

In this case, the four treatments are: control, 1 uM drug, 5 uM drug, and 100 uM drug. The independent variable is always displayed on the x-axis, the independent variable in this experiment is the treatment used. First, what are the independent and dependent variables? The independent variable is something that you change on purpose while the dependent variable is a measured response based on this change. I/D (independent/dependent variables): The axes make it easy to determine the independent and dependent variables, which are I and D in the TAID P method.

If you don’t remember from cell biology, p53 is an important tumor suppressor protein, but an MCAT passage would’ve likely given you more background.Ī (axes): The x-axis shows the different treatment groups while the y-axis measures the increase in p53 protein levels.

T (title): The title states: “relative p53 protein levels in the presence or absence of drug of interest.” From this title, we can determine that the researchers are treating cells with a drug and measuring the relative levels of a certain protein. Let’s dive into this example using the TAID P method: Perhaps more importantly, we’ve included study strategies you can use to help maximize your own MCAT score and get your MCAT biology questions correct.

In this blog, we’ll give you the content knowledge you’ll need to know for the MCAT biology section. The MCAT tests you on science topics, such as biology, but the test really requires you to critically think about scientific articles that are adapted into shorter passages. If that sounds like you, don’t worry-we have you covered. They worry that they won’t score well, and medical schools will look at a bad biology/biochemistry score and wonder if a student is cut out for the academic rigors of medical school. Premed students who didn’t major in biology or a biological science tend to fear the biology/biochemistry section. As a result, you need to be confident and ready to attack biology questions you receive on your MCAT. Introductory biology makes up about 5% of your chemistry/physics score, 5% of your psychology/sociology score, and 65% of your biology/biochemistry score. Similar to biochemistry, biology is an important subject that you should study for the MCAT. How do the kidneys work? How does the cardiovascular system deliver oxygenated blood to our tissues? MCAT biology is perhaps the MCAT subject most similar to what you’ll need to learn in medical school.
