National MDCAT 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 National MDCAT, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Acellular Life

   2 topics

   • Viruses
   • AIDS and HIV Infection
2. 2

   Bioenergetics

   1 topic

   • Cellular Respiration
3. 3

   Biological Molecules

   7 topics

   • Introduction and Classification
   • Biological Importance of Water
   • Carbohydrates
   • Proteins
   • Lipids
   • Nucleic Acids and DNA Structure
   • Conjugated Molecules
4. 4

   Cell Structure and Function

   4 topics

   • Cell Structure
   • Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
   • Cytoplasmic Organelles
   • Chromosomes
5. 5

   Coordination and Control

   3 topics

   • Receptors
   • Neurons
   • Brain
6. 6

   Enzymes

   4 topics

   • Characteristics of Enzymes
   • Mode of Enzyme Action
   • Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity
   • Enzyme Inhibitors
7. 7

   Evolution

   3 topics

   • Concept of Evolution
   • Lamarckism
   • Darwinism
8. 8

   Reproduction

   3 topics

   • Human Reproductive System
   • Menstrual Cycle
   • Sexually Transmitted Diseases
9. 9

   Support and Movement

   5 topics

   • Human Skeleton
   • Muscles
   • Skeletal Muscle Contraction
   • Joints
   • Arthritis
10. 10

    Inheritance

    3 topics

    • Mendel's Laws of Inheritance
    • Gene Linkage and Crossing Over
    • X-linked Recessive Inheritance
11. 11

    Circulation

    4 topics

    • Human Heart
    • Cardiac Cycle and Phases of Heartbeat
    • Blood Vessels
    • Lymphatic System
12. 12

    Immunity

    1 topic

    • Specific Defense Mechanism
13. 13

    Respiration

    1 topic

    • Human Respiratory System
14. 14

    Digestion

    1 topic

    • Human Digestive System
15. 15

    Homeostasis

    4 topics

    • Urinary System and Kidney Structure
    • Kidney Functioning
    • Osmoregulation and Kidney Disorders
    • Thermoregulation and Excretion

Biology flashcards for National MDCAT

22 of 75 cards from the Biology deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is a virus, and why is it considered an obligate intracellular parasite?

   A virus is an acellular, ultramicroscopic infectious agent made of a nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) core enclosed in a protein coat (capsid). It is an obligate intracellular parasite because it lacks metabolic machinery and can only replicate inside a living host cell.

2. What is the protein coat surrounding a virus called, and what are its subunits named?

   The protein coat is called the capsid, and it is made of repeating protein subunits called capsomeres.

3. List the main shapes/symmetries of viruses with an example of each.

   Helical/rod-shaped (Tobacco Mosaic Virus), polyhedral/icosahedral (Adenovirus), spherical (Influenza), and complex/tadpole-shaped (Bacteriophage).

4. What are the two main phases (cycles) of bacteriophage replication?

   The lytic cycle, in which the phage replicates and lyses (bursts) the host cell, and the lysogenic cycle, in which phage DNA integrates into the host chromosome as a prophage and replicates with it without immediate lysis.

5. Name the five sequential steps of the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage.

   Attachment (adsorption), penetration (injection of DNA), biosynthesis (replication of nucleic acid and synthesis of proteins), maturation (assembly), and lysis (release of new phages).

6. What does the abbreviation AIDS stand for?

   Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

7. What type of virus causes AIDS, and what type of nucleic acid and key enzyme does it carry?

   AIDS is caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), a retrovirus that contains single-stranded RNA and the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which synthesizes DNA from its RNA.

8. Which specific immune cells does HIV primarily attack?

   HIV primarily attacks helper T-lymphocytes (CD4+ T cells / T-helper cells), weakening the body's immune defense.

9. State three main modes of transmission of HIV.

   Through unprotected sexual contact, transfusion of infected blood or use of contaminated needles/syringes, and from an infected mother to her child (during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding).

10. Define cellular respiration and give its overall summary equation.

    Cellular respiration is the controlled oxidative breakdown of food (glucose) to release energy as ATP. Overall equation: C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (ATP).

11. What are the three main stages of aerobic respiration and where does each occur in a eukaryotic cell?

    Glycolysis (in the cytoplasm), the Krebs cycle / citric acid cycle (in the mitochondrial matrix), and the electron transport chain / oxidative phosphorylation (on the inner mitochondrial membrane).

12. What is the net ATP, NADH, and pyruvate yield of glycolysis from one glucose molecule?

    Glycolysis yields a net 2 ATP, 2 NADH, and 2 molecules of pyruvate per glucose.

13. What is the approximate total ATP yield from the complete aerobic respiration of one glucose molecule?

    About 36 to 38 ATP molecules per glucose.

14. What are the two types of anaerobic respiration (fermentation) and their end products?

    Alcoholic fermentation (in yeast) producing ethanol and CO2, and lactic acid fermentation (in muscle cells/bacteria) producing lactic acid.

15. What is the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain of aerobic respiration?

    Oxygen, which combines with electrons and hydrogen ions to form water.

16. Define biology and name its two main branches.

    Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms. Its two main branches are botany (study of plants) and zoology (study of animals).

17. What are the three domains of life in modern classification?

    Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.

18. List the five kingdoms in Robert Whittaker's classification system.

    Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

19. State the correct sequence of taxonomic hierarchy from largest to smallest category.

    Kingdom, Phylum (or Division in plants), Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

20. What is binomial nomenclature, and who proposed it?

    Binomial nomenclature is the system of naming organisms using two Latin names (genus + species), proposed by Carolus Linnaeus. Example: Homo sapiens.

21. Why is water described as a polar molecule, and what type of bonding results between water molecules?

    Water is polar because oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, giving oxygen a partial negative charge and hydrogen a partial positive charge. This polarity allows hydrogen bonding between water molecules.

22. Why is water called the 'universal solvent' and a good biological medium?

    Because its polarity allows it to dissolve a wide range of polar and ionic substances, making it an ideal medium for transport, metabolic reactions, and biochemical processes in cells.

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