BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications — Biology Syllabus

Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications — Biology syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications — Biology in BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Cells and Cellular Processes

   4 topics

   • Cell structure and organelles
     • Eukaryotic versus prokaryotic cells
     • Functions of nucleus, mitochondria and ribosomes
   • Cell membranes and transport
     • Diffusion, osmosis and active transport
     • Surface area to volume ratio
   • Cell division
     • Mitosis and the cell cycle
     • Meiosis and genetic variation
   • Enzymes
     • Mechanism and active site specificity
     • Effects of temperature, pH and concentration
2. 2

   Genetics and Inheritance

   4 topics

   • DNA structure and replication
     • Base pairing and the double helix
     • Semi-conservative replication
   • Protein synthesis
     • Transcription and translation
     • The genetic code and mutations
   • Mendelian inheritance
     • Monohybrid crosses and Punnett squares
     • Dominant, recessive and codominant alleles
     • Sex linkage
   • Variation and selection
     • Genetic and environmental variation
     • Natural selection and evolution
3. 3

   Human Physiology and Body Systems

   4 topics

   • Circulatory system
     • Heart structure and the cardiac cycle
     • Blood vessels and blood components
   • Gas exchange and respiration
     • Ventilation and the alveoli
     • Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
   • Nervous and hormonal control
     • Neurones and the reflex arc
     • Hormones and negative feedback
   • Homeostasis
     • Thermoregulation
     • Blood glucose and insulin
     • The kidney and osmoregulation
4. 4

   Ecology, Disease and Immunity

   3 topics

   • Ecosystems and energy flow
     • Food chains, webs and trophic levels
     • The carbon and nitrogen cycles
   • Pathogens and disease
     • Bacteria, viruses, fungi and protists
     • Transmission and prevention
   • The immune system
     • Phagocytes and lymphocytes
     • Antibodies, vaccination and immunity

Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications — Biology flashcards for BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)

22 of 52 cards from the Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications — Biology deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. List the key features that distinguish a eukaryotic cell from a prokaryotic cell.

   Eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus, membrane-bound organelles (mitochondria, ER, Golgi), and linear chromosomes with histones. Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, have a single circular DNA molecule, smaller (70S) ribosomes, and may have plasmids and a cell wall containing peptidoglycan.

2. What is the function of mitochondria and what feature increases their surface area for respiration?

   Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration, producing ATP. Their inner membrane is highly folded into cristae, increasing surface area for the electron transport chain. The fluid-filled matrix contains enzymes for the Krebs cycle.

3. Compare the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum.

   Rough ER is studded with ribosomes and synthesises and transports proteins (especially for secretion). Smooth ER lacks ribosomes and synthesises lipids and steroids, and is involved in detoxification and calcium storage.

4. What is the role of the Golgi apparatus?

   The Golgi apparatus modifies, processes (e.g. glycosylation), sorts, and packages proteins and lipids into vesicles for secretion or delivery to other organelles. It also forms lysosomes.

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

   Lysosomes contain hydrolytic (digestive) enzymes. They break down worn-out organelles, digest material taken in by phagocytosis, and carry out autolysis (self-destruction of the cell).

6. Name three organelles found in plant cells but not in animal cells.

   Cellulose cell wall, chloroplasts (for photosynthesis), and a large permanent vacuole containing cell sap.

7. Describe the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane.

   The membrane is a phospholipid bilayer (hydrophilic heads outward, hydrophobic tails inward) in which proteins are embedded and free to move (fluid). It contains intrinsic and extrinsic proteins, cholesterol (stabilises fluidity), and glycoproteins/glycolipids for cell recognition.

8. Define diffusion, osmosis, and active transport.

   Diffusion: net movement of particles from high to low concentration down a gradient (passive). Osmosis: net movement of water across a partially permeable membrane from high to low water potential (passive). Active transport: movement of substances against their concentration gradient using carrier proteins and ATP.

9. Distinguish between facilitated diffusion and active transport.

   Both use membrane proteins. Facilitated diffusion moves substances down the concentration gradient via channel or carrier proteins without ATP. Active transport moves substances against the gradient using carrier proteins and requires ATP.

10. What happens to an animal cell and a plant cell placed in a hypotonic (dilute) solution?

    Water enters by osmosis. An animal cell swells and may burst (lysis/cytolysis) as it has no cell wall. A plant cell swells and becomes turgid; the cell wall prevents bursting.

11. Name the stages of the cell cycle in order.

    Interphase ($G_1$, S, $G_2$), then mitosis (M phase: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase), followed by cytokinesis.

12. State what happens at each stage of mitosis (PMAT).

    Prophase: chromosomes condense, spindle forms, nuclear envelope breaks down. Metaphase: chromosomes line up at the equator. Anaphase: sister chromatids are pulled to opposite poles by spindle fibres. Telophase: chromosomes decondense, nuclear envelopes reform.

13. Compare mitosis and meiosis in terms of products and chromosome number.

    Mitosis produces 2 genetically identical diploid daughter cells (one division). Meiosis produces 4 genetically different haploid cells (two divisions), halving the chromosome number, and generates variation via crossing over and independent assortment.

14. What is the purpose of mitosis and where does it occur in the life of an organism?

    Mitosis produces genetically identical cells for growth, tissue repair, replacement of cells, and asexual reproduction.

15. What is an enzyme and how does it speed up a reaction?

    An enzyme is a biological catalyst (a globular protein) that speeds up a reaction by lowering the activation energy, without being used up. The substrate binds to the active site to form an enzyme-substrate complex.

16. Explain the lock-and-key and induced-fit models of enzyme action.

    Lock-and-key: the substrate fits a complementary, rigid active site like a key in a lock. Induced fit: the active site changes shape slightly as the substrate binds, moulding around it to catalyse the reaction more effectively.

17. Describe the effect of temperature on enzyme activity.

    Rate increases with temperature up to the optimum (more kinetic energy, more successful collisions). Above the optimum, hydrogen bonds break, the active site changes shape, and the enzyme denatures, so rate falls sharply.

18. Distinguish between competitive and non-competitive enzyme inhibitors.

    Competitive inhibitors have a similar shape to the substrate and bind to the active site, blocking it; their effect is reduced by increasing substrate concentration. Non-competitive inhibitors bind to an allosteric site, changing the active site's shape; increasing substrate does not overcome them.

19. Describe the structure of a DNA nucleotide and the components of DNA.

    A DNA nucleotide consists of a deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogenous bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine). Nucleotides join via phosphodiester bonds; two antiparallel strands form a double helix held by hydrogen bonds between complementary bases.

20. State the complementary base pairing rules in DNA and the number of hydrogen bonds in each pair.

    Adenine pairs with thymine via 2 hydrogen bonds; cytosine pairs with guanine via 3 hydrogen bonds. $\ce{A=T}$ and $\ce{C#G}$.

21. Explain why DNA replication is described as semi-conservative.

    Each new DNA molecule consists of one original (parental) strand and one newly synthesised strand. The two strands separate and each acts as a template, so half of each new molecule is conserved from the parent.

22. Name the two key enzymes in DNA replication and their roles.

    DNA helicase unwinds the double helix and breaks the hydrogen bonds between bases. DNA polymerase joins free nucleotides to the template strand by forming phosphodiester bonds, synthesising the new complementary strand.

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