Animal Cells Flashcards
What is the function of chromosomes?
Carry genetic information in the form of DNA
What are vacuoles? (what & function)
Large vesicles derived from the endoplasmic reticulum and golgi apparatus that transport solutes.
What are lysosomes? (what & function)
A membraneous sac used to digest molecules (intracellular digestion)
What is the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)? (what & function)
A network of membranous sacs and tubes that helps process proteins and create lipids and carbohydrates.
What is the rough endoplasmic reticulum? (what & function)
Has ribosomes and makes proteins
What is the smooth endoplasmic reticulum? (what & function)
Has no ribosomes and makes lipids, digests carbohydrates and drugs, and stores calcium.
What is a cytoskeleton? (what & function)
The large network of protein molecules that gives shape and structure to cells and allows motility.
What are the components of the cytoskeleton?
- Microtubules
- Microfilaments
- Intermediate filaments
What are microtubules? (what & function)
A hollow rod composed of tubulin proteins connected to the flagella and cilia that makes up part of the cytoskeleton.
Helps to change the shape of the cell, and serves as tracks for proteins to move along.
What are microfilaments? (what & function)
(AKA actin filaments) protein filaments of the cytoskeleton that bear tension to help cells maintain their shape and support amoeba motility.
What are intermediate filaments?
Specialised part of the cytoskeleton that bears tension to help the cell maintain shape.
What is mitochondria? (what & function)
Organelles where cellular respiration occurs and most ATP is generated.
Found in all eukaryote cells (not prokaryote), has a double membrane, and own circular DNA.
What is the Golgi apparatus? (what & function)
Organelle made up of vesicles and cisternae, active in the receiving, sorting, and shipping of cell products
What are ribosomes? (what & function)
Structures (not membrane-bound = not organelles) in cells that make proteins by reading messenger RNA (mRNA) and linking amino acids together.
What is a nucleus? (what & function)
Organelle in a cell that contains the chromosomes and controls the cell’s growth and reproduction.
What is the nuclear envelope?
The double membrane enclosing the nucleus and separating it from the cytoplasm. Has large pores ringed with proteins.
What is the cell membrane?
A double phospholipid layer that is semipermeable around the outside of a cell. Membranes are not static, and allow for the horizontal or vertical movement of phospholipids and membrane proteins.
What is the role of cholesterol in cell membranes?
Acts as a “stabiliser” for the membrane structure:
- regulating their fluidity
- maintaining structural integrity
- ensuring proper function by preventing membranes from becoming too fluid at high temperatures or too rigid at low temperatures
What is the main differences between animal and plant cells?
- Animals cells do not have a cell wall.
- Plant cells have chloroplasts
What are the 2 main functions of a cell?
- Metabolism
- Reproduction
What are the 2 features of reproduction only seen in Eukaryotes?
- Two parents give rise to offspring with a unique combination of gene from those two parents
- Sex and sex differentiation are phenomena only occurring in eukaryotes
