Cell Structure and Function

Cell Structure and Function MDCAT MCQs with answers

245 past paper MCQs from Biology unit 4, Cell Structure and Function, across 4 topics. They are arranged topic by topic; bigger topics show a sample here and link to their full set and to study notes. Tap “Show answer” for the correct option and a short solution.

Practise as a quiz

Cell Structure

1.The movement of molecules against a concentration gradient is: (MDCAT 2022)

  1. passive transport
  2. active transport
  3. facilitated diffusion
  4. filtration
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Correct answer: (b) active transport

Going uphill against the gradient needs a pump and ATP, which is active transport.

2.Cells of different types can be distinguished on the basis of surface: (MDCAT 2023)

  1. phospholipids
  2. globular proteins
  3. glycolipids and glycoproteins
  4. cholesterol
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Correct answer: (c) glycolipids and glycoproteins

The sugar chains on the outer face of the membrane differ from one cell type to another and act as its markers.

3.A student observed a boundary In both plant and animal cells that controls entry and exit of substances. Which of the following structures is likely being observed? (UHS MDCAT 2025)

  1. Mitochondria
  2. Golgi apparatus
  3. Plasma membrane
  4. Cell wall
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Correct answer: (c) Plasma membrane

The plasma membrane bounds every cell and decides what passes in and out.

All 44 Cell Structure MCQs → Cell Structure notes →

Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

4.The structure formed by the invagination of the plasma membrane and involved in cell division and DNA replication of the prokaryotic cell is the: (MDCAT 2022)

  1. lysosome
  2. mesosome
  3. Golgi body
  4. paragon
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Correct answer: (b) mesosome

Mesosomes are folds of the bacterial plasma membrane and carry out the work membrane bound organelles do elsewhere.

5.The cell wall of bacteria is made up of: (MDCAT 2022)

  1. chitin
  2. murein
  3. cellulose
  4. hemicellulose
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Correct answer: (b) murein

Murein, or peptidoglycan, is the bacterial wall material; chitin is fungal and cellulose is plant.

6.Which of the following is a prokaryote? (MDCAT 2022)

  1. Protista
  2. E. coli
  3. Amoeba
  4. Fungi
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Correct answer: (b) E. coli

E. coli is a bacterium, with no nucleus and no membrane bound organelles.

All 76 Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells MCQs → Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells notes →

Cytoplasmic Organelles

7.Which of the following are single membrane bound organelles? (MDCAT 2022)

  1. mitochondria and ribosomes
  2. cytosol, mitochondria and ribosomes
  3. Golgi bodies, lysosomes and endoplasmic reticulum
  4. Golgi bodies, lysosomes and mitochondria
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Correct answer: (c) Golgi bodies, lysosomes and endoplasmic reticulum

Mitochondria have two membranes and ribosomes have none; these three have one each.

8.Digestive vacuoles and autophagosomes are also known as: (MDCAT 2022)

  1. phagocytosis
  2. primary lysosomes
  3. secondary lysosomes
  4. peroxisomes
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Correct answer: (c) secondary lysosomes

A primary lysosome that has fused with something to be digested is a secondary lysosome.

9.Cyclosis and amoeboid movements are due to: (MDCAT 2023)

  1. microtubules
  2. cilia
  3. microfilaments
  4. intermediate filaments
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Correct answer: (c) microfilaments

Actin microfilaments slide past one another and drive both streaming and crawling.

All 86 Cytoplasmic Organelles MCQs → Cytoplasmic Organelles notes →

Chromosomes

10.The nucleus takes up dyes because of the presence of: (MDCAT 2024)

  1. chromatin
  2. lipid
  3. metal ions
  4. thylakoids
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Correct answer: (a) chromatin

Chromatin, the DNA with its histones, is what the basic stains bind to.

11.Chromosomes were first observed by: (MDCAT 2024)

  1. T. H. Morgan
  2. Griffith
  3. Walther Flemming
  4. Mendel
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Correct answer: (c) Walther Flemming

Flemming saw and named the stained threads in dividing cells.

12.What is the function of a centromere? (UHS MDCAT 2025)

  1. To protect the ends of chromosomes
  2. To hold sister chromatids together
  3. To carry genetic information
  4. To initiate DNA replication
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Correct answer: (b) To hold sister chromatids together

The centromere is the constriction that holds the two sister chromatids together until anaphase.

All 39 Chromosomes MCQs → Chromosomes notes →

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