MCAT Biology and Biochemistry
The Bio/Biochem section is the most content-dense section on the MCAT — 59 questions covering everything from amino acid chemistry to organ system integration. Passage stems read like research papers; the questions test whether you understand the mechanism underneath. This is where strong Anki coverage pays off most directly.
Proteins and Amino Acids
Amino acid properties, protein structure levels, and enzyme kinetics — biochemistry questions live here more than anywhere else.
Gene Expression — Gene to Protein
DNA to mRNA to protein: the full pathway, including regulation, splicing, and translation mechanics the exam loves to test.
Heredity and Genetic Variation
Mendelian ratios, linkage, and mutation types — pedigree questions and Hardy-Weinberg problems both draw from this area.
Bioenergetics and Metabolism
Glycolysis through oxidative phosphorylation, plus fatty acid and amino acid metabolism — the highest misconception count in biochemistry for a reason.
Cellular Assemblies and Membranes
Phospholipid bilayers, membrane proteins, and vesicular transport — cell structure questions consistently hinge on these concepts.
Prokaryotes and Viruses
Bacterial genetics, viral replication cycles, and horizontal gene transfer — low high-yield count but shows up in passage contexts constantly.
Cell Division, Differentiation, and Specialization
Mitosis, meiosis, and the checkpoints that control them — errors here explain cancer biology questions on the exam.
Nervous and Endocrine Systems
Action potentials, synaptic transmission, and hormone signaling — two systems the MCAT tests together because they coordinate the same physiological responses.
Integrative Organ Systems
Heart, lungs, kidneys, GI, immune, and musculoskeletal — the largest area by topic count and the one most passage questions are built around.
Find out what you actually understand about the Biology and Biochemistry section — a tutor that probes your reasoning and catches where it breaks.
Start a session →Already run Anki? Get a free deck audit →