1.1 Intro To Cells Flashcards
What is cell theory?
Cell theory states that living organisms are composed of cells, cells are the smallest units of life, and cells come from pre-existing cells.
What is an example of an atypical cell?
Striated muscle cells, giant algae, and aseptate fungal hyphae are examples of atypical cells that challenge the cell theory.
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells of a multicellular organism capable of giving rise to indefinitely more cells of the same type and from which certain other kinds of cells arise by differentiation.
How do totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent, and unipotent stem cells differ?
Totipotent stem cells can differentiate into any type of cell, pluripotent into all body cells but not a whole organism, multipotent into a few closely related types of body cell, and unipotent can only differentiate into their associated cell type.
How does the surface area to volume ratio affect cell size?
The surface area to volume ratio limits cell size because a smaller ratio means less surface area is available for the cell to exchange materials with its environment.
What is the significance of the surface area to volume ratio in multicellular organisms?
Multicellular organisms have cells that specialize through differentiation, leading to emergent properties that allow the organism to perform complex functions beyond the capabilities of individual cells.
How are stem cells used to treat diseases?
Stem cells are used in therapies for diseases like Stargardt’s disease and leukemia, offering potential for regenerating damaged tissues and treating genetic disorders.
What ethical issues arise from the use of stem cells?
Ethical issues involve the methods of obtaining stem cells, especially those that result in the destruction of embryos, raising questions about the morality of such practices.
What challenges does the striated muscle cell pose to the cell theory?
Striated muscle cells challenge the cell theory by being multinucleated and much larger than typical cells, contradicting the theory that a cell has one nucleus and is of a certain size.
How do giant algae like Acetabularia challenge our understanding of cells?
Giant algae challenge the traditional view of cells by being single-celled organisms that can grow to a large size and have complex structures, which contradicts the idea that cells must be simple and small.
What are the implications of the surface area to volume ratio for cell function?
A high surface area to volume ratio is crucial for cell function because it ensures efficient exchange of materials with the environment, which is vital for nutrient uptake, waste removal, and overall cell survival.
How does cellular differentiation contribute to the formation of multicellular organisms?
Cellular differentiation allows cells to specialize and perform different functions, leading to the emergence of various tissues and organs in multicellular organisms, which contributes to the organism’s overall complexity and functionality.
What is the role of pluripotent stem cells in development?
Pluripotent stem cells can differentiate into all body cells but cannot give rise to a whole organism, playing a key role in the development of the various specialized tissues and organs of the embryo.
How do stem cell therapies work for treating leukemia?
Stem cell therapies for leukemia involve harvesting hematopoietic stem cells, which are then transplanted back into the bone marrow after chemotherapy and radiotherapy to produce new, healthy white blood cells.
What are the ethical concerns associated with embryonic stem cell research?
Ethical concerns include the destruction of embryos to obtain stem cells, raising questions about the moral implications of terminating potential life for therapeutic purposes.
