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A-level Biology > 2 - Basic Components Of Living Systems🐒 > Flashcards

2 - Basic Components Of Living Systems🐒 Flashcards

1
Q

Define a prokaryotic cell

A
  • no membrane-bound nucleus nor organelles
  • single-called
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2
Q

Define a eukaryotic cell

A
  • membrane-bound nucleus and organelles
  • complex
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3
Q

What is the cell wall made from in prokaryotes?

A

Peptidoglycan = polymer consisting of sugars and amino acids

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4
Q

Eukaryote VS Prokaryote

Cell wall

A

E = sometimes
P = yes

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5
Q

Eukaryote VS Prokaryote

Golgi

A

E = yes
P = no

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6
Q

Eukaryote VS Prokaryote

Nuclear envelope

A

E = yes
P = no

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7
Q

Eukaryote VS Prokaryote

Ribosomes

A

E = 80S (22nm diameter)
P = 70S (10-20nm diameter)

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8
Q

Eukaryote VS Prokaryote

Flagellum

A

E = sometimes
P = sometimes

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9
Q

Eukaryote VS Prokaryote

Avg diameter size

A

E = 10-100um
P = 0.5-5um

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10
Q

Eukaryote VS Prokaryote

Nucleus state

A

E = genetic material bound in membrane
P = no true nucleus

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11
Q

Eukaryote VS Prokaryote

DNA

A

E = as chromosomes
P = “naked” DNA - 1 coiled chromosome

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12
Q

Which eukaryotes have cell walls made from what?

A

Plants = made from cellulose
Fungi = made from chitin

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13
Q

Prokaryotic Components

Define cytoplasm

A

Internal fluid component of the cell

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14
Q

Prokaryotic Components

Define nucleoid

A

Irregularly-shaped region of cytoplasm of the prokaryote that contains all or most of the DNA

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15
Q

Prokaryotic Components

Define plasmids

A

Autonomous circular DNA molecules that may be transferred between bacteria

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16
Q

Prokaryotic Components

Define ribosomes (70S)

A

Complexes of RNA and protein used for protein synthesis

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17
Q

Prokaryotic Components

Define cell membrane

A

Selective barrier surrounding the cell

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18
Q

Prokaryotic Components

Define cell wall

A

Rigid peptidoglycan covering to maintain shape and prevent lysis (bursting)

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19
Q

Prokaryotic Components

Define slime capsule

A

Polysaccharide layer used for protection against desiccation and phagocytosis

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20
Q

Define desiccation

A

Drying out of a cell

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21
Q

Prokaryotic Components

Define flagella

A

Projection containing motor protein to enable movement

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22
Q

Prokaryotic Components

Define pili

A

Hair-like that enable adherence to surfaces or mediate bacterial conjugation

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23
Q

Which kingdom to prokaryotes belong to?

A

Prokaryota

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24
Q

Domains

What are archaebacteria?

A

Found in extreme conditions like high temp, salt conc, or pH (eg.extremophiles)

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25
Q

Domains

What are eubacteria?

A

Traditional bacteria including most known pathogen forms (eg E.Coli)

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26
Q

What are chromosomes?

A

DNA associates with proteins called histones to form chromatin, which coils and condenses to form chromosomes

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27
Q

What is the use of the nucleolus?

A
  • responsible for providing ribosomes
  • composed of proteins and RNA
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28
Q

How are the necessary ribosomes formed for protein synthesis?

A

RNA is used to produce ribosomal RNA (rRNA) which combines with proteins

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29
Q

What do mitochondria do?

A

Cellular respiration where the energy stored in bonds of complex molecules is made available for the cell to use by the production of ATP

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30
Q

Mitochondria special features

What is cristae and what does this membrane contain?

A

Highly folded inner membrane forms structures called cristae

Contains enzymes used in aerobic respiration

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31
Q

Mitochondria Special Features

What is the matrix?

A

fluid interior of organelle

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32
Q

What are vesicles?

A

Membranous sacs that have storage and transport roles consisting simply of a single membrane with fluid inside to transport materials in cell

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33
Q

What are lysosomes?

A

Specialised vesicles containing hydrolytic enzymes responsible for breaking down waste material in cells

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34
Q

What roles do lysosomes have?

A
  • breaking down waste
  • immune system breaking down pathogens ingested by phagocytes
  • programmed cell death or apoptosis
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35
Q

Cytoskeleton

Define microfilaments

A

Contractile fibres formed from protein actin

  • responsible for cell movement / contraction during cytokinesis
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36
Q

Cytoskeleton

Define microtubules

A

Globular tubulin proteins polymerise to form tubes that are used to scaffold and structure the cell

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37
Q

Cytoskeleton

What else do microtubules do?

A
  • act as tracks for movement of organelles eg vesicles
  • spindle fibres are composed of microtubules
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38
Q

Cytoskeleton

Define intermediate fibres

A

give mechanical strength to cells and help maintain their integrity

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39
Q

Cytoskeleton

Define centrioles

A

Composed of microtubules

Two centrioles form the centrosome

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40
Q

What do centrosomes do?

A

Involved in the assembly and organisation of the spindle fibres during cell division

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41
Q

Define flagella

A

Enable motility or as sensory organelle detecting chemical changes in environment

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42
Q

Define stationary cilia

A

Present on surface of cells and have important sensory function

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43
Q

Define mobile cilia

A

Beat in a rhythmic manner creating a current causing fluids or object adjacent to cell to move

44
Q

What is the structure of cilia?

A

two central microtubules surrounded by 9 pairs of microtubules arranged like a “wheel”

Known as the 9+2 arrangement

45
Q

Define the endoplasmic reticulum

A

a network of membranes, attached to the outer membrane of the nucleus, enclosing flattened sacs called cisternae

46
Q

What does the smooth ER do?

A

responsible for lipid and carbohydrate synthesis and storage

47
Q

What does the rough ER do?

A

responsible for the synthesis and transport or proteins

48
Q

What cells have more rough ER than those that do not release proteins?

A

Secretory cells which release hormones or enzymes

49
Q

What makes a ER rough?

A

attachment of ribosomes

50
Q

What are ribosomes made of?

A
  • constructed of RNA molecules made in the nucleolus of the cell
51
Q

What organelles contain their own ribosomes?

A

Mitochondria and chloroplasts

52
Q

What is the Golgi apparatus made from?

A

formed of cisternae and doesn’t contain ribosomes

53
Q

What does the Golgi apparatus do?

A

role in modifying proteins and ‘packaging’ them into vesicles

  • protein leaving cell = secretary vesicles
  • protein staying in cell = lysosomes
54
Q

Protein Production 1

Where are proteins synthesised?

A

on the ribosomes bound to the ER

55
Q

Protein Production 2

Where do proteins get packaged into transport vesicles?

A

pass into ER’s cisternae (flattened sacs)

56
Q

Protein Production 3

Where do vesicles containing newly synthesised proteins move to and how?

A

move towards the Golgi via the transport function of the cytoskeleton

57
Q

Protein Production 4

How do the proteins enter the Golgi, and what happens when they are in there?

A

vesicles fuse with the cis face of Golgi and proteins enter

proteins are structurally modified before leaving in vesicles from its trans face

58
Q

Protein Production 5

How do the proteins leave the cell after leaving the Golgi?

A

secretory vesicles carry proteins towards and fuse with the cell-surface membrane, releasing their contents by exocytosis

some vesicles form lysosomes containing enzymes for use in the cell

59
Q

Use of cell plant walls (cellulose)

A
  • freely permeable so substances can enter/exit
  • gives cell its shape
  • contents of cell press up against wall = rigid
  • defence mechanism = stops pathogens
60
Q

Describe what vacuoles are

A

membrane lined sacs in cytoplasm containing cell sap

61
Q

What is the vacuole membrane called?

62
Q

What are the features of vacuoles in animal cells?

A

small and transient (not permeable)

63
Q

What is the function of vacuoles?

A

large, permanent, important in maintenance of turgor, so contents of cell push up against cell wall making it rigid

64
Q

What do the internal membranes of chloroplasts provide?

A

large SA for enzymes, proteins and pigment molecules necessary in photosynthesisi

65
Q

How are chloroplasts similar to mitochondria?

A

double membrane structure, DNA, ribosomes

66
Q

What is the fluid enclosed in the chloroplast called?

67
Q

What are thylakoids?

A

an internal network of membranes forming flattened sacs

68
Q

What are several thylakoids stacked together called?

A

Granum (plural = grana)

69
Q

What are grana joined by?

A

membranes called lamellae

70
Q

What do grana contain?

A

chlorophyll pigments, where light-dependent reactions occur during photosynthesis

71
Q

Define magnification

A

how many times larger an image is than the actual size of the object being viewed

72
Q

Define resolution

A

the ability to see individual objects as separate entities

73
Q

Define resolution

A

the ability to see individual objects as separate entities

74
Q

What limits resolution?

A

The diffraction of light as it passes through samples and lenses

75
Q

What is diffraction?

A

The tendency of light waves to spread as they pass close to physical structures such as those present tin specimens studied

76
Q

What can increase resolution?

A

Using beams of electrons which have a wavelength thousands of times shorter than light, so they can be much closer before they overlap

77
Q

What is the magnification formula?

A

Mag = image size / actual size

78
Q

What does cell theory state?

A
  • both plants and animal tissue is composed of cells
  • cells are the basic unit of all life
  • cells only develop from existing cells
79
Q

How does a compound light microscope work?

A
  • objective lens is near the specimen
  • eyepiece lens is through which the specimen is viewed
  • illumination is provided below sample
80
Q

What is the maximum resolving power using visible light?

81
Q

What gives a greater resolving power?

A
  • shorter wavelength of light used
  • larger value of the lens numerical aprtire
82
Q

What does a stain provide?

A

Provides congrats to make organelles visible and distinguishable from one another

83
Q

What can be used to stain nuclei?

A

Acetic orcein, methylene blue, toluidine blue

84
Q

Other than for visibility, why might a stain be added?

A

To stop dehydration alongside wayer

85
Q

Why are specimens embedded in wax?

A

It allows the sample to be cut without distorting its structure

86
Q

What can be used to stain cytoplasm?

A

Eosin = pink stain

87
Q

What colour does toluidine blue stain cells?

88
Q

What colour does phloroglucinol stain cells?

89
Q

What is the function of a compound light microscope?

A

Uses visible light to illuminate a thin sample

90
Q

What is the disadvantages to a compound light microscope?

A

Low resolution compared to others

91
Q

What are compound light microscopes useful for looking at?

A
  • living cells
  • living tissues
92
Q

What is the function of confocal laser scanning microscope?

A

Looks specifically at parts of a cell by labelling them with fluorescence

93
Q

What are the disadvantages of confocal laser scanning microscopes?

A
  • low resolution
  • only see fluorescent objects
  • can cause artefacts
94
Q

What are confocal laser scanning microscopes useful for looking at?

A
  • living cells
  • understanding relationships between cells
95
Q

What is the function of ribosomes?

A
  • protein synthesis via translation of encoded messenger ribonuclease acid
  • together specific amino acids to form polypeptides exported to cytoplasm
96
Q

What is the function of a SEM microscope?

A

Looks at surface of objects at a high reoslution

97
Q

What are the disadvantages of SEM?

A
  • costly
  • can’t look at living things
  • resolution lower than TEM
98
Q

What are SEMs useful for looking at?

A

surface of objects in 3D

99
Q

What is the function of a TEM?

A

Lets users look at a thin cross section of an object

100
Q

What are the disadvantages of TEM?

A
  • costly
  • can’t look at living things
101
Q

What are TEMs useful for looking at?

A
  • internal structure
  • relationships between cells
  • high resolution
102
Q

When using a SEM, what gets knocked off the surface of the sample and then picked up by a detector?

A

Electrons are knocked off sample, and are called ‘secondary electrons’

103
Q

What special proteins help do what inside the RER lumen?

A

‘Chaperones’ ensure each protein folds into its correct 3D shape when folding up

104
Q

How do prokaryotic cells reproduce?

A

Binary fission

105
Q

How do eukaryotic cells reproduce?

A

Asexual or sexual

A-level Biology (23 decks)

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