AKU MBBS Admission Test Biology Syllabus

Biology syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Biology in AKU MBBS Admission Test, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Cell Biology

   3 topics

   • Cell Structure and Organelles
   • Biological Molecules
   • Enzymes
2. 2

   Bioenergetics

   2 topics

   • Photosynthesis
   • Respiration
3. 3

   Genetics and Molecular Biology

   4 topics

   • Mendelian Inheritance
   • DNA Replication and Gene Expression
   • Chromosomes and Mutations
   • Variation and Genetic Disorders
4. 4

   Cell Cycle and Reproduction

   3 topics

   • Mitosis and Meiosis
   • Human Reproductive System
   • Development and Differentiation
5. 5

   Human Physiology

   7 topics

   • Digestive System
   • Circulatory System
   • Respiratory System
   • Excretory System and Osmoregulation
   • Nervous System and Receptors
   • Endocrine System and Homeostasis
   • Immune System
6. 6

   Evolution and Ecology

   3 topics

   • Evidence and Mechanisms of Evolution
   • Ecosystems and Energy Flow
   • Biodiversity and Conservation
7. 7

   Microbiology and Biotechnology

   3 topics

   • Bacteria and Viruses
   • Genetic Engineering and Recombinant DNA
   • Applications in Medicine

Biology flashcards for AKU MBBS Admission Test

22 of 59 cards from the Biology deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Name the organelle described as the 'powerhouse of the cell' and state its key feature.

   The mitochondrion; it has a double membrane with inner foldings called cristae and is the site of aerobic respiration (ATP production).

2. What are the three structural differences between a prokaryotic and a eukaryotic cell?

   Prokaryotes lack a true membrane-bound nucleus, lack membrane-bound organelles (e.g. mitochondria, ER), and have a smaller 70S ribosome (vs 80S in eukaryotes).

3. What is the function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum versus the smooth ER?

   Rough ER (studded with ribosomes) synthesises and transports proteins; smooth ER synthesises lipids and steroids and detoxifies substances.

4. State the function of the Golgi apparatus.

   It modifies, sorts, packages, and secretes proteins and lipids, and forms lysosomes and secretory vesicles.

5. What do lysosomes contain and what is their role?

   They contain hydrolytic (digestive) enzymes used to break down worn-out organelles, waste, and engulfed material (autophagy and intracellular digestion).

6. List the four major classes of biological molecules.

   Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

7. What is the monomer and the type of bond formed between glucose units in carbohydrates?

   The monomer is a monosaccharide (e.g. glucose); units are joined by glycosidic bonds formed via condensation.

8. Name the bond linking amino acids in a protein and how it forms.

   A peptide bond, formed by a condensation reaction between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another, releasing water.

9. Describe the four levels of protein structure.

   Primary (amino acid sequence), secondary (alpha-helix/beta-pleated sheet from hydrogen bonds), tertiary (3D folding from R-group interactions), quaternary (multiple polypeptide subunits).

10. What is the general structure of a triglyceride (fat)?

    One glycerol molecule joined to three fatty acid chains by ester bonds (formed via condensation).

11. What is an enzyme and what type of molecule is it?

    An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up a reaction by lowering its activation energy without being used up; it is a globular protein.

12. Explain the lock-and-key model of enzyme action.

    The substrate has a complementary shape to the enzyme's active site, fitting precisely like a key in a lock to form an enzyme-substrate complex.

13. What is the difference between competitive and non-competitive enzyme inhibition?

    Competitive inhibitors bind the active site and compete with the substrate (overcome by more substrate); non-competitive inhibitors bind elsewhere (allosteric site), altering active site shape (not overcome by more substrate).

14. How do temperature and pH affect enzyme activity?

    Activity rises to an optimum temperature/pH then falls sharply as the enzyme denatures (its active site shape is permanently altered).

15. Write the overall balanced equation for photosynthesis.

    6CO2 + 6H2O --(light, chlorophyll)--> C6H12O6 + 6O2.

16. Name the two stages of photosynthesis and where each occurs in the chloroplast.

    Light-dependent reactions (in the thylakoid membranes) and the light-independent reactions / Calvin cycle (in the stroma).

17. What three products of the light-dependent reactions are used in the Calvin cycle, and where does oxygen come from?

    ATP and reduced NADP (NADPH) are used in the Calvin cycle; oxygen is released from the photolysis (splitting) of water.

18. Write the overall balanced equation for aerobic respiration.

    C6H12O6 + 6O2 --> 6CO2 + 6H2O (+ ATP/energy).

19. Name the four stages of aerobic respiration and their locations.

    Glycolysis (cytoplasm), the link reaction and Krebs cycle (mitochondrial matrix), and oxidative phosphorylation/electron transport chain (inner mitochondrial membrane).

20. Compare the products of anaerobic respiration in human muscle versus in yeast.

    In human muscle, glucose is converted to lactic acid; in yeast (fermentation), glucose is converted to ethanol and carbon dioxide.

21. What is the approximate net ATP yield from aerobic versus anaerobic respiration of one glucose molecule?

    Aerobic respiration yields about 36-38 ATP; anaerobic respiration yields only 2 ATP.

22. State Mendel's Law of Segregation.

    The two alleles of a gene separate (segregate) during gamete formation so that each gamete carries only one allele of each gene.

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