1. Cells & Processes Flashcards
What are some examples of plant tissue?
1) Epidermal tissue - Covers the whole plant 2) Palisade mesophyll tissue - Where most photosynthesis happens in the leaf 3) Spongy mesophyll tissue - Contains air spaces to allow gases to diffuse in and out of cells in the leaf 4) Xylem and phloem - Transport water, mineral ions and sucrose around the plant
How are palisade cells adapted for photosynthesis?
- Packed with chloroplasts (more at top of cells so they are nearer to the light) - Tall shape increases SA down the side for absorbing CO2 from the air in the leaf - Thin shape means many can be fitted at top of leaf
Is stem cell research allowed in the UK?
Yes, as long as it follows strict guidelines. In some countries, however, it is banned.
Why do root hair cells need to use active transport to take up minerals?
There is usually a higher concentration of minerals in the cells than in the soil, meaning that active transport is needed to take up nutrients against the concentration gradient.
What determines the positioning of the xylem and phloem?
The xylem’s other function - support.
When is meiosis used?
In humans, only in reproductive organs.
How could embryonic stem cells be used to cure disease?
Scientists can extract stem cells from early embryos and grow them. Embryonic stem cells could be used to replace faulty cells in sick people (e.g. beating heart muscle cells for people with heart disease)
What is the function of the vacuole?
Contains cell sap, a weak solution of sugar and salts.
How does sexual reproduction cause variation?
When the gametes fuse, the fertilised egg contains a mixture of genes and therefore characteristics from each parent.
What is a gene?
A part of a chromosome.
What is net movement and why is it relevant to diffusion?
Net movement is the overall movement of molecules in diffusion. It is needed because molecules move both ways but there is more movement in one direction.
How many pairs of chromosomes does a human cell have?
23
What do animal cells contain?
1) Nucleus
2) Cytoplasm
3) Cell Membrane
4) Mitochondria
5) Ribosomes
What do people who are against stem cell research suggest should be done?
Scientists should concentrate more on finding and developing other sources of stem cells, so people could be helped without the use of embryos.
When does differentiation occur?
During the development of a multicellular organism.
What are root hair cells specialised for?
Absorbing water and minerals.
What is osmosis?
The movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration.
Specialised cells form what, which form what, which form what, etc. ?
Specialised cells form tissues, which form organs, which form organ systems.
When is mitosis used?
When plants or animals want to grow or replace cells that have been damaged.
Where does tissue fluid come from?
It is squeezed out of the blood capillaries.
Give 3 examples of how stem cells could be used to cure disease.
Making:
1) Beating heart muscle cells for people with heart disease
2) Insulin-producing cells for diabetics
3) Nerve cells for people paralysed by spinal injuries
What the two experiments that can be used to show osmosis?
1) Potato cylinders 2) Visking tubing
What are chemical carcinogens?
Chemicals that cause cancer.
What is meiosis?
When a cell divides twice to form four gametes with only 1 of each chromosome (i.e. Half the normal number)
What type of organism is yeast?
Microorganism (it is single-celled).
What is the function of the cytoplasm?
Gel-like substance where most of the chemical reactions happen. It contains enzymes which control these reactions.
How are adult stem cells already being used to cure disease?
- Some blood diseases (e.g. sickle cell anaemia) can be transplanted by bone marrow transplants.
- Bone marrow contains stem cells that can turn into new blood cells to replace the faulty old ones.
What happens when gametes join?
The gametes fuse at fertilisation. The resulting cell has a mixture of the mother’s and father’s genes. The cell divides by mitosis to form many cells. As the organism develops, these cells differentiate to make many kinds of specialised cells.
How can tumours can be caused?
- Chemicals
- Radiation
What is mitosis?
When a cell reproduces itself by SPLITTING to form two identical offspring with the same number of chromosomes as the original.
What happens when gametes join?
The gametes fuse at fertilisation. The resulting cell has a mixture of the mother’s and father’s genes. The cell divides by mitosis to form many cells. As the organism develops, these cells differentiate to make many kinds of specialised cells.
What is tissue fluid and what is it used for?
Water with oxygen, glucose and other things dissolved in it. It surrounds the cells in the body and supplies them with everything they need.
What is the function of the cell wall?
Supports the cell and strengthens it.
How many pairs of chromosomes does a human cell have?
23
How does ionising radiation cause cancer?
- Breaks molecules up into ions
- These ions interfere with normal reactions going on inside the cell
- They can cause the cell to start dividing uncontrollably, producing a tumour
What happens when tissue fluid is isotonic?
No net movement of water.
What are alleles?
Different versions of the same gene (e.g. Gene for blue eyes and gene for brown eyes)
Give an example of an experiment to show osmosis (visking tubing).
1) Tie a piece of wire around one end of some Visking tubing and put a glass tube in the other end. 2) Fix the tubing around the glass tube with wire. 3) Pour some sugar solution (hypertonic) down the glass tubing into the Visking tubing. 4) Put the Visking tubing into a beaker of pure water (hypotonic) and measure where the sugar solution comes up to on the glass tube. 5) Leave the tubing overnight then measure where the liquid is in the glass tubing. Water should be drawn into the Visking tubing by osmosis and this should force the liquid up the glass tube.
What is the difference between animal and plant cells?
Plant cells contain everything animal cells contain AND: - Cell wall - Permanent vacuole - Chloroplasts
What is the function of egg cells?
To carry the female DNA and to nourish the developing embryo.
When is active transport needed in the human body?
Taking glucose from low concentrations in the intestines and from low concentrations in the kidney tubules.
What does a larger SA : Volume ratio mean?
Substances move in and out of the organism faster.
Why are some people AGAINST stem cell research?
They think that human embryos shouldn’t be used for experiments since each one is a potential human life.
What is a chromosome?
A thread-like structure made of DNA.
At what rate does substance exchange happen in single-celled organisms and why?
Quick, because: - Substances only have to travel a short distance - Large SA : Volume ratio
What is a plasmid?
A circular structure of genetic material.
What happens to cells when a plant is well watered?
- They draw up water by osmosis and become swollen (turgid). - The contents of the cell push against the inelastic cell wall. This is called turgor pressure and helps to support plant tissues.
How do root hair cells take up minerals?
Using active transport.
In meiosis, what makes the resulting gametes different?
In the first division, each cell receives some of the mother’s and some of the father’s chromosomes.
What does the small intestine have for food absorption?
Villi
What is the function of the chloroplasts?
Where light is absorbed and photosynthesis happens.
Give 3 examples of plant organs.
Stems, roots, leaves
Are stem cells also found in adults?
Yes, but only in certain places, such as bone marrow. They aren’t as versatile as embryonic stem cells - they can only turn into certain cell types.
How is the cell structured in terms of genetics? (i.e. What contains what?)
Cell -> Nucleus -> Chromosome -> Gene -> Made of DNA
What do plant cells contain?
1) Nucleus 2) Cytoplasm 3) Cell Membrane 4) Mitochondria 5) Ribosomes 6) Cell Wall 7) Vacuole 8) Chloroplasts
What is the function of the ribosomes?
Where proteins are made.
What does hypotonic mean?
A solution which is less concentrated than another.
What is plasmolysis?
When a plant faces an extreme lack of water, in the cells the cytoplasm starts to shrink and the membrane pulls away from the cell wall. The cell is said to be plasmolysed.
Why are stem cells exciting for doctors and medical researchers?
They have the potential to turn into any kind of cell.
What are red blood cells adapted for?
Carrying oxygen
How does meiosis work?
- The cell duplicates its DNA. The arms of each chromosome are identical. 2. The chromosomes line up at the centre and are pulled apart. Each new cell has only one copy of each chromosome. 3. The chromosomes line up at the centre again and are pulled apart again. 4. Four gametes with only a single set of chromosomes are produced.
What is the structure of a leaf (in terms of tissues), from top to bottom?
Cuticle, Upper Epidermal Tissue, Palisade Mesophyll Tissue, Spongy Mesophyll Tissue, Lower Epidermal Tissue (+ Guard Cells), Cuticle (+ Stomata)