All GRE Subject Test: Biology Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Understanding Immunological Cells
Which type of cell is responsible for making antibodies?
Basophils
T-lymphocytes
Macrophages
B-lymphocytes
B-lymphocytes
Antibodies are produced by the adaptive immune system and to antigens presented by a pathogen. The antibody-antigen complex is then detected by cytotoxic T-cells, which destroy the infected cell. The antibodies are created by B-lymphocytes, which can differentiate when exposed to a specific pathogen. Differentiated B-lymphocytes known as plasma cells are responsible for the mass production of certain antibodies.
Macrophages are derived from monocytes and serve as phagocytes in the innate immune response. Basophils are also part of the innate immune response and, along with mast cells, produce histamine to initiate the inflammatory response.
Example Question #1 : Animal Biology
Which immune cell is part of acquired immunity?
Neutrophil
Eosinophil
Plasma cell
Macrophage
Plasma cell
Acquired immunity is developed in the body following a previously encountered infection. The innate immunity is, by definition, always present in the body and is used to attack all general forms of infection.
The granulocyte cells are considered part of innate immunity and help mediate the immune response against foreign pathogens. These cells include basophils, neutrophils, eosinophils, mast cells, and macrophages (which are differentiated from monocytes).
The adaptive immune response involves the production of antibodies against specific target antigens. Plasma cells are an integral part of the adaptive response and secrete large volumes of antibodies in response to a secondary infection by a previously encountered pathogen. T-cells and B-cells are also part of the adaptive response.
Example Question #195 : Gre Subject Test: Biology
Which leukocyte releases histamine during the inflammatory process?
B-lymphocyte
Monocytes
Basophil
Neutrophil
Basophil
There are many types of white blood cells with distinct functions in the body. Neutrophils and monocytes are phagocytes that engulf bacteria. B-lymphocytes produce one type of antibody. Basophils are the least common of the leukocytes, and release histamine during inflammation.
Example Question #2 : Animal Biology
Which cell is necessary in order to allow B-ymphoytes to differentiate into plasma cells and memory B-cells?
Macrophages
Cytotoxic T-cells
Eosinophils
Helper T-cells
Helper T-cells
Before a B-lymphocyte can proliferate and differentiate, it must present its antigen to a helper T-cell. If the helper T-cell recognizes the antigen as foreign, it will activate the B-lymphocytes, and cause them to differentiate into plasma cells and memory B-cells.
Example Question #3 : Animal Biology
Which types of leukocytes are granular?
Basophils, lymphocytes, monocytes
Monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils
Lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils
Neutrophils, basophils, lymphocytes
Basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils
Basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils
The five types of leukocytes are: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Three of these (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils) contain granules, tiny sacs containing enzymes which can lyse microorganisms. The other two leukocytes (lymphocytes and monocytes) do not contain these granules.
Example Question #1 : Understanding Immunological Cells
What do T and B cell lymphocytes have in common?
They are both part of the innate immune response.
They both undergo negative selection.
They both mature in the thymus.
They both respond to a variety of pathogens.
They both undergo negative selection.
T and B cells are both part of the adaptive immune response. This means that they are typically made to handle very specific pathogens that may be encountered in the body. Before they are released into circulation, both must undergo negative selection, which makes sure that they do not respond to natural peptides that they encounter in the body. Failure of this step to take place can result in autoimmune diseases.
Example Question #5 : Animal Biology
Which immune cell is necessary for causing antibody "class switching" on B cells?
Cytotoxic T cells
Plasma cells
Natural killer cells
Helper T cells
Helper T cells
Many of the modulations of the immune response are controlled by helper T cells. In order to change the type of antibody secreted by a B cell, helper T cells need to interact with them via a number of cytokines. The types of cytokines secreted by helper T cells will tell the B cells which antibodies to start secreting.
Example Question #1 : Animal Biology
Which of the following statements is true concerning antibodies?
Antibodies destroy pathogens once attached
An antibody can attach to multiple pathogens
Antibodies are created by helper T-cells
Antibodies mark pathogens to be destroyed by phagocytic cells
Antibodies mark pathogens to be destroyed by phagocytic cells
An antibody is very specific and will only attach to one antigen. Once it does, the antibody can signal the pathogen or infected cell to be destroyed by macrophages and other phagocytic cells in the body, such as cytotoxic T-cells. The antibodies themselves cannot destroy the pathogen.
T-cells serve important functions in the communication and stimulation of antibody production, but do not actually produce antibodies.
Example Question #2 : Animal Biology
Which of the following statements is true about antibodies?
They have two recognition sites which can recognize two different antigens.
They are seen immediately following an infection.
They are found on the surface of helper T cells.
They can be secreted by plasma cells.
They can be secreted by plasma cells.
Antibodies are part of the adaptive immune response, which means that they are formed later in an infection. Because both recognition sites have the same structure, they are responsive to only one type of antigen. They are located on the outside of B cells, and can be released freely into the plasma by plasma cells.
Example Question #3 : Animal Biology
Which antibody type is able to cross the placental barrier in order to provide temporary passive immunity for the fetus?
IgA
IgM
IgE
IgG
IgG
Placental crossing is done mainly by IgG antibodies. These fast-acting antibodies provide temporary immunity for the fetus until it is able to have its own immune system produce sufficient antibody amounts.
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor