MCAT Biology Question #4: Answer and Rationale

4. How is the basal layer of the epidermis and the innermost lining of the small intestine similar? 

A) Both are nondividing tissues.

B) Both are derived from ectoderm.

C) Both are composed of squamous cells.

D) The cells of both are connected by tight junctions.

Answer Analysis

The correct answer is D.

Rationale: This question tests your knowledge of how molecules, cells, and groups of cells are assembled within organisms. You are asked to recall the structural and embryological characteristics of two tissues and must relate them to one another. To answer this question correctly, you must identify a similarity between the basal layer of the epidermis and the innermost lining of the small intestine. Option D is the only option that identifies a correct similarity, which is that the cells of both the epidermis and the innermost lining of the small intestine are connected by tight junctions.

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