lesson

Practice

Nervous/immune systems: Effects of vagotomy on immune response
6 questions
Nervous/immune systems: Demyelinating disease
6 questions
Nervous system: Effects of stroke on the brain
6 questions
Nervous system: Opioid receptors and naloxone
6 questions
Nervous system: Organization of motor neurons
6 questions
Neuromuscular junction: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
6 questions
Neuromuscular junction: Repetitive nerve stimulation in myasthenia gravis
6 questions
Muscles: Duchenne muscular dystrophy
6 questions
Skeletal system: Disorders of bone remodeling
6 questions
Skeletal system: Bone development
6 questions
Endocrine: Cushing syndrome and the HPA axis
6 questions
Endocrine: Measuring hormone levels
6 questions
Metabolism: Medical case: Fussy child
5 questions
Metabolism: The role of brown fat
5 questions
Medical case: Type 1 diabetes
6 questions
Metabolism: The discovery of leptin
6 questions
Metabolism: Do artificial sweeteners increase diabetes risk?
5 questions
GI system: Pancreatitis studies
6 questions
GI system: H. pylori infection and stomach cancer
6 questions
GI system: Role of alcohol in pancreatitis
6 questions
GI system: Lymphatic function during cirrhosis
6 questions
Respiratory system: Lung volume studies
6 questions
Cardiovascular system: Detection of myocardial infarction
6 questions
Cardiovascular system: Anemia and clinical case
6 questions
Cardiovascular system: Oxygen affinity of hemoglobin and myoglobin
6 questions
Immune system: Milk allergy and intolerance
6 questions
Immune system: Mechanisms of antibody variability
6 questions
Immune system: T cell activation
6 questions
Immune system: Acute vs chronic inflammation
6 questions
Immune system: Antibody class differences
6 questions
Renal: Measuring GFR with inulin
6 questions
Renal: RAAS inhibitors, mechanisms and effects
6 questions
Renal: Congestive heart failure and diuretics
6 questions
Skin: Laser tattoo removal
6 questions
Skin/immune system: Lasers as vaccine adjuvants
6 questions