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BIOL 2321 - Cell Biology > 1 - Cell Specialization > Flashcards

1 - Cell Specialization Flashcards

1
Q

How does each cell start out?

A

As non-specific

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2
Q

What does non-specific cell mean?

A

Its functions are no different from other cells

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3
Q

How do all multicellular organisms begin?

A

As a single cell

ex. a zygote

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4
Q

What major process is responsible for tissue and organ growth and development?

A

Differentiation

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5
Q

What is another word for a non-specialized/non-specific cell in a multicellular organism?

A

stem cell

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6
Q

Depending on the signal a non-specialized cell receives, what two things can it do?

A
  1. replicate OR

2. differentiate

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7
Q

What is produced if a non-specialized cell replicates?

A

Another non-specialized cell

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8
Q

What is produced if a non-specialized cell differentiates?

A

It will become a specialized cell

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9
Q

Describe totipotent

A

A word to describe an embryonic stem cell because it is non-specialized, so it has the potential of differentiating into any kind of cell type

TOTal POTential

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10
Q

From a single celled zygote, how many specialized human cell types will differentiation result in?

A

a few hundred specialized human cell types

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11
Q

What is another word for a differentiated cell?

A

specialized cell

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12
Q

T or F: each type of specialized cell will have the same appearance and same proteins

A

FALSE.

Each type of specialized cell will have a unique appearance and a unique combination of proteins

hence, ‘specialized’

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13
Q

In addition to carrying out the basic cell functions of all cells, specialized cells also….

A

Function in a more specific way that contributes to the survival of the organism

and has structures and a shape that is conducive to its specific function

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14
Q

What are 2 examples of specialized cells?

A
  1. Skeletal muscle cells

Structure: network of aligned filaments made up of unique contractile proteins

Function: muscle contraction

  1. red blood cells

Structure: mature cells lose important cell structures to become a donut shape filled with hemoglobin to help them move efficiently through capillaries

Function: transport oxygen throughout the body

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15
Q

What is established as embryonic development proceeds?

A

three major cell lines (germ lines)

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16
Q

What do each of the major cell/germ lines divide to form?

A

three germ layers

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17
Q

What will the germ layers develop into?

A

different tissue types in an adult organism and eventually different organs

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18
Q

What are the three germ layers?

A

ectoderm
mesoderm
endoderm

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19
Q

What does the ectoderm develop into?

A

skin and nervous system

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20
Q

What does the mesoderm develop into?

A

skeleton, muscle, kidney, heart muscle, and blood

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21
Q

What does the endoderm develop into?

A

gut, liver, and lungs

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22
Q

How are tissues produced?

A

When specialized cells with similar structure and function group

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23
Q

What are tissues?

A

Groups of similar specialized cells

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24
Q

What are organs composed of?

A

tissues

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25
How are organs organized?
Into organ systems
26
What are the four types of animal tissues?
epithelial nervous muscle connective
27
T or F: most cells look like the general drawing of cells? why/why not?
FALSE. Most cells do not look like the generalized cells because they have specific functions and their shape/structures will be specific to that function
28
T or F: the structure of each tissue relates directly to its function
True
29
What is histology?
the study of tissue appearance and tissue organization under a microscope
30
What is the order of the cell life?
single cell (ex. zygote) differentiation or replication if differentiation, it will become a specialized cell Specialized cells: - epithelial - muscle - nerve - connective groups of similar specialized cells become tissues Groups of tissues form organs groups of organs form organ systems groups of organ systems form an organism
31
What are the four types of specialized animal cells
epithelial cell muscle cell nerve cell (neuron) connective cell
32
Describe the location, function, structure and characteristics of epithelial cells and tissues
LOCATION: external surface layers of the body and the linings of lumens (cavities like the intestine) FUNCTION: forms a barrier between two environments STRUCTURE: - tightly packed with strong connections between cells so that external particles cannot enter unregulated - minimal extracellular matrices - distinct apical and basal sides/significant structural polarity Other characteristics: - rapid turnover (short-lived) because environments are hostile - very selective membranes for movement of particles through cells
33
How are epithelial tissues classified into subgroups?
Based on cell characteristics and the number of layers they have
34
What are the subgroups of epithelial tissues
1. number of layers: Simple or Stratified (or also pseudo-stratified) 2. shape: Squamous, cuboidal, columnar 3. other characteristics: Ciliated or non-ciliated
35
Describe simple vs. stratified epithelial tissues
Simple: one layer of cells Stratified: many layers of cells
36
Describe squamous vs. cuboidal vs. columnar shaped epithelial tissues
Squamous: cells are spindle-shaped (skinny edges, big in the middle - like a lemon) Cuboidal: cells are square Columnar: cells are long and narrow like columns
37
Describe cell polarity
When specialized cells have asymmetric organization
38
When/why does cell polarity occur?
Cell polarity occurs when different parts of a single cell have different functions Different function = different structure
39
What two kinds of cells is cell polarity most common in?
epithelial and nervecells
40
Describe the location, function, structure and characteristics of nerve cells
Location: throughout the body (brain, spinal cord, muscles and glands) ``` Function: Send signals (communication) between cells ``` Structure: - dendrites (network) - cell body - axon (long and skinny, lots of surface area for action potential)
41
T or F: neurons are the only type of cell in nervous tissue
FALSE. Many different types of supportive cells called glial are important for the functions of the nervous system
42
Describe glial
Cells with supportive functions in the nervous system ex. form blood-brain barrier, degrade neurotransmitters
43
Describe muscle cells
Excitable cells that contract to produce movement in an organism
44
What are the 3 basic types of muscle cells?
skeletal smooth cardiac
45
What types of movement can muscle cells produce?
both voluntary and involuntary
46
What structural differences exist between the types of muscle tissues?
skeletal muscles: striated, LOTS of nuclei Cardiac: striated, not as many nuclei Smooth: not striated (hence, 'smooth'), not as many nuclei
47
Describe connective tissues
A very large category of tissues that function in either: connection support protection of other tissues basically anything that is not epithelial, muscle, or nervous
48
Which tissue type has the most extensive extracellular matrix?
Connective tissue
49
Which tissue type has the least extensive extracellular matrix?
epithelial
50
What determines the properties of connective tissues?
the extracellular matrix
51
Describe extracellular matrix
A network of proteins and molecules that surround, support and provide structure to cells and tissues
52
T or F: connective tissues have a wide spectrum of ECM compositions
True
53
What are the 5 compositions of connective tissues? Give examples
More rigid (ex. collagen fibres) more elastic (ex. elastin fibers) gel-like (ex. water-binding proteoglycans) liquid (blood matrix - plasma) mineralization (bone)
54
What are three general categories of connective tissues?
Loose Dense Fluid
55
Give examples of loose connective tissues
fatty tissue sub-dermal parts of the skin outermost layers of blood vessels
56
Describe dense connective tissues and list the categories
Contain collagen to provide more strength and resistance categories: Irregular - ex. muscle fascia Regular - ex. ligaments and tendons Skeletal - ex. cartilage and bone
57
Describe fluid connective tissues and give examples
cells circulate in a liquid extracellular matrix ex. blood, lymph
58
The walls of most of our internal organs contain which tissues?
epithelial - the lining connective - between layers muscle - smooth nerve - action of tissues/organs
59
How is tissue integrity maintained?
replacement of specialized cells as new ones are produced and old ones die continued presence of stem cells is necessary
60
What are the 2 kinds of cell death?
Necrosis | Apoptosis
61
Describe necrosis
A type of accidental cell death caused by oxygen or nutrient deprivation, or physical injury, or the environmental conditions
62
Describe the process of necrosis
The cell loses the ability to control fluid and ion balance so it and its organelles SWELL until it ruptures and releases its contents This will cause an inflammatory response Phagocytic cells clean up cellular debris but can damage nearby non-necrotic cells
63
Describe apoptosis
Programmed cell death
64
Describe the process of apoptosis
The cell will SHRINK, but organelles maintain their structure and remain inside the cell membrane There is no inflammatory reaction Cell may be ingested by macrophages or remain in the tissue to contribute to the function of the tissue (ex. eye lens, skin keratinocytes)
65
Compare and contrast necrosis and apoptosis
Similarities: Both are types of cell death that can occur in tissues. Differences: Necrosis is accidental cell death that is caused by oxygen or nutrient deprivation or physical harm. Whereas, apoptosis is programmed cell death. Necrosis causes the cell to swell up and rupture its contents, whereas apoptosis causes the cell to shrink and its contents remain inside the cell membrane. Necrosis causes an inflammatory response, whereas apoptosis does not. If a cell dies by necrosis, it will be ingested by phagocytic cells. Whereas with apoptosis, the cell MAY be ingested by macrophages, but also may remain as a dead cell in the tissue because it contributes to the function of the tissue
66
Describe how cancer cells arise
If a cell does not die when it is supposed to
67
How do cancer cells appear in comparison to normal cells?
Very different Often have many mutations, including mutations that prevent cell death by apoptosis - large, variably shaped nuclei - many dividing cells with disorganized arrangement - variation in size and shapes - loss of normal features

BIOL 2321 - Cell Biology (26 decks)

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