BS Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield BS facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which molecule carries genetic information in most living organisms? → DNA
2. What is the formula for calculating the area of a circle? → A = πr²
3. An organism that can fix atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for plants is called a: → Nitrogen-fixing bacterium
4. What is the primary purpose of a literature review in a research paper? → To summarize existing knowledge and identify gaps in research
5. What determines the atomic number of an element? → The number of protons in the nucleus
6. The region of a chromosome where spindle fibers attach during cell division is called the: → Centromere
7. What is an acid according to the Bronsted-Lowry definition? → A substance that donates a proton (H+) to another substance
8. What is a derivative in calculus? → A measure of how a function changes as its input changes (instantaneous rate of change)
9. The Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk primarily due to high intake of which food component? → Monounsaturated fatty acids from olive oil
10. What does the term 'validity' refer to in research design? → Whether the study measures what it is intended to measure
11. Which macromolecule provides the structural framework for cell membranes? → Phospholipids
12. Which intestinal transporter is primarily responsible for the active absorption of glucose and galactose from the intestinal lumen into enterocytes? → SGLT1
13. A wrench applies torque to a bolt. If the applied force is doubled and the lever arm is halved, how does the torque change? → It remains the same
14. What components of the following central nervous system are they? → Brain and spinal cord
15. Which measure is used to assess the quality of dietary protein by comparing its essential amino acid content to a reference protein pattern? → Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS)
16. Which type of cell division produces gametes (sex cells)? → Meiosis
17. What is the oxidation state of sulfur in H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid)? → +6
18. Ohm's law states that the current through a conductor is: → Directly proportional to voltage and inversely proportional to resistance
19. Which type of ecological relationship benefits one organism while the other is neither harmed nor helped? → Commensalism
20. Which macromolecule serves as both a structural component and an enzyme in living organisms? → Proteins
21. Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) plays an essential role in which physiological process beyond blood coagulation? → Calcium deposition in bone via carboxylation of osteocalcin
22. What is the term for an organism with two identical alleles for a gene? → Homozygous
23. In a simple electric circuit, if resistance doubles while voltage remains constant, what happens to the current? → Halves
24. In projectile motion, what primarily determines the horizontal range of a horizontally launched object (ignoring air resistance)? → The time the object is in the air
25. The ____ system consists of the liver and kidneys. → Excretory
26. Which human activity is the largest contributor to deforestation in the US? → Agricultural expansion and land clearing for farming
27. According to Coulomb's law, if one of two point charges is tripled while the distance between them remains the same, the electrostatic force: → Increases by a factor of 3
28. A wave transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter. Which property describes the number of wave cycles that pass a point per second? → Frequency
29. The tissue that ____ is the placenta. → supplies nutrients to a developing embryo
30. The work-energy theorem states that the net work done on an object equals: → The change in its kinetic energy