AS-Cells Flashcards
Why do optical microscopes have a lower resolution than electron microscopes?
Because light rays have a longer wavelength
What is used to focus an optical microscope?
Glass lens
What image do optical microscopes produce?
-2D (some 3D)
-Coloured images
What do electron microscopes use to focus?
Electromagnets
What does the specimen have to be in an electron microscope?
Dead in a vacuum and thin
What image do TEMs produce?
2D black and white
What image do SEMs produce?
3D black and white
What are the steps for measuring cells using a microscope?
- Measure the cell using an eyepiece graticule.
- Calibrate the eyepiece graticule against a stage micrometer.
- Take a number of measurements.
What are the steps for setting up a temporary mount?
- Add a drop of water to a glass slide.
- Obtain a thin section of the sample and place it on the slide.
- Stain the specimen with iodine in potassium iodide solution.
- Lower a cover slip with a mounted needle onto the glass slide.
Give three ways in which the DNA in a chloroplast is different from DNA in the nucleus.
1) DNA in chloroplasts is shorter
2) DNA in chloroplasts has fewer genes
3) DNA in chloroplasts is circular not linear
Explain the purpose of boiling agar and transferring the same volume of liquid culture onto each agar plate when doing an experiment.
1) So there is no bacteria on the agar
2) So same number of bacteria transferred to allow comparison
Suggest how the Golgi apparatus is involved in the absorption of lipids.
1) Modifies triglycerides
2) Combines with proteins
3) Forms vesicles
Contrast how an optical microscope and a transmission electron microscope work and contrast the limitations of their use when studying cells.
1) Optical microscope uses light, TEM uses electrons
2) With TEM smaller organelles can be observed
3) TEM has higher resolution than optical microscope
4) TEM uses dead specimen, optical uses live specimen
5) Image from optical is coloured, TEM image has no colour
6) Process for TEM more long and complex than optical
7) TEM uses thinner specimen than optical
What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?
1) Assembles products from the SER
2) Modifies products
3) Packages modified products into vesicles
What is the function of the RER?
Protein synthesis and transport of proteins
What is the function of the Smooth endoplasmic reticulum?
Synthesises and processes lipids
What is the function of the vacuole?
Storage of food, water, or waste
What is the function of lysosomes?
-contains digestive enzymes
-this helps break down cell/cell parts
Describe the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells/plant cells?
1) Prokaryotic cells are smaller than eukaryotic cells
2) Prokaryotic cells have no membrane-bound organelles eukaryotic cells do
3) Prokaryotic cells have smaller 70S ribosomes
eukaryotic cells have 80S ribosomes
4) Prokaryotic cells have a single circular strand of DNA
eukaryotic cells have double stranded DNA in a double helix
5) Prokaryotic cell walls contain murein
plant cell walls contain cellulose
6) Prokaryotic cells have a flagellum, whereas eukaryotic cells do not
7) Prokaryotic DNA is not associated with histones
eukaryotic DNA have histones
Describe the structure of a virus.
-A virus contains genetic material -surrounded by a capsid
-capsid has attachment proteins on it which bind to host cell
How would you calculate the magnification of a microscope?
Magnification = Image size/Actual size [AIM]
Why does a solution have to be buffered when doing cell fractionation?
Buffered - to maintain pH so enzymes and proteins don’t denature so organelles are not damaged
Why does a solution have to be ice cold when doing cell fractionation?
Ice cold - to reduce enzyme activity so organelles are not broken down by enzymes
Why does the solution have to be isotonic when doing cell fractionation?
Isotonic - so there is no net movement of water by osmosis so the organelles do not shrink/burst
Describe the process of cell fractionation and ultracentrifugation.
1) Homogenise a tissue sample in a blender - breaks open cells (kept in a cold, buffered, isotonic solution)
2) Filter the homogenate to remove large debris
3) Centrifuge the filtrate (spining tubes at low to higher speeds)
4) Remove supernatant from pellet and centrifuge supernatant
5) Repeat step 4 but centrifuge supernatant at increasing speeds until pellet containing desired organelle is obtained
What is meant by the supernantant in cell fractionation
The remaining organelles suspended in the liquid
Why do scientists use cell fractionation
Allows scientists to isolate cellular components for further study.
What is the order of organelles that settle at the bottom of the centrifuge from HIGHEST to LOWEST density
-Nuclei
-Chloroplasts
-Mitocondria
-Lysosomes
-Endoplasmic reticulum
-Ribosomes
What is the order of organelles that settle at the bottom of the centrifuge from HIGHEST to LOWEST density
-Nuclei
-Chloroplasts
-Mitocondria
-Lysosomes
-Endoplasmic reticulum
-Ribosomes
What is the function of the Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER)?
Folds and processes protiens made at ribososmes
What is the function of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)?
synthesis & processes lipids
Why do organelles have different shapes under the microscope?
different shapes depend on how the cell has been cut
How many chloroplasts do algae have?
1 massive chloroplast
What are fungal cell walls made of?
Chitin
Define Magnification
How large the image is compared to real life
Define resolution
Ability to distinguish between two close objects on an image - how detailed an image is