B1 Flashcards
What is a prokaryotic cell
A cell that does not contain a nucleus (emg a bacteria cell). They are simple cells and are typically smaller than Eukaryotic cells
What is a Eukaryotic cell
A cell containing genetic material in a nucleus. These cells are often complex and relatively large (emg plant and animal cells)
What are organelles
An organelle is a small structure in a cell which has a specific function
What organelles can be found in animal cells and what are their functions?
Nucleus - the DNA is stored here and it controls the actions of the vell - DNA (genetic material) is stored in chromosones
Mitochondria - This is where the cells respire. Enzymes catalyse a reaction between oxygen and glucose - forming ATP.
Ribosomes - The sight of protein synthesis
Cytoplasm - Where all chemical reactions in the cell take place
Cell membrane - A sellective barrier - allows some molecules to pass in and out of the cell. Also contains receptors
What organelles can be found only in plant cells and there functions
(Ribosomes, Nucleus, Cell membrane Cytoplasm, Mitochondria)
Chloroplasts - The site of Photosynthesis
Vacuole - Provides cell support + contains cell sap (sugar and salt solution)
Cell wall - Provides structure and support for the cell. Made up of cellulose
What is bacteria?
They are the smallest living organisms.
They are unicellular and every cell carries out the seven life processes - movement reproduction sensitivity growth respiration excretion and nutrition
What organelles do bacteria cells have
(cytoplasm, cell wall, cell membrane ribosomes)
Free floating genetic material - Normally circular, one long strand of DNA called the bacterial chromosome (in the cytoplam)
Flagella - tail like structure which allows the cell to move through liquids
Pili - hair like structures which allow the cell to attach to structures. They can also transfer genetic material between bacteria
Slime capsule - outside of the cell wall. Protects bacteria from drying out and from poisonous substances. It also protects the bacteria from drying out.
Plasmid - Circular piece of DNA used to store extra genes. These genes are not normally needed in the bacteriums day to day oife but do help in times of stress
They have NO membrane bound organelles
What is a light microscope.
A microscope used to observe small structures in detail.
The microscope passes through an object placed on a slide onto a stage, and through the objective and eyepiece lens the object is magnified.
Name the parts of a light microscope and what they do.
Eyepiece lens - Magnifies the image produce by the objective lens so it can be seen by the human eye
Objective lens - Directly observes the object - focuses reflected light into the ocular / eyepiece lense
Stage - where the specimen is placed for observation
Slide - Holds the specimen in place (with the cover slip on top) and protects the specimen from dust and contact
Light - the light passes through the sample to create an image
Fine focus - to fine tune the focus on the specimen (ensure its clear)
Coarse focus - to bring the specimen closely to focus
How do you set up your light microscope / observe cells through a microscope?
Lower the stage to its lowest position
Select the objective lens with the lowest magnification
Place the cell (on the slide) onto the stage
Turn the coarse focus slowly until you see an image
Turn the focus knob slowly until you see an image in a clear focus
If you want to see in greater detail repeat these steps using a greater magnification on your objective lens.
Remember to make sure the light is always on during this
How do you calculate the total magnification
Eyepiece lens magnification × objective lens magnification = total magnification
How do you calculate the size of an image (not actual size)
Actual object size × magnification = size of image
Why do we need to stain cells?
To make them easier to observe as many cells are transparent (and colourless)
What are the three main stains used
Methylene blue - makes it easier to see the nucleus of an animal cell
Iodine - makes it easier to see a plant nuclei
crystal violet - stains bacteria cell walls
How do you apply a stain
Place the cells on a glass slide
Add one drop if the stain
Place the coverslip on top
Tap the coverslip gently with a pencil to remove air bubbles
What are membrane bound organelles
Cellular structures which are bound to a biological membrane (e.g nucleus or mitochondria)
What is an electron microscope
A microscope which uses electrons (rather than light) to produce an image
What is the smallest size you can see with a light microscope
2×10-7m
What is a TEM
Transmission electron microscope
Produces the MOST magnified image.
Black and white 2d image.
A beam of electrons passes through a VERY thin slice of the sample. The beam is then focused into an image.
What is an SEM
Scanning electron microscope
Produces a 3d image.
A beam of electrons are sent across the surface of a specimen. The reflected electrons are collected to produce an image
Advantages and disadvantages of using a light microscope
Cheap and easy to operate
Small and portable
Simple to prepare a sample
Natural colour of sample is seen (unless staining is needed)
Specimens can be living or dead
Resolution of up to 2×10^-7m
Advantages and disadvantages of using an electron microscope
False colour can be added
Resolution to 1×10^-10
Expensive to buy and operate
Large and difficult to move
Sample preparation is complex
Black and white images are produced
Specimens are dead
What is resolution
The ability to distinguish two points being separate
What is DNA
DNA is generic material made up of 46 chromosomes (found in the nucleus) (half from your mum half from your dad)
What does DNA do
It determines what you are like, small sections of DNA called genes determine characteristics like eye colour.
What is a polymer
A substance which has a molecular structure built up by a large number of units
(A chain of monomers)
What is a monomer
A small molecule that can bond to others to form a polymer
How is DNA arranged
It is a double helix shape made from two strands that have a sugar phosphate backbone.
These strands are joined together by hydrogen bonds formed through complimentary base pairing of:
Adenine to thymine
Cytosine to guanine
What is a nucleotide
An organic molecule made from a nitrogenous base, sugar and phosphate
Is DNA a polymer or monomer
It is a polymer made from a monomer (nucleotides)
What does the DNA nucleotide look like
It is made of one phosphate
Deoxyribose (sugar)
And a Nitrogenous base ( A T C or G)
When these nucleotides join they form DNA.
What does DNA stand for
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
What is transcription
‘Copying DNA’ - the process of making mRNA
What is translation
The process in which proteins are made
How is DNA copied (not transcription)
The double helix structure unwinds leaving to connected strands.
These strands then disconnect from each other
Free floating nucleotides in the nucleus line up on the template strand (one of the two strands)
They connect to the template strand through complimentary base pairing and when joined the sugar phosphate backbone of formed
We now have one extra double helix of DNA
(This process happens on both of the strands)
What is a template strand
The template for transcription to occur and mRNA to be made
Describe the process of transcription
In transcription a Gene is copied
The DNA unwinds and unzips at that gene.
Free floating RNA nucleotides join to the template strand through complimentary base pairing
The gene can then zip back up and wind up and we are left with an mRNA template strand
The mRNA is small enough to leave the nucleus (through its pores) and it travels to the nucleus.