Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Biology > 3a. CELL STRUCTURE > Flashcards

3a. CELL STRUCTURE Flashcards

1
Q

Name the four types of eukaryote

A

Plants, animals, fungi and protists

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the average diameter of an eukaryotic cell?

A

50µm (micrometers)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Which molecule is the cell membrane mainly made from, and what configuration are they in?

A

Phosphlipids, in a bilayer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Describe the function of the cell membrane

A

To separate two aqueous environments. To control what goes into and out of the cell.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What does the nucleus contain?

A

Chromosomes and a nucleolus inside the nucleoplasm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What other organelle is the nuclear envelope continuous with?

A

RER

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Describe the structure of the nuclear membrane

A

It is a double phospholipid bilayer with nuclear pores

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is contained inside the nucleolus

A

Ribosomes and rRNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Describe the function of the nucleus

A

To store chromosomes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Describe the function of the nucleolus

A

To assemble ribosomes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Which type of ribosomes are found in eukaryotic cells?

A

80s ribosomes (larger)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe the two places ribosomes are found in eukaryotic cells

A

Free ribosomes in the nucleus, and ribosomes bound to the RER

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe the function of free ribosomes found in the cytoplasm

A

To synthesise proteins for use inside the cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe the function of the ribosomes bound to the RER

A

To synthesise proteins that will be released out of the cell (e.g. enzymes, hormones etc)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

RER are made of a stack of membrane folds. What are these membrane folds called?

A

Cisternae

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe the function of the RER

A

To synthesise proteins that will be released out of the cell (e.g. enzymes, hormones etc)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Once proteins have been synthesised in the RER, which organelle are they transported to?

A

Golgi apparatus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

SER are made of a stack of membrane folds. What are these membrane folds called?

A

Cisternae

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Describe the function of the SER

A

To synthesise, store and transport lipids and carbohydrates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Once lipids and carbohydrates have been synthesised in the RER, which organelle are they transported to?

A

Golgi apparatus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Describe the structural difference between the RER and SER

A

The RER have ribosomes bound to the cisternae and the SER does not

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Golgi apparatus are made from stacks of layers of membrane. What are these layers of membrane called?

A

Cisternae

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Describe the function of the Golgi apparatus

A

To modify and package proteins, carbohydrates and lipids into vesicles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What comprises the outside of vesicles?

A

A single phospholipid bilayer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is a lysosome?
Vesicles containing lysozymes (enzymes)
26
Describe the function of vesicle
To transport molecules outside the cell
27
Mitochondria are surrounded by an double membrane. The inner membrane is folded. What are these folds called?
Cristae
28
What is the jelly-like substance inside a mitochondria called?
Matrix
29
Describe the function of the mitochondria
It is the site of respiration and therefore where ATP is produced
30
Which cellular process are centrioles involved in?
Cell division
31
Which polysaccharide are plant cell walls made from?
Cellulose
32
Which polysaccharide are fungi cell walls made from?
Chitin (chi-a-tin)
33
Which biological molecule do algae cell walls also contain?
Glycoproteins
34
Describe the function of the cell wall
Maintains the shape of a plant cell, prevents lysis, and provide strength and support
35
Name the single membrane that surrounds the vacuole
Tonoplast
36
Describe the function of the vacuole
To provide turgidity and store food
37
Name the individual discs found inside a chloroplast
Thylakoid
38
What is a stack of thylakoids called?
Grana (singular granum)
39
Name the structures that connect grana
Lamellae
40
Name the fluid found inside a chloroplast
Stroma
41
Describe the function of chloroplasts
The site of photosynthesis (production of carbohydrates)
42
Which polysaccharide can be found inside chloroplasts?
Starch (grains)
43
Describe a adaptation a cell would have to carry out more active transport
More mitochondria
44
Describe an adaptation a muscle cell would have to enable it to contract more
More mitochondria
45
How might the mitochondria in muscle cells be adapted to enable the muscle cell to contract more?
They would have more cristae
46
Explain why muscle cells and mitochondria have these adaptations (more cristae)
For an increased surface area for more respiration and therefore more contraction
47
Describe an adaptation a palisade mesophyll cell might have to photosynthesis more
More chloroplasts
48
How might the chloroplasts in palisade mesophyll cells be adapted to enable the cells to photosynthesise more?
More thylakoids
49
Explain why palisade mesophyll cells and thylakoids might have these adaptations (more chloroplasts so more thylakoids)
An increased surface area for more photosynthesis
50
Which three organelles might a glandular cell have more of?
More ribosomes (on the RER), more golgi apparatus, and more ATP
51
Why might glandular cells have more ribosomes on their RER?
To synthesise more proteins for secretion
52
Why might glandular cells have more golgi apparatus?
To package more proteins for secretion
53
Why might glandular cells have more mitochondria?
To produce more ATP for more vesicle transport
54
What is the average diameter of an prokaryotic cell?
5µm
55
On average, how many times bigger is a eukaryotic cell compared to a prokaryotic cell?
10 x
56
Describe the structure of the free DNA in prokaryotes
It is circular and not associated with histone proteins
57
Describe the function of the free (circular) DNA in prokaryotes
It codes for the structural and functional proteins within the prokaryote
58
Describe the function of plasmids in prokaryotes
Carry the genes that give the cell an evolutionary advantage, e.g. antibiotic resistance
59
What is the difference between the cytoplasm in a eukaryote and a prokaryote?
The cytoplasm in a prokaryote lacks membrane-bound organelles, whereas the cytoplasm in a eukaryote contains membrane-bound organelles
60
Name the glycoprotein the cell wall of a prokaryote is made from
Murein (mure-rain)
61
What is the capsule in a prokaryote?
A slime layer surrounding the cell
62
Describe the function of the capsule in a prokaryote
To protect the bacteria from environmental dangers
63
Describe the function of the flagella in a prokaryote
Locomotion
64
What is the average diameter of a virus?
20nm
65
Viruses are non-living. They also contain no organelles. Therefore they cannot carry out their own …............... …............
Metabolic processes
66
In which two forms can viral genetic material be in?
DNA or RNA
67
What surrounds the viral genetic material?
Capsid
68
Where are the attachment proteins found?
On the outside of the virus
69
Describe the function of the attachment proteins
To allow it to attach to and infect host cells
70
Name the two main type of microscopes
Optical (light) and Electron
71
What is the maximum resolution of an optical microscope?
0.2µm
72
What is the maximum resolution of an electron microscope?
0.0002µm
73
Why is the resolution of an electron microscope higher than that of a light microscope?
Because electrons have a smaller wavelength than light
74
Name the two types of electron microscope
Transmission (TEM) and Scanning (SEM)
75
Describe how a TEM works
Uses electromagnets to focus a beam of electrons which is then transmitted through the specimen.​ Denser parts of the specimen absorb more electrons which makes them look darker on the image.
76
Describe two advantages of TEMs
Can see the internal structures of the specimen​ Highest resolving power
77
Describe 3 limitations of a TEM
Specimens must be dead (viewed in a vacuum)​, image is 2D​, specimen must be very thin and stained – both are complex processes and can form artefacts​
78
Describe how an SEM works
A beam of electrons is scanned across the specimen​. This scatters electrons from the specimen, which is gathered in a cathode ray tube to form an image.
79
Describe two advantages of SEMs
The image is 3D, the specimen can be thicker (as the electrons do not need to penetrate), therefore less artefacts are produced
80
Describe two limitations of a SEM
Specimens must be dead (viewed in a vacuum), only the surface of the specimen can be observed (cannot see internal structures), and a lower resolution than TEMs
81
Describe two advantages of light microscopes
The image is in colour, live specimens can be used
82
When using a light microscope, why must our specimen be thin?
To allow light to pass through the sample
83
Why do we stain our specimens?
To make the organelles more visible
84
Once our specimen is mounted on the microscope slide, why should we press down firmly on the cover slip?
To ensure the sample is thin enough for light to pass through
85
When producing biological drawings, the lines should be ….............
Unbroken
86
When producing biological drawings, there should be no hatching or …...........
Shading
87
The large and small details of our biological drawings should be the same …....... and …......... as the image
Size and shape
88
How should we draw label lines on biological drawings?
Straight and parallel with no arrowheads
89
What kind of scale must always be present on a biological drawing?
A magnification scale
90
Recall the equation to calculate magnification
Magnification = Image size / Actual size
91
What is the conversion between cm and mm?
1cm = 10mm
92
What is the conversion between mm and µm?
1mm = 1000µm
93
What is the conversion between µm and nm?
1µm = 1000nm
94
What is cell fractionation?
The process of breaking up cells and separating out their organelles
95
Recall the three stages of cell fractionation
Homogenisation, Filtration and Ultracentrifugation
96
Describe how tissues are homogenised
In a blender
97
What is the purpose of cell homogenisation?
To break up the plasma membranes and release the organelles
98
During cell fractionation, the tissue must be kept in a solution. What three properties should this solution have?
Ice cold, isotonic and buffered
99
Why should this solution be ice cold?
To reduce enzyme activity so organelles are not broken down
100
Why should this solution be isotonic?
To prevent osmosis to prevent lysis, crenation or plasmolysis
101
Why should the solution be buffered?
To maintain the pH
102
What is the purpose of filtration during cell fractionation?
To remove large debris
103
In ultracentrifugation, the organelles are separated by their what?
(Decreasing) mass
104
Which organelles should be separated first, second and third in ultracentrifugation?
Nucleus first, then chloroplasts and then mitochondria

Biology (26 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions