Explore topic-wise MCQs in Biology.

This section includes 697 Mcqs, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your Biology knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.

101.

Glycogenolysis:

A. is a process of formation of glycogen in the cell
B. is a process of breakdown of glycogen to reform glucose
C. is the conversion of glucose into fructose
D. is the process of breakdown of galactose
E. is the formation of galactose from fructose
Answer» C. is the conversion of glucose into fructose
102.

Regarding ATP:

A. ATP is a combination of adenine, ribose and 3 phosphate radicals
B. ATP are present everywhere in the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm
C. ATP is otherwise called the energy currency of the body
D. ATP becomes GTP after the loss of one phosphate radical
E. ATP is a labile chemical compound that is present in all cells
Answer» E. ATP is a labile chemical compound that is present in all cells
103.

In the body, metabolism of 10gm protein would produce approximately:

A. 1 Kcal
B. 41 Kcal
C. 410 Kcal
D. 4100 Kcal
E. 41 Cal
Answer» C. 410 Kcal
104.

Regarding 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol):

A. it is formed by the action of sunlight on pre vitamin D3
B. it exerts its action via stimulation of adenylcyclase
C. it decreases calcium reabsorption from kidneys
D. its formation is increased with elevated plasma Ca++ levels
E. it causes increased formation of calbindin-D proteins
Answer» F.
105.

The following are active components in the peripheral circulation, EXCEPT:

A. T3
B. T4
C. DIT
D. RT3
E. all of the above
Answer» D. RT3
106.

Stimuli that increase renin secretion include all EXCEPT:

A. hypotension
B. Na+ depletion
C. cardiac failure
D. lying down
E. diuretics
Answer» E. diuretics
107.

Calitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol)

A. inhibits Ca++ absorption from the gut
B. is formed in the proximal renal tubules from a less active precursor
C. levels rise in response to increase serum PO4 levels
D. inhibits osteoclasts function
E. inhibits osteoblasts function
Answer» C. levels rise in response to increase serum PO4 levels
108.

Which of the following reduce insulin secretion?

A. acetylcholine
B. GIP
C. glucagon
D. adrenaline
E. ketoacids
Answer» E. ketoacids
109.

The renal threshold for glucose, the arterial blood level at which glycosuria appears, is approximately:

A. 1.8g/dL
B. 180mg/dL
C. 18mg/dL
D. 80mg/dL
E. 800mg/dL
Answer» C. 18mg/dL
110.

In relation to acid base balance in the body:

A. respiratory compensation in metabolic alkalosis is limited by carotid and aortic chemoreceptor response
B. HCO3 concentration will decrease in compensated respiratory acidosis
C. the rate of renal H+ secretion is not affected by PCO2 in respiratory acidosis
D. chloride excretion is decreased in respiratory acidosis
E. hepatic glutamine synthesis is decreased in chronic metabolic acidosis
Answer» B. HCO3 concentration will decrease in compensated respiratory acidosis
111.

Which of the following lipoproteins is SMALLEST in size?

A. chylomicrons
B. very low density lipoproteins
C. intermediate density lipoproteins
D. low density lipoproteins
E. high density lipoproteins
Answer» F.
112.

Which of the following amino acids are glucogenic (ie give rise to compounds readily converted to glucose)?

A. alanine
B. leucine
C. isoleucine
D. phenylalanine
E. tyrosine
Answer» B. leucine
113.

Regarding brown fat, which of the following is TRUE?

A. it is fat with a large percentage of melatonin as a constituent
B. it has extensive parasympathetic innervation
C. it is more abundant in adults than in infants
D. heat production is assisted by uncoupling of the H+ /ATP generator system in mitochondria
E. brown fat cells contain multiple droplets of fat
Answer» B. it has extensive parasympathetic innervation
114.

Regarding the basal metabolic rate, which of the following is TRUE?

A. it is measured in the absence of disease, at room temperature, within 12 hours of a meal with a Benedict apparatus and the subject asleep
B. it increases 24% per degree Celsius of body temperature above 37
C. it is decreased during the latter stage of starvation, explaining the initial rapid weight loss than a slowing down of weight loss
D. it declines in pregnancy
E. it correlates closer to weight than to body surface area
Answer» D. it declines in pregnancy
115.

Regarding thyroid hormones, which statement is INCORRECT?

A. thyroid hormones bind to receptors in cell nuclei
B. T3 is less potent than T4
C. thyroid hormones increase O2 consumption
D. T3 promotes nitrogen excretion
E. cerebral glucose consumption is increased by thyroid hormones
Answer» C. thyroid hormones increase O2 consumption
116.

Biological energy can be derived from all EXCEPT:

A. lactic acid
B. phosphorylcreatine
C. guanosine triphosphate
D. co enzyme A
E. urea
Answer» F.
117.

Regarding thyroxine, which of the following is INCORRECT?

A. increases number of adrenergic receptors on the heart
B. there is a preferential expression of myosin in the muscle fibres of the heart in the presence of thyroxine
C. thyroid hormones decrease carbohydrate absorption by the stomach and small bowel
D. hyaluronic acid accumulates in the skin if there is a deficiency of thyroxine
E. large doses can increase body temperature
Answer» D. hyaluronic acid accumulates in the skin if there is a deficiency of thyroxine
118.

Regarding the respiratory quotient, which of the following is TRUE?

A. it is the ratio of CO2 produced to the volume of O2 consumed per unit of time
B. is related to tidal volume
C. is inversely proportioned to pO2
D. has a value of 2.3 for fats
E. varies with age
Answer» B. is related to tidal volume
119.

Which of the following is NOT an unsaturated fatty acid?

A. oleic acid
B. arachidonic acid
C. linoleic acid
D. linolenic acid
E. stearic acid
Answer» F.
120.

Regarding protein metabolism in starvation, which statement is INCORRECT?

A. glucose has a protein sparing effect by increasing insulin secretion
B. death occurs when protein depletion reaches 50% of normal level
C. total starvation leads to loss of up to 5gms/day of urea nitrogen due to protein catabolism
D. most protein catabolised comes from the liver, spleen and skeletal muscles
E. rapid protein depletion is the terminal phase once fat stores have been almost totally catabolised
Answer» D. most protein catabolised comes from the liver, spleen and skeletal muscles
121.

Regarding carbohydrate metabolism in starvation, which statement is INCORRECT?

A. hepatic glycogenolysis precedes skeletal muscle glycogenolysis
B. blood glucose falls less in women due to greater fat stores
C. glycogen stores are exhausted after half to one day
D. blood glucose level is maintained above a level that would produce symptomatic hypoglycaemia
E. skeletal muscle contains about four times as much glycogen as the liver
Answer» C. glycogen stores are exhausted after half to one day
122.

Regarding brown fat, which statement is INCORRECT?

A. fat cells have extensive parasympathetic innervation
B. responsible for part of the post-prandial heat production
C. fat cells contain several droplets of fat
D. prominent between and around the scapulae of infants
E. fat cells contain many mitochondria
Answer» B. responsible for part of the post-prandial heat production
123.

Regarding lipoproteins, which statement is INCORRECT?

A. VLDL transport cholesterol formed in liver to extrahepatic tissues
B. chylomicrons can cause post-prandial plasma to appear milky
C. LDL are taken up by macrophages
D. oestrogens increase plasma HDL levels
E. elevated IDL levels predispose to atherosclerosis
Answer» B. chylomicrons can cause post-prandial plasma to appear milky
124.

Which of the following does NOT increase the activity of intracellular hormonesensitive lipase?

A. GH
B. PGE
C. thyroxine
D. glucagon
E. cortisol
Answer» C. thyroxine
125.

Which of the following causes a positive nitrogen balance?

A. increased cortisol secretion
B. starvation
C. decreased insulin secretion
D. forced immobilisation
E. increased testosterone secretion
Answer» F.
126.

Regarding uric acid, which statement is INCORRECT?

A. the majority of filtered uric acid is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule
B. xanthine oxidase catalyses its synthesis
C. may be elevated in leukaemia and pre-eclampsia
D. does not undergo renal tubular secretion
E. its excretion rate can be halved by changing to a purine-free diet
Answer» E. its excretion rate can be halved by changing to a purine-free diet
127.

Nucleotide breakdown releases purines and pyrimidines. Which of the following is NOT their subsequent fate?

A. re-used to form nucleosides, nucleotides and nucleic acids
B. excreted unchanged in urine
C. directly enter the urea cycle
D. pyrimidines are catabolised to carbon dioxide and ammonia
E. purines are catabolised to uric acid
Answer» D. pyrimidines are catabolised to carbon dioxide and ammonia
128.

Regarding ketone bodies, which statement is INCORRECT?

A. formed following ingestion of a high fat/low carbohydrate diet
B. acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate formation leads to a metabolic acidosis
C. acetone is excreted in the urine
D. readily metabolised by the liver
E. acetone formation leads to ketotic breath
Answer» E. acetone formation leads to ketotic breath
129.

Which statement regarding lipoprotein lipase is INCORRECT?

A. it is not hormone sensitive
B. it requires heparin as a co-factor
C. it is confined to adipose tissue
D. its activity is decreased by stress
E. it clears chylomicrons and VLDL from circulation by degradation of triglyceride
Answer» D. its activity is decreased by stress
130.

All of the following, except one, inhibit insulin secretion. Which is it?

A. somatostatin
B. thiazide diuretics
C. propranolol
D. insulin
Answer» F.
131.

Steroid hormones:

A. open ion channels in cell membrane
B. act via cytoplasmic or nuclear receptors
C. increase intracellular cAMP
D. increase tyrosine kinase activity of transmembrane receptors
E. act via a serpentine receptor
Answer» C. increase intracellular cAMP
132.

Human hepatic bile (hepatic bile duct) is largely:

A. water
B. bile salts
C. bile pigment
D. cholesterol
E. lecithin
Answer» B. bile salts
133.

The nutritionally essential amino acids include:

A. alanine
B. cysteine
C. tyrosine
D. methionine
E. glutamine
Answer» E. glutamine
134.

The largest glycogen store in the adult body is in the:

A. liver
B. spleen
C. muscle
D. pancreas
E. circulating red cell mass
Answer» D. pancreas
135.

The most common cell type of the endocrine pancreas is:

A. A cells
B. B cells
C. C cells
D. D cells
E. F cells
Answer» C. C cells
136.

GLUT is an example of:

A. simple diffusion
B. facilitated diffusion
C. primary active transport
D. secondary active transport
E. endocytosis
Answer» C. primary active transport
137.

Thyroxine (T4) has greater affinity for:

A. thyroxine-binding globulin
B. transthyretin
C. thyroxine-binding pre-albumin
D. albumin
E. triiodothyronine
Answer» B. transthyretin
138.

TSH secretion is stimulated by:

A. dopamine
B. somatostatin
C. cold temperatures
D. stress
E. glucocorticoids
Answer» D. stress
139.

Regarding aldosterone:

A. it is released in response to hypokalaemia
B. it has glucocorticoid action
C. it works via G proteins to increase Na+ reabsorption
D. its release results in alkaline urine
E. it is highly protein-bound
Answer» C. it works via G proteins to increase Na+ reabsorption
140.

Aldosterone is secreted by:

A. zona reticularis
B. zona fasciculata
C. zona glomerulosa
D. zona fasciculata and reticularis
E. zona glomerulosa and fasciculata
Answer» D. zona fasciculata and reticularis
141.

Calcitonin secretion is increased by:

A. gastrin
B. CCK
C. secretin
D. glucagon
E. all of the above
Answer» F.
142.

All of the following bind to intracellular receptors EXCEPT:

A. cortisol
B. aldosterone
C. 1,25-DHCC
D. parathyroid hormone
E. thyroxine
Answer» E. thyroxine
143.

Insulin release:

A. is inhibited by raised cyclic AMP in pancreatic cells
B. is not stimulated by blood glucose levels below 6mmol/l
C. is increased by adrenergic stimulators
D. is inhibited by phosphor diesterase inhibitors
E. is increased by somatostatin
Answer» D. is inhibited by phosphor diesterase inhibitors
144.

Both insulin and somatostatin:

A. are released from extra-pancreatic sites
B. receptors are linked to G proteins
C. inhibit release of glucagon
D. cause K+ uptake by cells
E. are polypeptides containing two chains linked by disulphide bonds
Answer» D. cause K+ uptake by cells
145.

How many trophic hormones does the anterior pituitary produce?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 5
D. 6
E. 8
Answer» D. 6
146.

The approximate ratio of fat : CHO energy stores is:

A. 2 : 1
B. 4 : 1
C. 10 : 1
D. 20 : 1
E. 40 : 1
Answer» F.
147.

Under aerobic conditions, 1mol glucose forms:

A. 2mol ATP
B. 8mol ATP
C. 16mol ATP
D. 38mol ATP
E. 42mol ATP
Answer» E. 42mol ATP
148.

All of the following are high energy phosphate compounds EXCEPT:

A. adenosine triphosphate
B. glucose 6-phosphate
C. creatine phosphate
D. adenosine diphosphate
E. guanosine triphosphate
Answer» C. creatine phosphate
149.

With regard to water excretion:

A. 280 l is filtered per day
B. it is impossible to excrete more than 23 l/day
C. most regulation is via manipulation of the gradients along the loop of Henle
D. vasopressin acts to insert water channels into the basolateral cell membrane of the collecting ducts
E. water reabsorption in the collecting ducts can alter by a factor of 2.5 dependent on the presence of vasopressin
Answer» F.
150.

Nutritionally essential amino acids include:

A. glycine
B. serine
C. lysine
D. glutamine
E. tyrosine
Answer» D. glutamine