Quantitative Reasoning/Physics, Biology, Chemistry: Victoria Popp

MCAT PREPARATION – QUANTITATIVE REASONING/PHYSICS, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY
Mr. Carlos Ortiz | VICTORIA POPP PLEASE CONTINUE ON THE NEXT PAGE >
Copyright © 2019 Carlos Ortiz | 305.785.5005 | www.mrcarlosortiz.com | carlos@mrcarlosortiz.com page 1 of 10
PP
OKAY Victoria, this PART 1 of PrePacket 1 – it includes a nice set of notes interlaced
with problems to get the brain juices (a.k.a CSF) flowing. Do not be surprised as you
work through this packet as some of it will appear to be just WAY TOO EASY and other
parts will appear to be QUITE IMPOSSIBLE. The purpose is to get you thinking about
these concepts and the questions that test you on their mastery AT MANY DIFFERENT
1.1
LEVELS!
You will find a bit of physics along with some chemistry and biology
questions. While the focus is on the fundamentals of physics units,
dimensional analysis, and basic conversions, we need to start addressing the
core chemistry and biology topics and now is not too soon to do just that.
Read through the following pages carefully and best of luck answering the
questions.
NB is Latin shorthand NOTA BENE (NB): Several BLANKS are left for you to fill – the correct words for
for “take notice, pay MOST OF THESE BLANKS are all provided in a WORD BANK at the top of each page.
special attention.”
Bring the completed packet along with you on Thursday. Best of luck, Vic!
# of Questions: 10
Topics: PHYSICS, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY
Time: Will vary: Anywhere from 60-180 minutes
TBCB: NEXT SESSION
Notes/Instructions: MCAT BIOLOGY – WARM UP (WU) QUESTSIONS!
Check these off as we
complete them. PHYSICS: Units
BIOLOGY: Functional Organization of the Human

Body and Control of the “Internal Environment”
PHYSICS: Conversions & Continuity
CHEMISTRY: Ideal Gas Law
CHEMISTRY: Boyle’s Law
PrePacket 1.1
WU1 Molecular Activity

a At the heart of research is the ability to test for specific molecular activities when varying
environmental conditions are imposed. Researchers were considering the molecular activity of an
assortment of molecules including different enzymes involved in several different pathways.

After a series of experiments, data gathered was used to construct several figures, one of which
is provided here:
Unfortunately, the researchers experienced a glitch
in data transmission which resulted in the loss of
some components of the figures and the scrambling
of figure descriptions and axis labels and scales.
Your job is to properly construct and interpret the
figures that were transmitted successfully (the one
to the left is one such figure). Please note that for
the following questions, one or more options might
fulfill the defined criteria as provided – if so, one of
the options will include all correct possibilities (i.e.
Both A and C).
In one experiment, researchers isolated and
characterized selected enzymes. The enzymes were isolated from a newly defined species of
archaebacteria. For the set of data shown above in the figure, which of the following would be
the most appropriate label and scale for A?
(B) Relative enzyme activity (mol/sec)
Enzymes are globular proteins with catalytic functions.
They(A)
lowerEnzyme
the energydensity (ng/mL)
of activation for a specific
biochemical process that converts one or more reactants
(B) Relative enzyme activity (mol/sec)
into one or more products. Option B would work – since
enzymes
(C) catalyze
Reactiona reaction,
productone way to characterize
produced (µL/sec)
them is to record their relative activity as compared to
some(D) System
standard free
 this energy
relative (cal/ng
activity wouldreactants)
show an
increase to some peak value and then a decrease back
(E) activity
to zero Enzyme degradation
as substrate (mg/sec)
was used up and
converted to product. The other options can be
eliminated:
 option A can be eliminated b/c enzyme density has no
relevance.
 Option C can be eliminated b/c the units used,
µL/sec, would require a defined concentration to be of
any value.
 Option D can be eliminated because one would expect
the curves to be inverted from what is given.
WU2 Molecular Biology
a Which of the following elements is NOT required for a cell to synthesize DNA?
(A) Phosphorus
(D) Iron. DNA is made up of a nitrogenous base (contains N, O, H, and C), a
pentose sugar (contains C, O, and H), and the monophosphate group which
(B) Nitrogen
contributes to the sugar-phosphate backbone (via phosphodiester bonds).
So, iron (Fe) is the only element NOT required for DNA synthesis.
(C) Hydrogen
(D) Iron
(E) Carbon
WU3 Genetics and Evolution

a A blue-eyed individual likely carries both recessive alleles (b and b) from both parents. Hence,
that individual’s eye color genotype would be bb. A brown-eyed individual (BR) can have a BRx
genotype where x represents any of a number of recessive color alleles including the b blue color
allele. In one case, a brown-eyed individual that was homozygous dominant for eye color mated
with a black-eyed individual and the offspring was black-eyed. Which of the following is most
appropriate about the phenotype of an offspring of a BRx genotype individual? Assume eye-color
is an autosomal trait.
(A) It can never have blue eyes.
(B) It will always have brown eyes.
(C) It can have dark (brown, black, etc.) or light (blue, green, etc.) eyes.
(D) It will always have either blue or brown eyes.
(E) It will always have dark (brown, black, etc.) eyes.
(C) It can have dark (brown, black, etc.) or light (blue, green, etc.) eyes.
Dark eye colors are dominant over light. Therefore, an offspring of a BRx individual can have either
dark or light eyes – the final phenotypic color will depend on the “other” allele. If the other allele is
b, the offspring could end up with BRb (dark - brown eye color) or bb (light – blue eye color). If the
other allele is BR or BL (for black eye color), the offspring could end up with B RBL (dark – black eye
color) or BLb (dark – black eye color).
WU4 Genetics and Evolution

a A blue-eyed individual likely carries both recessive alleles (b and b) from both parents. Hence,
that individual’s eye color genotype would be bb. A brown-eyed individual (BR) can have a BRx
genotype where x represents any of a number of recessive color alleles including the b blue color
allele. Some individuals have been known to change eye color at some point during their growth
indicating a phenotypic outcome of a supposedly newly expressed genotype. Researchers usually
look at the genomes of these individuals to find answers to the phenotypic changes. What is the
best way to express the difference between a genotype and a genome?
(A) Two organisms may vary in genotype as a result of differences in DNA sequences but have
the same genome because they have the same genes.
(B) One organism may have one genome but two genotypes if they genotypes are diploid.
(C) Eukaryotes have genomes; prokaryotes have genotypes.
(D) A genotype represents the sequence of gene loci while a genome represents the sequence of
DNA bases.
(E) Eukaryotes have genotypes; prokaryotes have genomes.
(A) Two organisms may vary in genotype as a result of differences in DNA sequences but have the same
genome because they have the same genes.All organisms (eukarya, prokarya) have genomes and genotypes.
The genome specifically represents the entire nucleic acid content (DNA mostly) of eukaryotic nuclei or prokaryotic
nucleosomes. The genotype is the specific genetic content that has been expressed – the focus would be on individual
genes and then a comparison of the individuals’ phenotypes would shed light on which genes each has expressed.
WU5 Metabolism 1
a A botanist researcher conducted a set of experiments to determine the effects of various gases
on growth processes of different plants. Each plant was seeded and cultured until fully grown in a
soil containing a nutritious balance of both macro- and micronutrients. Additionally, the soil was
loaded with adequate mycorrhizae culture. After a maturation growth cycle, all plants were
sealed in separate gas chambers which were then filled with single gas samples to replace the
normal atmospheric composition. The plants were then provided with adequate water provisions
and their growth was observed and compared to controls grown under normal atmospheric
conditions.
If the experimental plants were grown in an atmosphere of pure 14CO2 for 48 hours, then
harvested, and plant material was carbon dated and compared to plant material from control
plants, what would the carbon date reveal?
(A) The plants would be carbon dated as being the same age as control plants.
(B) The experimental plants would be impossible to date.
(C) The experimental plants would date as older than the control plants.
(D) The experimental plants would not survive two days in their radioactive atmosphere.
(E) The experimental plants would be carbon dated as being younger than control plants.
(B) The experimental plants would be impossible to date. If there were any significant difference in the rate of
incorporation of carbon-14, it would be measured as an increase above the baseline. Carbon dating is based on the
assumption that the level of carbon-14 in the atmosphere (and subsequently in any organism) remains
PROPORTIONALLY constant, and that its incorporation into organic material ceases with the death of the organism, at
which point there must be an irreversible decline in the percentage of total carbon. An increase to start with would
thus be nonsensical, and option B is correct.
WU6 Metabolism 2
a Consider the experiment in WU5 above. The researcher now observes two plants that were
“seeded” at the same time five years ago and have been growing under normal atmospheric
conditions. He took one plant (plant A), placed it in a sealed chamber in an atmosphere of pure
14
CO2, and grew it for one full year with the requisite water and soil while the other plant (plant
B) continued to grow under normal atmospheric conditions. After that year, he poisoned and
killed both plants, preserved them, and waited one more year at which point he utilized carbon
dating to determine the “ages” of the plants. What would the carbon dates reveal about the two
plants? (Assume C-dating functions).
(A) Plant A would appear to have died less than one year before he dated it whereas
plant B would appear to have died exactly one year before he dated it.
(B) Plant A would appear to have died more than one year before he dated it whereas
plant B would appear to have died exactly one year before he dated it.
(C) Both plants would appear to have died one year before he dated them.
(D) Both plants would appear to have died more than one year before he dated them.
(E) Both plants would appear to have died less than one year before he dated them.
(A) Plant A would appear to have died less than one year before he dated it whereas plant B would
appear to have died exactly one year before he dated it. After one full year, plant A’s baseline C-14 level would
be higher than usual. Upon dating one year later, the drop in C-14 would “appear” to be LESS than usual C-14 dating
would indicate, leading to a date suggesting the plant died less than one year before.
WORD BANK a “multiplier” indicates the word is used THAT MANY TIMES throughout the page.
kilograms (x2) seconds s meters MKS

m CONSERVED 15 kg matter

PHYSICS: Units 2 Distance/Displacement
a William measured the distance from point A
UNITS: Fundamental to point B to be exactly 255.84 feet. What is
Vic, let’s get you started with an easy warm this distance, approximately, in meters? (no
up Physics topic. A solid understanding of calc)
units is key to your success with any (Recall: 1 meter = 3.28 feet  1 m = 3.28 ft)
(no calculator, please)
quantitative question. You will find over the
course of several examples that correctly A. 80
carrying units through your calculations will
PAY OFF NICELY! B. 60
C. 50
While there are MYRIAD UNITS that may
appear in any question, you must remember D. 30
the Physics fundamental units for length, E. 15
mass, and time. ------------------------------------------------
Here they are (please, learn them quickly): Mass, measured in kilograms, is a measure
of “how much matter” there is in an object.
1) Lengths or distances would be
measured in meters (abbreviated m) Mass tends to be CONSERVED which is to
say that unless mass is ADDED TO or TAKEN
2) Mass would be measured in kilograms AWAY from an object, it SHOULD NOT
(abbreviated kg) change for that object as it moves from
and one
location to another.
3) Time would be measured in seconds
(abbreviated s) 3 Mass
a An object has a mass of 15 kg on the earth
Collectively, they form the MKS system of where gravity measures 9.81 m/s2. What is its
units. There are other fundamental units, but mass on the moon where gravity
g
for now, let us move forward with these three. measures about 1.62 m/s2? Note: g moon � earth
6
1 Fundamental Units
The object’s mass is 15 kg on the moon
a Nick needs to travel from his home to school because:
in his car. The trip details include a total of
4.5 miles in a time of 3 hours. Is hours a mass does not change from one location to
fundamental unit? another (as long as no mass is lost or gained
during transit – object is IDENTICAL).
A. Yes. Any time unit is fundamental.
B. Yes. Specifically, hours is the fundamental True or False
unit for time from Physics.
F The MKS system of fundamental units used
C. No. meters is the fundamental unit.
in physics dictates that length (or distance)
D. Yes. Car travel is always reported in hours. be measured in meters, mass be measured
in kilograms, and time be measured in
E. No. The fundamental unit for time is the minutes.
second.
T The mass of a substance (i.e. water) is an
extensive property of that substance.
T The units for velocity are meters per second
which is an example of a derived unit.
erythrocyte(s)
differentiated PLASMA oxygen (x2) cell
(x2)
filtrate intercellular leaked semipermeable lungs
BIOLOGY: Functional 5 Total Human Hemoglobin Count

a Depending on your source, the human red
Organization of the Human blood cell (or RBC) has quite a few
Body and Control of the hemoglobin molecules in it. If one red
blood cell (a.k.a. an erythrocyte) in the
“Internal Environment” human body contains about 270 million
hemoglobin molecules (recall these are
CELLS: The Living Units of the Body proteins essential to proper RBC function),
The basic living unit of the body is the cell. approximately how many hemoglobin
Each organ is an aggregate of many different molecules would be found in the entire human
cells held together by intercellular body?
supporting structures. A. 6 x 1020
Each type of cell is specially adapted (or B. 7 x 1021
differentiated) to perform one or a few
particular functions. For instance: C. 7.0 x 1023
D. 2.5 x 1023
the red blood cells, numbering about 25
E. none of the above
trillion (or 25 x 1012 = 2.5 x 1013) at any
------------------------------------------------
moment in time in each human being,
As we’ve already noted, a major function of
transport oxygen from the lungs to the
RBCs, also known as erythrocytes, is to
tissues and organs in which oxygen levels
transport the very important protein known
have been depleted below normal.
as hemoglobin, which, in turn, carries the
Although the red blood cells are the most vital gas, oxygen, from the lungs to the
abundant of any single type of cell in the tissues and organs.
body, about 75 trillion additional cells of
In some animals, including humans, some
other types perform functions different from
hemoglobin circulates as free protein not
those of the red blood cell.
enclosed within RBCs (this means that some
of the hemoglobin proteins are OUTSIDE
4 Total Human Body Cell Count OF THE RBC, but still circulating through our
a Which of the following is the best blood vessels as part of the FLUID or
approximation for the total number of cells PLASMA portion of our blood).
found in the human body?
When hemoglobin protein is free in the
A. About 2.5 x 1012 circulating plasma of the human being, about
B. About 1.0 x 1014 3 percent of it leaks through the
semipermeable capillary membranes into
C. About 1.0 x 1013
the tissue spaces surrounding the membrane.
D. About 7.5 x 1012
Alternatively, some of the hemoglobin
E. none of the above protein will leak through the glomerular
basement membrane of the kidney into the
True or False glomerular filtrate each time the blood
F DNA is found in every cell in the human passes through the capillaries in the kidneys.
body. Leaked hemoglobin is not particularly useful
T DNA replication is semiconservative. to us; therefore, hemoglobin must remain
inside RBCs to effectively perform its
functions in humans.
6 RBC Hemoglobin
a According to the information presented on the previous page, which of the following is perhaps the
primary reason why hemoglobin must remain INSIDE an RBC and not be allowed outside into the
plasma where it can circulate freely?
A. Freely circulating hemoglobin can cause damage to the glomerular membrane of the kidneys and
eventual renal failure.
B. Freely circulating hemoglobin is able to deliver oxygen to tissues and organs but less efficiently
than hemoglobin found inside RBCs.
C. Freely circulating hemoglobin will break down outside of the RBC and become toxic in the plasma
effectively poisoning the host.
D. Freely circulating hemoglobin can be lost via leakage into extracellular tissues as well as into
the glomerular filtrate where it be unavailable for oxygen transport
E. Freely circulating hemoglobin can be lost via breakdown by kidney-based enzymes; once broken
down, they are no longer able to transport oxygen inside RBCs.
7 RBC Hemoglobin
a Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells (RBCs) that carries oxygen. While the RBC has many
components, just about 3/10 of its components are hemoglobin. This allows RBCs to carry much more
oxygen than could otherwise be dissolve in the blood. The primary importance of the hemoglobin
protein is to BIND O2 and then RELEASE O2.
A researcher studies the oxygen dissociation curves of

normal adult hemoglobin (HbA), fetal hemoglobin (HbF),
and another, similarly-functioning muscle protein called
myoglobin (Mb). He dissolves samples of each protein in
a cup of water, and places each cup in a sealed canister
in contact with a gas. He changes the partial pressure of
oxygen (pO2) in the gas. For each measured pO2, he
measures the saturation of oxygen in the proteins in the
fluid. The saturation is the percentage of total binding
sites on the HbA, HbF, or Mb, which are bound to oxygen.
The results are shown in the graph to the right.
The results suggest which of the following as a viable

reason why fetuses use HbF instead of HbA?
A. HbF has a greater affinity for diatomic oxygen which allows fetal blood to absorb oxygen from
maternal blood.
B. Fetuses do not breathe so they have no need for HbA.
C. In order to grow, fetuses need more oxygen than adults.
D. Fetuses lack iron which is needed for HbA.
E. HbF has less affinity for diatomic oxygen which is fine because fetuses do not need as much of it as
a fully grown adult.
acid DROP diffuse circulatory soluble enzyme down

increases gradient polar exhale bicarbonate anion catalyzed
CELLS: The Living Units of the Body (cont..) Vic, READ CAREFULLY, please (NB):
The carbonic anhydrase increases the
The RBCs have other ESSENTIAL functions
rate of these reactions about one 1000-fold
besides transport of hemoglobin. For
(that means that whatever would happen ON
instance:
ITS OWN happens 1000 times faster in the
RBCs contain a large quantity of carbonic presence of the enzyme).
anhydrase, an enzyme that catalyzes the
reversible reaction between carbon dioxide As an example of this catalytic acceleration:
(CO2) and water (H2O) to form carbonic A uncatalyzed breakdown that
acid (H2CO3). This acid would DROP the pH normally takes 10 seconds would
inside the RBC. This reaction between the only take 0.01 seconds when catalyzed.
CO2 and H2O would actually HAPPEN ON ITS
OWN … but VERY, VERY SLOWLY. It follows The incredible rapidity of this reaction makes
that the enzyme carbonic anhydrase is it possible for the following sequence of
key to breaking it down MUCH FASTER! events to occur:
Now, the carbonic acid immediately The bicarbonate anion ACCUMULATES inside
breaks down into a bit of hydrogen cation the RBC and becomes so concentrated that it
and the bicarbonate anion. Check out the will diffuse through the semipermeable RBC
catalyzed reaction as well as the break membrane down its concentration
down of H2CO3 that quickly follows: gradient and out into the watery, polar
plasma milieu. Plasma water can transport
carbonic anhydrase
ENORMOUS quantities of carbon dioxide gas,
CO 2 + H 2O �� H 2CO 3
speeds this up 1000�
( this could happen CO2, in the form of this POLAR (and therefore
on its own ...but slowly )
WATER-SOLUBLE) bicarbonate anion
(HCO3-) that is initially formed inside the RBC.
on its own
+
( dissociation )
H 2CO3 �� H
{ + HCO3 - The HCO3- anion basically moves from the
hydrogen cation
123 tissues to the lungs via the circulatory
= proton bicarbonate
anion system and upon reaching the lungs, it is
reconverted to CO2 gas; that CO2 gas is
subsequently passed into an alveolus of
the lung; finally, from there it is expelled
(when we exhale) into the atmosphere as
a
metabolic waste gas.
Additional benefits of this bicarbonate anion transport are:
 the bicarbonate anion, HCO3-, helps to maintain the pH of the blood

 the hydrogen cation, H+, actually migrates to the hemoglobin molecules inside the
RBCs and attaches to specific sites on them CAUSING the hemoglobin molecules to
RELEASE THEIR diatomic O2 molecules which then diffuse across the RBC membrane and
into tissue cells where it is needed.
Finally, too much loss of HCO3- from the RBC will leave the inside of the RBC with an imbalance
of charge; to prevent this, the chloride anion, Cl-, enters the RBC to substitute for the HCO3- 
this is known as the chloride shift (see figure … below RBC). The chloride anion is not really a
PART OF ANY CHEMICAL REACTION inside the RBC; it just helps to BALANCE CHARGE!

Victoria, study the following figure carefully and answer the questions that follow:
8 Carbonic Anhydrase
a Which of the following is NOT accurate
about carbonic anhydrase?
A. It is primarily located inside RBCs

and helps to catalyze the formation
of carbonic acid.
B. It is an enzyme.
C. It is a protein.
D. It catalyzes the breakup of carbonic
acid into hydrogen cation and
bicarbonate anion.
E. none of the above is accurate about
carbonic anhydrase
9 Enzyme Inhibition 10 H+ Binding

a If the carbonic anhydrase enzyme inside a Which of the following would likely occur if the
RBCs were inhibited (that means, its H+ cation did not bind to hemoglobin?
FUNCTIONALITY would be HINDERED or
SUPPRESSED somehow), which of the A. The hemoglobin molecule would
following would occur? disassemble
B. Oxygen delivery to tissues would slow
A. The normal, slower reaction between water
leading to tissue hypoxia.
and carbon dioxide would still occur and
carbonic acid would still be formed. C. Oxygen delivery to tissues would stop
B. Carbonic acid, being a weak acid, would leading to tissue death.
linger in the RBC, lowering its internal pH. D. Carbonic anhydrase functionality would be
C. After building up to a sufficient curbed.
concentration, the bicarbonate anion would E. Carbonic anhydrase functionality would
exit the RBC out into the blood plasma, cease altogether.
travel to the lungs, reenter the RBC, and
then get reconverted back into CO2. True or False
D. Both A and B F Weak acids have very low pKa values.
E. A, B, and C T Capillaries are lined by a single layer of

endothelial cells.

STOP HERE
Mr. Carlos Ortiz | VICTORIA POPP

Quantitative Reasoning/Physics, Biology, Chemistry: Victoria Popp

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MCAT PREPARATION – QUANTITATIVE REASONING/PHYSICS, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY

BIOLOGY: Functional Organization of the Human

PHYSICS: Conversions & Continuity

CHEMISTRY: Ideal Gas Law

CHEMISTRY: Boyle’s Law

WU1 Molecular Activity

MCAT PREPARATION – QUANTITATIVE REASONING/PHYSICS, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY

WU3 Genetics and Evolution

(A) It can never have blue eyes.

(B) It will always have brown eyes.

(D) It will always have either blue or brown eyes.

(E) It will always have dark (brown, black, etc.) eyes.

WU4 Genetics and Evolution

(C) Eukaryotes have genomes; prokaryotes have genotypes.

(E) Eukaryotes have genotypes; prokaryotes have genomes.

(B) The experimental plants would be impossible to date.

kilograms (x2) seconds s meters MKS

MCAT PREPARATION – QUANTITATIVE REASONING/PHYSICS, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY

BIOLOGY: Functional 5 Total Human Hemoglobin Count

A researcher studies the oxygen dissociation curves of

The results suggest which of the following as a viable

acid DROP diffuse circulatory soluble enzyme down

MCAT PREPARATION – QUANTITATIVE REASONING/PHYSICS, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY

Additional benefits of this bicarbonate anion transport are:

 the bicarbonate anion, HCO3-, helps to maintain the pH of the blood

MCAT PREPARATION – QUANTITATIVE REASONING/PHYSICS, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY

A. It is primarily located inside RBCs

9 Enzyme Inhibition 10 H+ Binding

E. A, B, and C T Capillaries are lined by a single layer of

MCAT PREPARATION – QUANTITATIVE REASONING/PHYSICS, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY

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