B1 Cell Biology Flashcards
What are the two types of cells?
- Eukaryotic (plant and animal)
- Prokaryotic (bacteria).
What are the differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?
Prokaryotic cells are much smaller than eukaryotic cells.
Eukaryotic cells contain membrane bound-organelles and a nucleus containing
genetic material, while prokaryotes do not.
What is the prokaryotic cell wall composed of?
Peptidoglycan
What is a centimetre (cm)?
1 x 10^-2 metres
How is genetic information stored in a prokaryotic cell?
Found free within the cytoplasm as:
- Chromosomal DNA (single large loop of circular DNA)
- Plasmid DNA
What is order of magnitude?
A power to the base 10 used to quantify and compare size.
What are plasmids?
- Small, circular loops of DNA found free in the cytoplasm and separate from the main DNA.
- Carry genes that provide genetic advantages e.g. antibiotic resistance.
What is a millimetre (mm)?
1 × 10^-3 metres
List the additional cell components found in plant cells (3)
- Chloroplasts
- Permanent vacuole
- Cell wall
What is a micrometre (um)?
1 × 10^-6 metres
What is a nanometre (nm)?
1 x 10^-9 metres
List the components of both plant and animal cells (5)
- Nucleus
- Cytoplasm
- Cell membrane
- Mitochondria
- Ribosomes
Other than storing genetic information, what is the function of the nucleus?
Controls cellular activities
What is the function of the cytoplasm?
Site of cellular reactions e.g. first stage of respiration.
Transport medium.
Describe the structure of the cytoplasm
- Fluid component of the cell.
- Contains organelles, enzymes and dissolved ions and nutrients.
What is the plant cell wall made of?
Cellulose
What is the function of the cell membrane?
Controls the entry and exit of materials into and out of the cell.
What is the function of the mitochondria?
Site of later stages of aerobic respiration in which ATP is produced.
What is the function of the ribosomes?
Joins amino acids in a specific order during translation for the synthesis of proteins.
What is the function of the permanent vacuole?
Supports the cell, maintaining its turgidity.
What is the function of the plant cell wall?
- Provides strength.
- Prevents the cell bursting when water enters by osmosis.
What does the permanent vacuole contain?
Cell sap (a solution of salts, sugars and organic acids).
What is the function of chloroplasts?
Site of photosynthesis
Describe how sperm cells in animals are adapted to their function
- Haploid nucleus contains genetic information.
- Tail enables movement.
- Mitochondria provide energy for tail movement.
- Acrosome contains enzymes that digest the egg cell membrane.
Describe how nerve cells in animals are adapted to their function
- Long axon allows electrical impulses to be transmitted all over the body from the central nervous system.
- Dendrites from the cell body connect to and receive impulses from other nerve cells, muscles and glands.
- Myelin sheath insulates the axon and speeds up the transmission of impulses along the nerve cell.
Describe how root hair cells in plants are adapted to their function
- Large surface area to absorb nutrients and water from surrounding soil.
- Thin walls that do not restrict water absorption.
Describe how phloem cells in plants are adapted to their function
- Sieve plates let dissolved amino acids and sugars be transported up and down the stem.
- Companion cells provide energy needed for active transport of substances along the phloem.
Describe how xylem cells in plants are adapted to their function
- No upper or lower margins between cells to provide a continuous route for water to flow.
- Thick, woody side walls strengthen their structure and prevent collapse.
Describe how muscle cells are adapted to their function
- Arrangement of protein filaments allows them to slide over each other to produce muscle contraction.
- Mitochondria to provide energy for muscle contraction.
- Merged cells in skeletal muscle allow muscle fibre contraction in unison.
What is cell differentiation?
The process by which cells become specialised.
Why is cell differentiation important?
Allows production of different tissues and organs that perform various vital functions in the human body.
At what point in their life cycle do most animal cells differentiate?
Early in their life cycle
For how long do plant cells retain the ability to differentiate?
Throughout their entire life cycle
What changes does a cell go through as it differentiates?
Becomes specialised through acquisition of different sub-cellular structures to enable a specific function to be performed by the cell.
What is the purpose of cel division ni mature animals?
Repair and replacement of cells
Define magnification
The number of times bigger an image appears compared to the size of the real object.
Define resolution
The smallest distance between two objects that can be distinguished.
How does a light microscope work?
Passes a beam of light through a specimen which travels through the eyepiece lens, allowing the specimen to be observed.
What are the advantages of light microscopes? (4)
- Inexpensive
- Easy to use
- Portable
- Observe both dead and living specimens
What is the disadvantage of light microscopes?
Limited resolution
Name the two types of electron microscope
Transmission electron microscope (TEM)
Scanning electron microscope (SEM)
How does an electron microscope work?
It uses a beam of electrons which are focused using magnets. The electrons hit a fluorescent screen which emits visible light, producing an image.
What is the advantage of electron microscopes?
Greater magnification and resolution.
Why do electron microscopes have a greater magnification and resolution?
They use a beam of electrons which has a shorter wavelength than photons of light.
How have electron microscopes enabled scientists to develop their understanding of cells?
- Allow small sub-cellular structures (e.g. mitochondria, ribosomes) to be observed in detail.
- Enable scientists to develop more accurate explanations about how cell structure relates to function.
What are the disadvantages of electron microscopes? (4)
- Expensive
- Large so less portable
- Require training to use
- Only dead specimens can be observed
How can the magnification of an image be calculated?
magnification = size of image / size of real object
What is standard form?
Away of expressing numbers - written as a figure between 1 and 10 multiplied by a positive or negative power of 10
How do bacteria multiply?
Binary fission (simple cell division)
How often do bacteria multiply?
Once every 20 minutes if enough nutrients are available and the temperature is suitable.
State 2 ways in which bacteria can be grown
- Nutrient broth solution
- Colonies on an agar gel plate
What nutrients make up a nutrient broth solution?
All nutrients required for bacteria to grow including nitrogen for protein synthesis, carbohydrates for energy and other minerals.
What are uncontaminated cultures of microorganisms needed for?
Investigating disinfectant and antibiotic action.
Describe the preparation of an uncontaminated culture using aseptic technique
- Use pre-sterilised plastic Petri dishes or sterilise glass Petri dishes and agar gel before using with an autoclave.
- Pour the sterile agar gel into the Petri dish and allow time to set.
- Sterilise the inoculating loop by passing ti through a Bunsen burner flame.
- Dip the inoculating loop into the solution of microorganisms and make streaks with the loop on the surface of the agar.
- Put the lid on the Petri dish and secure ti with tape. Label accordingly then turn and store upside down.
- Incubate the culture at 25°C in school laboratories.
Why must Petri dishes and culture media before sterilised before use?
To kill any bacteria already present.
Why must inoculating loops be sterilised by passing them through Bunsen burner flame?
To kill any bacteria present on the inoculating loop.
Why must the Petri dish lid be secured with adhesive tape and the whole dish stored upside down?
Stops bacteria in the air contaminating the culture.
The lid is not fully sealed to prevent the growth of anaerobic bacteria in a lack of oxygen.
Upside down to prevent condensation from forming and dripping down onto the colonies.
Why are cultures incubated at 25°C in school laboratories?
Harmful pathogens are less likely to to grow at this temperature.
What is the formula used to calculate cross-sectional area of a bacterial colony or clear area around a bacterial colony?
π r2
= 3.14
r = radius (diameter/2)
Calculate the number of bacteria that will be present after 3 hours for a population that divides every 15
minutes and has 5 bacterium present now
15 minutes = 0.25 hours
3/0.25 hours = 12 divisions
5 × 2^12 = 20480 or 2.048 × 10^4
How is the number of bacteria ni a population after a certain time calculated from the mean division time?
- Calculate the number of times the bacteria will divide in the given time period from the mean division time.
- Use the following equation to calculate the number of bacteria:
Number of bacteria in population at end of time period = number of bacteria at the beginning of the time period x 2^number of divisions in the time period
Express the answer in standard form if possible.
What are chromosomes made up of?
Chromosomes consist of DNA molecules combined with proteins. They contain genes which provide the instructions for protein synthesis.
What is a gene?
A section of DNA which codes for a protein.
How many chromosomes are found in the nucleus of gametes?
23
How many chromosomes are found in the nucleus of human body cells?
46
How are chromosomes arranged in the nucleus of a body cell?
Arranged in pairs - 46 chromosomes form 23 pairs.
What are the three main stages of the cell cycle?
- Replication of DNA and synthesis of organelles
- Mitosis
- Division of cell
Why is mitosis important?
- Produces identical cells which all have the same genetic information.
- Produces additional cells for growth and repair.
Describe the first stage of the cell cycle
Longest stage - cells grow and increase in mass, replicate DNA and synthesise more organelles (eg. mitochondria, ribosomes).
Describe the second stage of the cell cycle
Each chromosome in a pair is pulled to opposite poles of the cell, then the nucleus divides.
Describe the third stage of the cell cycle
The cytoplasm and cell membrane divide - two identical daughter cells are produced.
What is a stem cell?
An unspecialised cell which is capable of differentiating into other cell types and of self-renewal.
What is the function of stem cells in embryos?
Embryonic stem cells can replicate themselves and differentiate into many other types of cells.
Embryonic stem cells may be able to treat conditions such as paralysis and diabetes by dividing to replace damaged cells.
What is the function of stem cells in adult bone marrow?
Adult stem cells can differentiate into several cell types to replace dead or damaged tissues. For example, bone marrow stem cells can form many different types of blood cell.
What is the function of stem cells in plant meristems?
Meristem stem cells retain the ability to differentiate into any type of plant cell throughout their lifespan - they can differentiate into any cell which is required by the plant.
What is therapeutic cloning?
A cloning method where an embryo is produced with the same genetic makeup as the patient.
The stem cells which originate from the embryo will not be rejected by the patient’s immune system, so can be used to treat certain medical conditions.
What are the advantages of cloning plants using meristem stem cells?
- Can prevent rare plants from becoming extinct.
- Can produce large numbers of plants with a favourable characteristic.
- Can produce identical plants for research.
What are issues are associated with the use of stem cells?
- Many embryonic stem cells are sourced from aborted embryos - some people have an ethical/religious objection.
- Development of stem cell therapies is slow, expensive and difficult.
- Adult stem cells infected with viruses could transfer infections to
patients. - If donor stem cells do not have a similar genetic makeup to the patient, an immune response could be triggered.
What is diffusion?
The net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
What three main factors affect the rate of diffusion?
- Concentration gradient - larger gradient, faster diffusion.
- Temperature - higher temperature, faster diffusion.
- Surface area - larger surface area, faster diffusion.
Give examples of substances transported by diffusion in the lungs and the kidney
- Lungs: oxygen diffuses into the blood from the lungs and carbon dioxide diffuses into the lungs from the blood, both down their concentration gradient.
- Kidney: urea diffuses from cells into blood plasma so it can be excreted in urine.
How are single-celled organisms adapted for diffusion?
They have a large surface area to volume ratio - maximises the rate of diffusion of molecules to meet the organism’s needs.
How is surface area to volume ratio calculated?
Surface Area = Number of Sides x (Side Length x Side Width)
Volume = Length x Width x Depth
Ratio = Surface Area : Volume
What four factors increase the effectiveness of a gas exchange surface?
- Large surface area
- Thin membrane (short diffusion path) * Efficient blood supply (animals)
- Ventilation (animals)
What is osmosis?
The movement of water from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution through a partially permeable membrane.
What is meant when a solution is isotonic to a cell?
The concentrations of the external and internal (inside cell) solutions are the same.
What is meant when a solution is hypertonic to a cell?
The concentration of the external solution is higher than that of the internal solution (inside cell).
What may happen when an animal cell is placed in a very hypotonic solution?
Water moves into the cell, causing it to burst.
What is meant when a solution is hypotonic to a cell?
The concentration of the external solution is lower than that of internal solution (inside cell).
What may happen when an animal cell is placed in a very hypertonic solution?
Water moves out of the cell, causing it to shrivel up.
How do plant leaves and stems remain rigid?
Turgor pressure - water moves in by osmosis, causing the vacuole to swell and the cytoplasm to press against the cell wall.
What is active transport?
The movement of molecules from a more dilute solution to a more concentrated solution against a concentration gradient, using energy from respiration.
What may happen when a plant cell is placed in a very hypertonic solution?
Water moves out of the cell by osmosis and the vacuole and cytoplasm decrease in size. The cell membrane may pull away from the cell wall, causing the cell to become plasmolysed.
How do plant root hair cells use active transport?
Root hair cells use active transport to take up mineral ions from a more dilute solution in soils. Ions such as magnesium and nitrates are required for healthy growth.
How is active transport used to absorb the products of digestion?
Active transport is used to transport glucose from a lower concentration in the gut to a higher concentration in the blood. Glucose is then transported to the tissues where ti can be used in respiration.
Active transport:
The movement of substances from a more dilute solution to a more concentrated solution (against a concentration gradient) with the use of energy from respiration.
Adult stem cell:
A type of stem cell that can form many types of cells.
Agar jelly:
A substance placed in petri dishes which is used to culture microorganisms on.
Cell differentiation:
The process where a cell becomes specialised to its function.
Cell membrane:
A partially permeable barrier that surrounds the cell.
Cell wall:
An outer layer made of cellulose that strengthens plant cells.
Chloroplast:
An organelle which is the site of photosynthesis.
Chromosomes:
DNA structures that are found in the nucleus which are made up of genes.
Concentration gradient:
The difference in concentration between two areas.
Diffusion:
The spreading out of the particles of any substance in solution, or particles of a gas, resulting in a net movement from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
Embryonic stem cell:
A type of stem cell that can differentiate into most types of human cells.
Eukaryotic cell:
A type of cell found in plants and animals that contains a nucleus.
Magnification:
How much bigger an image appears compared to the original object.
Meristematic cells:
A type of stem cell that can differentiate into any type of plant cell.
Mitochondria:
An organelle which is the site of respiration.
Mitosis:
A type of cell division which produces two genetically identical daughter cells from one parent cell.
Nucleus:
An organelle found in most eukaryotic cells that contains the genetic material of the cell and controls the activities of the cell.
Organelle:
A specialised structure found inside a cell.
Osmosis:
The diffusion of water from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution through a partially permeable membrane.
Plasmid:
Loops of DNA found in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells.
Prokaryotic cell:
A type of cell found in bacteria that does not contain a nucleus.
Resolution:
The ability to distinguish two different points in a specimen.
Specialised cells:
Cells that are adapted to perform a specific function.
Surface area:
The amount of contact an object has with its environment.
Stem cell:
An undifferentiated cell that can divide to produce many specialised cells of the same type.
Surface area to volume ratio (SA : V):
The size of the object compared with the amount of area where it contacts its environment.
The cell cycle:
A series of stages preparing the cell for division.
Therapeutic cloning:
Producing an embryo that has the same genes as a patient.
Vacuole:
An organelle that stores cell sap.
