MCAT Topical Tests

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BIOLOGY TOPICAL:
Microbiology
Test 1
Time: 20 Minutes*
Number of Questions: 15

* The timing restrictions for the science topical tests are optional.
If you are using this test for the sole purpose of content
reinforcement, you may want to disregard the time limit.

MCAT

DIRECTIONS: Most of the questions in the following

test are organized into groups, with a descriptive
passage preceding each group of questions. Study
the passage, then select the single best answer to
each question in the group. Some of the questions
are not based on a descriptive passage; you must
also select the best answer to these questions. If you
are unsure of the best answer, eliminate the choices
that you know are incorrect, then select an answer
from the choices that remain. Indicate your selection
by blackening the corresponding circle on your answer
sheet. A periodic table is provided below for your use
with the questions.

PERIODIC TABLE OF THE ELEMENTS

1
H
1.0

2
He
4.0

3
Li
6.9

4
Be
9.0

5
B
10.8

6
C
12.0

7
N
14.0

8
O
16.0

9
F
19.0

10
Ne
20.2

11
Na
23.0

12
Mg
24.3

13
Al
27.0

14
Si
28.1

15
P
31.0

16
S
32.1

17
Cl
35.5

18
Ar
39.9

19
K
39.1

20
Ca
40.1

21
Sc
45.0

22
Ti
47.9

23
V
50.9

24
Cr
52.0

25
Mn
54.9

26
Fe
55.8

27
Co
58.9

28
Ni
58.7

29
Cu
63.5

30
Zn
65.4

31
Ga
69.7

32
Ge
72.6

33
As
74.9

34
Se
79.0

35
Br
79.9

36
Kr
83.8

37
Rb
85.5

38
Sr
87.6

39
Y
88.9

40
Zr
91.2

41
Nb
92.9

42
Mo
95.9

43
Tc
(98)

44
Ru
101.1

45
Rh
102.9

46
Pd
106.4

47
Ag
107.9

48
Cd
112.4

49
In
114.8

50
Sn
118.7

51
Sb
121.8

52
Te
127.6

53
I
126.9

54
Xe
131.3

55
Cs
132.9

56
Ba
137.3

57
La *
138.9

72
Hf
178.5

73
Ta
180.9

74
W
183.9

75
Re
186.2

76
Os
190.2

77
Ir
192.2

78
Pt
195.1

79
Au
197.0

80
Hg
200.6

81
Tl
204.4

82
Pb
207.2

83
Bi
209.0

84
Po
(209)

85
At
(210)

86
Rn
(222)

87
Fr
(223)

88
Ra
226.0

89
Ac
227.0

104
Unq
(261)

105
Unp
(262)

106
Unh
(263)

107
Uns
(262)

108
Uno
(265)

109
Une
(267)

58
Ce
140.1

59
Pr
140.9

60
Nd
144.2

61
Pm
(145)

62
Sm
150.4

63
Eu
152.0

64
Gd
157.3

65
Tb
158.9

66
Dy
162.5

67
Ho
164.9

68
Er
167.3

69
Tm
168.9

70
Yb
173.0

71
Lu
175.0

90
Th
232.0

91
Pa
(231)

92
U
238.0

93
Np
(237)

94
Pu
(244)

95
Am
(243)

96
Cm
(247)

97
Bk
(247)

98
Cf
(251)

99
Es
(252)

100
Fm
(257)

101
Md
(258)

102
No
(259)

103
Lr
(260)

as developed by

Microbiology Test 1
Passage I (Questions 15)
Conjugation occurs between bacterial cells of
different mating types. Maleness in bacteria is
determined by the presence of a small extra piece of DNA
that can replicate independently of the larger chromosome.
Male bacteria having this sex factor, known as the F
factor, are termed F + if the sex factor exists
extrachromosomally. F+ bacteria can conjugate only with
F bacteria, the female counter-parts, which do not
possess the F factor. Genes on the F factor determine the
formation of hair-like projections on the surface of the F+
bacterium, called sex pili. The pili form cytoplasmic
bridges through which genetic material may be transferred.
The pili also aid the F+ cell in adhering to the F cell
during conjugation. During conjugation of an F+ cell
with an F cell, the DNA that is most likely to be
transferred to the female is the F factor itself. Prior to
transfer, the F factor replicates. The F thus becomes an
F + by receiving one copy of the F factor, while the
original F+ holds on to the other copy.
If this were the only type of genetic exchange in
conjugation, all bacteria would become F + and
conjugation would eventually cease. However, in F+
bacterial cultures, a few bacteria can be isolated that have
the F factor incorporated into their chromosome. These
bacteria, referred to as Hfr bacteria, may also conjugate
with F cells. They do not transfer their F factor during
conjugation, but they frequently transfer linear portions of
their chromosomes. The transfer is interrupted by the
spontaneous breakage of the DNA molecule at random
sites, usually before the F factor crosses to the F cell.
This process is unidirectional; no genetic material from
the F cell is transferred to the Hfr cell.

2 . A strain of the F+ bacteria is resistant to the

antibiotic streptomycin. If the F+ strain conjugates
with a non-resistant F strain, the F strain becomes
resistant to streptomycin. Which of the following
best accounts for this observation?
A . During conjugation, transfer of the F factor
induced a spontaneous mutation in the F cells
that conferred streptomycin resistance.
B . During conjugation, the F + cells transfer
enzymes that activate the gene for streptomycin
resistance in the F cells.
C . The gene for streptomycin resistance in the F
cells is carried on extrachromosomal F factor
DNA.
D . The gene for streptomycin resistance in the F+
cells is carried on extrachromosomal F factor
DNA.

3 . An Hfr strain of E. coli was found to donate genes to

four F cells in the following order:
F cells
1
2
3
4

What is the map of these genes on the E. coli Hfr

chromosome?
A.

C.
G

1 . Which of the following will most likely occur when

a suspension of Hfr cells are mixed with an excess of
F cells?
A . Most of the F cells will become F+ cells.
B . The F cells will produce sex pili that attach to
the Hfr cells.
C . Hfr cells will replicate the F factor independently
of their chromosomes.
D . Hfr chromosomal DNA will be transferred to F
cells.

Gene order
TLPA
PASG
GTLP
SAPL

B.

D.

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

KAPLAN

MCAT
4 . Prior to conjugation, the F factor in F+ bacteria is
replicated by the enzyme:
A.
B.
C.
D.

integrase.
DNA ligase.
reverse transcriptase.
DNA polymerase.

5 . Which of the following conjugations will result in a

significant number of new F+ bacteria?
I.
II.
III.
IV.
A.
B.
C.
D.

F+ and F
F+ and Hfr
Hfr and F
F+, F, and Hfr

I only
I and IV only
I, II, and IV only
II, III, and IV only

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

as developed by

Microbiology Test 1
Passage II (Questions 610)
A strain of penicillin-resistant pneumococci bacteria
exists, despite the absence of the bacterial beta-lactamase
gene that typically confers penicillin resistance.
Additionally, half of the cells in this strain are unable to
metabolize the disaccharides sucrose and lactose. A
microbiologist studying this strain discovered that all of
the cells in this strain were infected with two different
types of bacteriophage, Phage I and Phage II, both of
which insert their DNA into the bacterial chromosome.
To determine if bacteriophage infection could give rise to
this new bacterial strain, the microbiologist infected wildtype pneumococci with the two phage.
Experiment 1
10L of Phage I and 10L of Phage II were added to
separate 5mL nutrient broth solutions containing actively
growing wild-type pneumococci. In addition, a 5mL broth
solution containing only wild-type pneumococci was used
as a control. After 20 minutes of room temperature
incubation, the microbiologist diluted 1 L of the broth
solutions in separate 1.999mL aliquots of sterile water.
She plated these dilutions on three different agar plates
containing glucose, sucrose, and lactose, respectively. The
plates were incubated for 24 hours at 37C. The results are
shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Phage IPhage IIWild-type
infected cells
infected cells
cells
Glucose
+
+
+
Sucrose
+

+
Lactose
+

(+) denotes bacterial growth; () denotes no growth.

6 . Based on the experimental data, which of the

following statements is most likely true of Phage I?
A . Phage I inserted its DNA into the bacterial
chromosome, making the bacterial cell wall
impervious to the effects of penicillin.
B . Phage I reduced the penicillin on the agar plates,
therefore allowing the bacteria to grow.
C . Phage I contained the viral gene that coded for
beta-lactamase.
D . Phage I inhibited the growth of the bacteria.

7 . Which of the following conclusions could be inferred

from the data in Table 1?
A . Phage I inserted its DNA into the region of the
bacterial chromosome that codes for the enzymes
of glycolysis.
B . Phage I prevented larger molecules such as
lactose and sucrose from passing through the
bacterial cell wall.
C . Phage II inserted its DNA into the region of the
bacterial chromosome that codes for enzymes that
digest disaccharides.
D . Phage II utilized all of the sucrose and lactose and
starved out the bacteria.

Plates

8 . Which of the following best accounts for the results

of Experiment 2?
I. Both Phage I DNA and Phage II DNA code
for beta-lactamase.
II. Both Phage I DNA and Phage II DNA code
for enzymes that inhibit tetracyclines
deleterious effects.
III. Both phage disrupted the wild-type bacterias
ability to resist penicillin.
IV. The wild-type bacteria has no natural
resistance to either penicillin or tetracycline.

Experiment 2
1L of the broth solutions from Experiment 1 were
again diluted in separate 1.999mL aliquots of sterile water.
These dilutions were plated on three different agar plates
containing tetracycline, penicillin, and no antibiotic,
respectively. The plates were incubated for 24 hours at
37C. The results are shown in Table 2.
Table 2
Phage IPhage IIWild-type
infected cells
infected cells
cells
Tetracycline

Penicillin
+
+

No antibiotic
+
+
+
(+) denotes bacterial growth; () denotes no growth.
Plates

A.
B.
C.
D.

I only
I and IV only
III and IV only
I, II, and IV only

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

KAPLAN

MCAT
9 . Which of the following best describes the appearance
of pneumococci, a streptococcal bacteria, when
stained and then viewed with a light microscope?
A.
B.
C.
D.

Rod
Helical
Squamous
Spherical

1 0 . In which of the following cycles must Phage I be to

produce plaques, which are transparent areas within
the bacterial lawn caused by bacterial cell death?
A.
B.
C.
D.

Lytic
Lysogenic
Mitotic
Integration

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

as developed by

Microbiology Test 1
Questions 11 through 15 are
NOT based on a descriptive
passage.
1 1 . Which of the following is true of both a
bacteriophage and a retrovirus?
A . Both can integrate their genetic material into the
host cell genome.
B . Both have genes that code for reverse
transcriptase.
C . Both can infect human cells.
D . Both are immunosuppressive agents.

1 2 . Addition of DNase to a bacterial cell results in

hydrolysis of the cells DNA, preventing protein
synthesis and causing cell death. However, certain
viruses pre-treated with DNase continue to produce
new proteins following infection. Which of the
following best accounts for this observation?

1 4 . All of the following are true of fungi EXCEPT:

A . they can exist in either a haploid state or a
diploid state.
B . their cells contain a plasma membrane, but no
cell wall.
C . they contain masses of hyphae that form the
mycelium.
D . they are heterotrophs.
1 5 . One form of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) is
caused by a virus. The serum of patients with
hepatitis may contain the hepatitis B surface antigen,
HBsAg, and/or the hepatitis B core antigen, HBcAg.
Which of the following is most likely true?
A . HBcAg is probably composed primarily of lipids.
B . HBsAg is probably composed primarily of
proteins.
C . Serum concentration of liver enzymes remains
the same during acute hepatitis infection.
D . Serum concentration of liver enzymes decreases
during acute hepatitis infection.

A . The icosahedral protein coat of these viruses

denature DNase.
B . The genomes of these viruses contain multiple
reading frames.
C . The genomes of these viruses are comprised of
RNA.
D . The genomes of these viruses contain multiple
copies of their genes.

1 3 . In the treatment of an influenza viral infection, an

experimental drug that directly blocks the synthesis of
the viral protein coat is discovered. This drug most
likely:
A . affects synthesis of host cell proteins, and may
therefore cause side effects in the host.
B . has no affect on host cell protein synthesis, and
may therefore be an effective treatment.
C . blocks the cell surface receptors to which both
the viral protein coat and host hormones bind,
and may therefore cause side effects in the host.
D . increases the affinity of antibodies to the viral
protein coat antigens, and may therefore be an
effective treatment.

END OF TEST

KAPLAN

MCAT
ANSWER KEY:
1.
D
6.
2.
D
7.
3.
A
8.
4.
D
9.
5.
B
10.

C
C
B
D
A

11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

A
C
A
B
B

as developed by

Microbiology Test 1
MICROBIOLOGY TEST 1 TRANSCRIPT
Passage I (Questions 1-5)
1.
The correct answer is choice D. This is a fairly straightforward question that can be answered with the information
given in the passage. From the second paragraph we know that Hfr bacteria have the F factor integrated into their
chromosome, instead of located in an autonomous circular DNA element in the cytoplasm--in other words--a plasmid. From
the passage you should have been able to figure out that when a suspension of Hfr cells is mixed with an excess of F- cells,
the Hfr cells attach to the F- cells via pili, conjugation begins, and Hfr chromosomal DNA will be transferred to the F- cells.
Therefore, choice D is right and choice B is wrong, since it has the things the other way around. Since the F factor is part of
the bacteriums main chromosome, the F factor will get replicated along with the rest of the cells chromosome prior to
conjugation; so choice C is wrong. During conjugation, the transfer f Hfr DNA is interrupted by the spontaneous breakage of
the DNA molecule at random points. Typically, the chromosome is broken before the F factor is transferred to the F- cell.
Therefore, the conjugation of an Hfr cell with an F- cell does NOT usually result in an F+ cell. The F factor usually remains
in the Hfr cell. Thus, choice A is wrong. Again, choice D is the correct answer.
2.
The correct answer is choice D. How can this newfound resistance to streptomycin in a previously nonresistant Fstrain be accounted for? Since resistance to an antibiotic is a genetic thing, the only way that this could have occurred was if
the gene for streptomycin resistance was transferred from the F+ cells to the F- cells. Well, from the passage you know that
during conjugation between F+ cells and F- cells, the extrachromosomal DNA containing the F factor replicates, the F+ cells
attach to the F- cells via pili, and the extrachromosomal DNA is transferred to the F- cells. The only thing transferred between
the two cells is this DNA. Thus, the gene for streptomycin resistance must have been carried on the F factor. Thus, choice D
is the correct answer. I hope that you werent tricked into picking choice C, which if read too fast, looks kind of like choice
D. Choice C is wrong because the F- cells were NOT resistant to the antibiotic before conjugation, which implies that they
certainly could NOT have carried the gene for streptomycin resistance. Choice B can also be ruled out since, as we just said,
the F- cells of this strain could not have carried the gene for streptomycin resistance prior to conjugation, which would have
had to been the case for choice B to be true. And furthermore, we know that only DNA, not enzymes, are transferred from the
F + cell during conjugation. Choice A is also incorrect because it is not possible to induce a spontaneous mutation. A
mutation may either be induced by something such as a sex factor or it may be spontaneous, meaning its cause is nothing but
pure chance. Also, spontaneous mutations are very rare and it would not be possible for an entire strain of F- cells to
spontaneously mutate at the same time to confer resistance to the same drug. Again, choice D is the correct answer.
3.
The correct answer is choice A. This problem requires you to determine the map of the chromosomal marker genes
based on the transfer of genes during conjugation given to you in the question. Before you attack this problem, you should
visualize what is going on in this question. You know from the passage that Hfr cells have the F factor integrated in their
chromosome. When an F- cell is in close proximity to an Hfr cell, a sex pili reaches out from the Hfr cell to the F- cell,
forming a cytoplasm-filled bridge between the two cells. Since the F factor is part of the chromosomal DNA it gets replicated
along with the chromosomal DNA prior to conjugation, although the replicated DNA is in a linear form. It is a segment of
this linear DNA that gets transferred to the F- cell. The transfer is interrupted by the spontaneous breakage of the DNA
molecule at random times. The DNA that entered the F- cell will be composed of only those genes that crossed the pili before
breakage stopped the transfer.
Lets now take a look at the problem. There are different combinations of gene order in the four recipient F- cells
because the conjugation was disrupted at different times. Since the genetic information is transmitted linearly, the order itself
is NOT changed. Now before we go any further, we can eliminate choices B and D. Why? Because as you know from
introductory biology, the chromosome in prokaryotic cells is circular. Even though the DNA transferred during conjugation is
linear, this is the replicated DNA; the original DNA in the donor Hfr cells is circular. Therefore, choice B and D must be
wrong because they both have the DNA maps of the E. coli Hfr chromosome as being linear. So now all you have to do is
decide between the maps in choices A and C. To find the map of the circular chromosome, you simply have to fit the
fragments from the question stem together by examining the overlapping areas. The first segment has the order TLPA. The
second segment, PASG, overlaps with the P and A from the first segment. So the order is now TLPASG. The third segment,
GTLP, overlaps with the T, L, and P of the order. So the chromosome order is now GTLPASG. Finally the last segment,
SAPL, is already found in our gene order, if you read it backwards, that is. Remember that in contrast to a linear
chromosome, circular chromosomes dont have a unique start point and end point. Therefore, choice A must be the correct
answer because it illustrates the genes in the order TLPASG. Or you can read it PASGTL, or SAPLTG; it all depends on
your starting point and your direction--clockwise or counterclockwise. Thus choice C is incorrect and choice A is the correct
answer.

KAPLAN

MCAT
4.
The correct answer is choice D. This question is very straightforward, requiring you to recall the primary enzyme
responsible for replicating strands of DNA--DNA polymerase. DNA polymerase, choice D, is an enzyme that can synthesize a
new DNA strain using a template DNA strand. Thus, DNA polymerase must be responsible for the replication of the F factor
in DNA in F+ cells before conjugation occurs. Dont fall into the trap of thinking, if its too obvious, then it must be
incorrect. There are often questions on the MCAT that are designed to be easy, questions that most people get right. So lets
look at the other answer choices. Integrase, choice A, is an enzyme that you are not required to be familiar with. Integrase is a
retroviral enzyme that integrates provirus DNA in host genomes. So choice A is incorrect. This choice was just thrown in as
a distraction. Since this is not a common enzyme and it is not discussed in the passage, chances are its a wrong choice. DNA
ligase, choice B, catalyzes the formation of a phosphodiester bond to link two adjacent bases separated by a nick in one strand
of double-helical DNA. Since DNA ligase does not replicate DNA, choice B is incorrect. Reverse transcriptase, choice C, is
another retroviral enzyme. Reverse transcriptase synthesizes DNA from an RNA template. Because DNA replication involves
the synthesis of DNA from a DNA template, choice C is also incorrect. Again, choice D is the correct answer.
5.
The correct answer is choice B. The key to getting this one right is noting from the passage what is required for a
cell to become an F+ , or male, cell. Recall that maleness is determined by the presence of a small extra piece of selfreplicating DNA that contains the F factor. With this in mind lets review the listed conjugations. In Roman numeral I, F+
bacteria conjugate with F- bacteria. This will certainly result in new F+ cells. As you know from the passage, the
extrachromosomal F factor will be transferred to the F- cell, turning it into a F+ cell, where the F factor DNA will exist
indefinitely as an extrachromosomal entity with the ability to replicate autonomously. Since Roman numeral I is a correct
choice, choice D can be eliminated. In Roman numeral II, an F+ cell conjugates with an Hfr cell. Since both cell types
already contain the F factor, no conjugation will occur. Thus no new F+ bacteria will result. Thus Roman numeral II is
incorrect, and choice C can be eliminated. In Roman numeral III, an Hfr cell conjugates with a F- cell. As you know from the
passage, Hfr cells rarely transfer the F factor to F- cells during conjugation. Therefore there will NOT be a significant number
of new F+ bacteria and Roman numeral III is incorrect. Now if you really had your thinking cap on, you wouldnt even have
examined Roman numeral III, since you previously eliminated choice D, the only choice that contained Roman numeral III.
In Roman numeral IV, new F+ cells will be formed because the two necessary ingredients--F+ cells and F- cells--are present.
Even though Hfr cells cannot be converted themselves or convert F- cells to F+ cells, the F- cells that happen to conjugate
with F+ cells will be converted to F+. Therefore Roman numeral IV is also correct. So Roman numerals I and IV are correct
and choice B is the correct answer.
Passage II (Questions 6-10)
6.
The correct answer is choice C. If you look at the answer choices you will see that they all refer to penicillin
resistance and Phage I. So this means that you need to look at Table 2 for your answer. From Table 2 you know that the
bacteria infected with Phage I were able to grow on agar plates containing penicillin. You also know from the passage and
Table 2 that the uninfected wild-type bacterial cells do not contain the gene that codes for beta-lactamase, which confers
penicillin resistance, since no bacterial growth was observed when the control dilution was incubated in the presence of
penicillin. So, combining these two pieces of information, you can conclude that Phage I must be responsible for the
observed penicillin resistance in Experiment 2. With this in mind, lets look at the answer choices.
Right away you should have eliminated choice D, since bacterial growth did occur in both Experiments 1 and 2 when
the bacteria were infected with Phage I. Choices A, B, and C, however, are all possible ways in which the bacterial cells could
have become resistant to penicillin. So, how do you decide between these three? Well, youre asked to determine your answer
based on the experimental data. Thus, choice C is the only one that could be concluded on this basis--the penicillin resistance
observed in the bacteria infected with Phage I in Experiment 2 must have been conferred by the insertion of Phage I DNA that
contained the gene that codes for beta-lactamase. Thus choice C is the correct answer. The passage does not state the exact
mechanism by which this gene functions and therefore you are not expected to know this. Perhaps beta-lactamase does
function via the mechanisms proposed in either choice A or B--by effecting the bacterium cell wall, or by reducing the
penicillin on the agar plate. However, neither of these can be concluded from the experimental data. The only thing you DO
know about penicillin resistance is that the gene for beta-lactamase must be present. Why? Because the only difference
between these bacterial cells and the wild-type cells of the control group is the Phage I infection. Therefore, choices A and B
are incorrect and choice C is the correct answer.
7.
The correct answer is choice C. From the question stem you know that you will need to interpret the data in Table 1.
According to Table 1, both the control bacteria and the bacteria infected with Phage I were able to grow in the presence of all
three sugars--two of which are disaccharides. On the other hand, the bacteria infected with Phage II were only able to grow on
glucose. This means that Phage II is somehow disrupting the bacterias metabolism of sucrose and lactose. Since you know

10

as developed by

Microbiology Test 1
that Phage I does not have any deleterious effects on bacterial metabolism, as indicated by the ability to grow on all three
plates, choices A and B can be eliminated. If Phage I DNA was incorporated into the region of the bacterial chromosome that
codes for the enzymes of glycolysis, the bacteria would have been unable to grow on glucose, since glycolysis provides the
ATP required for growth. And if Phage I prevented the entrance of lactose and sucrose into the cells, the bacteria would have
been unable to grow on either of these sugars, since the cells would not have had access to metabolic fuel. Since neither of
these scenarios is the case, weve narrowed it down to either choice C or choice D. Since viruses are not autonomous life
forms, they would be unable to utilize any sugar; viruses do not possess the metabolic machinery to metabolize nutrients.
Thus, choice D is incorrect. Insertion of Phage II DNA into the region of the chromosome that codes for the enzymes that
digest disaccharides such as sucrose and lactose, WOULD disrupt the metabolism of these nutrients. Therefore, you would
NOT expect to see any bacterial growth when Phage II-infected bacteria were incubated with either sucrose and lactose, which
is exactly what we see happening in Table 1. Thus, choice C is the correct answer.
8.
The correct answer is choice B. From the question stem you know that you need to understand the data in Table 2 to
get this question right. In Table 2, you see that the control bacteria are unable to grow in the presence of either tetracycline or
penicillin. Therefore, the wild-type bacteria does NOT have any natural resistance to these two antibiotics and so Roman
numeral IV is correct, and choice A can thus be eliminated. You can also eliminate Roman numeral III, since we have just
established that the wild-type bacteria has no natural resistance to penicillin. Therefore, choice C must also be wrong. From
Table 2, you also know that bacteria infected with either Phage I or Phage II are able to grow in the presence of penicillin,
but not in the presence of tetracycline, indicating that both Phage I DNA and Phage II DNA must contain the gene that codes
for beta-lactamase, since we know that this is the enzyme that confers penicillin resistance. So Roman numeral I must be
correct and Roman numeral II must be incorrect. Thus, choice D can be eliminated. This means that Roman numerals I and
IV are correct and therefore choice B is the right answer.
9.
The correct answer is choice D. This is an example of a pure knowledge question tacked onto a passage. Bacteria are
often categorized on the basis of their shape. There are three basic bacterial shapes: spherical, rod, and helical, or spiral.
Spherical bacteria are known as cocci; rod-shaped bacteria are known as bacilli; and helical bacteria are known as spirochetes
or spirilla. Thus, a pneumococci bacteria, when stained and viewed under a light microscope, would be spherical in shape.
Thus, choice D is the correct answer and choices A and B are wrong. Helical bacteria, choice B, are the least common of the
three groups; rod-shaped bacteria, choice A, include the common E. coli. Squamous, choice C, refers to the layer of epithelial
cells that typically perform protective functions, composing the outer layers of the skin and the lining of the mouth and other
mucous membranes. So obviously choice C is also incorrect. Again, choice D is the correct answer.
10.
The correct answer is choice A. According to the question stem, plaques are transparent areas with a bacterial lawn
caused by bacterial cell death, a.k.a. lysing. The lysing of the bacterial cells is due to eruption of infectious viral particles. So
basically, all this question is asking you is to determine in which cycle of viral infection does a bacteriophage assemble new
viral particles and lyse its host cell. Heres where your knowledge of introductory biology comes into play. You should
remember that when certain phage infect bacteria, one of two events may occur. The viral DNA may enter the cell and set up
an infection whereby new viral particles are assembled, and the bacterium lyses; this is know as the lytic cycle. Therefore,
choice A is correct. OR, the viral DNA may become part of the bacterial chromosome, via an integration step. Therefore
choice D is incorrect. Once integrated, the viral DNA replicates with the host chromosome and is passed on to daughter cells.
This is known as the lysogenic cycle because from time to time, an integrated virus, which is called a prophage, becomes
activated and sets up a new lytic cycle. As a matter of fact, this passage related to strains of phage that began their infection in
a lysogenic stage. Remember, the passage specifically tells you that the phage DNA was inserted, or integrated into the
bacterial genome. Therefore choice B is incorrect. As for choice C, mitosis has nothing to do with viral infection. Mitosis is
the nuclear division of eukaryotic cells characterized by chromosome replication and formation of two identical daughter
nuclei. Thus choice C is incorrect. Again, choice A is the correct answer.
One more thing before we move on to the discretes. I hope that you didnt get too caught up in the very specific details of the
experimental protocol. It could have really slowed you down if you had gotten too enmeshed in this, especially since none of
the questions actually required you to refer back to the protocol. Focus on the rationale of the experiments; dont worry about
the minutiae. Remember, the passage isnt going anywhere; you can refer back to it at any time if necessary.
Discretes (Questions 11-15)
11.
The correct answer is choice A. In order to get this question right you need to know the general characteristics of two
types of viruses: bacteriophage and retroviruses. Bacteriophage are viruses that attack only bacteria. Bacteriophage typically
consist of a head made of a protein coat and a core that contains nucleic acid. Bacteriophage also contain a tail made of protein
that is specialized for attaching to bacteria. Upon infection, bacteriophage can enter one of two cycles. In the lytic cycle, the
viral nucleic acid enters the bacterial cell and begins using host machinery to produce new virions, which eventually cause cell
lysis. In the lysogenic cycle, the viral DNA integrates into the bacterial chromosome, replicating with it and being passed on
to daughter cells in this inactive form. Once an integrated virus, called a prophage, becomes activated, it enters the lytic cycle.

KAPLAN

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MCAT
Now lets take a look at retroviruses. Retroviruses are RNA-containing viruses that replicate through a DNA intermediate by
virtue of a viral-coded RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, known as reverse transcriptase. The most notable retrovirus is
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent of AIDS. Retroviral life-cycle consists of four main events. The
virus binds to its host, typically an animal cell, and injects RNA and a few viral enzymes. The RNA is then converted to
DNA by reverse transcriptase, and the DNA then integrates into the host cells genome. The viral genes are then expressed.
Finally, the virions are assembled and released from the cell by budding.
O.K., now that we know the basics of both types of viruses, lets look at the answer choices. Well, we know that
both types of viruses can integrate their genetic material into the host cell genome. So choice A is the right answer.
Retroviruses are classified by the presence of reverse transcriptase, which is not present in bacteriophage. Thus choice B is
incorrect. Choice C is also incorrect; as its name implies, bacteriophage only infect bacteria. Bacteria, the target of
bacteriophage, have no real immune system to suppress, and so choice D must also be wrong. Again, choice A is the correct
answer.
12.
The correct answer is choice C. From the question stem you know that bacterial cells treated with DNase eventually
die due to hydrolysis of their DNA, while certain viruses are unaffected by DNase. Whats DNase? Its an enzyme that
degrades DNA by attacking the bonds within a DNA molecule. So it makes sense that the bacterial cell would die, because all
bacteria store their genetic material in the form of DNA. If certain viruses are still able to synthesize proteins following
exposure to DNase, then these viruses must be RNA viruses. Thus, choice C is the right answer. Choice A is wrong because
a viral protein coat is not able to denature DNase. Denaturation involves the breaking of bonds due to either heat or chemical
treatment. Choice B is wrong, because while it is true that viral genomes typically contain multiple reading frames so that
they can get the most use out of their limited nucleic acid, having multiple reading frames doesnt prevent DNA hydrolysis.
Choice D is wrong for the same reason; having multiple copies of a gene is not enough to prevent DNase from hydrolyzing
DNA. Again, choice C is the correct answer.
13.
The correct answer is choice A. This question tests your basic understanding of viruses. Viruses, which are
essentially non-living obligate parasites, have several common features: 1) Viruses contain either DNA or RNA, but not
both; 2) viruses do not have the metabolic machinery for energy production or protein synthesis and are forced to rely on the
machinery of their host; 3) viruses are unable to reproduce themselves directly, instead relying on their hosts machinery for
replication; and 4) viruses have no membranes to regulate the entry or exit of material. So based on this information, you
know that if the experimental drug blocks viral protein synthesis, it is likely that it also blocks host protein synthesis, since
it is the hosts metabolic machinery that synthesizes viral proteins. Thus you would expect this drug to also affect host
protein synthesis, which would be considered a side effect of the drug. Therefore choice A is the correct answer and choice B is
wrong. About choice B: just because a drug has an unwanted side effect does not necessarily mean that the drug is not an
effective treatment. Choice C is incorrect because the blockage of host cell surface receptors would not prevent the synthesis
of viral protein, since protein synthesis occurs in the cytoplasm of the host cell. Choice D is wrong for the same reason;
increasing the affinity of antibodies specific for antigens found on the viral protein coat would not block the synthesis of the
viral coat proteins themselves. Again, choice A is the correct answer.
14.
The correct answer is choice B. This is a pure knowledge question. There is really no reasoning required, so either
you knew the answer or you didnt. Examples of fungi include mold, yeast, and mushrooms. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms,
typically filamentous or, rarely, unicellular. The filamentous forms consist basically of continuous hyphae that form
mycelium; thus choice C is incorrect since it IS true of fungi and youre asked to determine which of the choices is NOT true.
All fungi have chitin-containing cell walls, as well as plasma membranes. Therefore choice B must be the correct answer.
Choices A and D are wrong because they are both true. Fungi reproductive cycles often include both sexual and asexual
phases, meaning that haploid and diploid states are both possible. In addition, fungi are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients
through absorption. Again, choice B is the correct answer.
15.
The correct answer is choice B. From your knowledge of viral structure you know that the viral coat is the outer
surface of a virus and is composed of protein. And the viral core, the inside of the virus, contains nucleic acid in the form of
either RNA or DNA. Therefore, you would expect the core antigen to be composed primarily of nucleic acids and the coat, or
surface, antigen to be composed primarily of proteins. Remember, an antigen is just something that invokes an immune
response in a host organism. Thus, choice A is wrong and choice B is the correct answer. Lets just take a look at the other
choices quickly. From your knowledge of viral replication, you know that the viral coat and the viral core are synthesized
separately and then combined to form a virion. When a host cell lyses, complete viral particles, as well as any unassembled
viral components, namely the coat particle, HBsAg, and the core particle, HBcAg, may be released. In addition, the contents
of the host cell itself will also be released. And, since youre told that the antigens are found in the serum, it is not
unreasonable to expect the enzymes of the host liver cells to be in the serum too. In fact, a rise in certain liver enzymes is
key to hepatitis diagnosis. Therefore, choices C and D can be eliminated. Also, since incomplete viral particles are also
liberated into the serum, it might be expected that some of these viral products might also appear as antigens, such as viral
DNA polymerase for example. Again, choice B is the correct answer.

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