Foundational concept 2 within the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems section of the MCAT exam covers the highly-organized assemblies of molecules, cells and organs and how they interact to carry out the functions of living organisms. The content within foundational concept 2 is broken down into three categories.
As provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges, the categories and the focus of the content are as follows:
Photo: Association of American Medical Colleges
The information in this section is designed to help medical students prepare to learn about the morphological and biochemical events that take place when somatic or germ cells divide. It also covers the mechanisms that regulate both cell division and expiration, as well as the characteristics that help distinguish normal growth and development from abnormal growth and development.
Medical students are also given the tools to prepare to learn about both the micro and macroscopic structure of cells, tissues and organs that lead to their unique and integrated functions, as well as how perturbations can contribute to disease.
Questions posed in this foundational concept will be part of the 59 overall questions within the Biological and Biochemical Foundation of Living Systems section of the MCAT. All questions are a combination of passage-based and discrete questions. You will have just over an hour-and-a-half to complete this section of the MCAT exam.