B1: Cell level systems Flashcards
define magnification
how much larger an image is compared to the actual object
define resolution
the ability to distinguish between two points
what’s the formula to calculate magnification
I AM formula
Image size = Actual size x Magnification
how do you calculate total magnification
Total magnification = Eyepiece magnification x Objective lens magnification
describe how you can use a light microscope to view cells
- set up microscope with lowest power objective lens
- take a thin piece of specimen and put on a clean slide
- put a stain on top
- carefully cover with cover slip using mounted needle and don’t trap any bubbles
- examine the slide under the microscope through the eyepiece lens with the lamp on to let light through and see the specimen clearly
- gradually increase magnification
why is a stain used
- to view colourless specimens
- to highlight different structures/tissues
- to increase contrast
give 3 main descriptions of a Eukaryote
- plant & animal cells
- DNA in nucleus
- membrane bound organelles
give 3 main descriptions of a Prokaryote
- bacterial cells
- have free DNA (not in nucleus)
- no membrane bound organelles
state 5 parts of an animal cell
- nucleus
- cytoplasm
- mitochondria
- cell membrane
- ribosome
state 2 functions of the nucleus
- contains genetic material in form of chromosomes
- controls cell activities + has instructions on making new cells
state the function of cytoplasm
site of chemical reaction
state the function of mitochondria
site of aerobic respiration + contains enzymes needed for it
state the function of ribosomes
site of protein synthesis
state the functions of cell membrane
- selective barrier controlling what substances can enter/leave
- has receptor molecules to identify the cell
state 3 organelles only found in plant cells
- cell wall
- vacuole
- chloroplasts
what’s the function of the cell wall and what is it made of
- it surrounds and supports the cell
- it’s made of tough cellulose
what’s the function of a vacuole and what does it contain
- it supports the cell
- contains cell sap - a watery solution of sugars and salt
what is the function of chloroplasts and what does it contain
- contains chlorophyll (green pigment)
- site of photosynthesis
what are some of the functions of a prokaryotic cell
- free DNA coiled up
- flagella - tail like structures allowing cell to move through liquids
- pili - tiny hair like structures allowing cell to stick to structures and also used to transfer genetic material between bacteria
- slime capsule - outside cell wall and protects bacterium from dying and poisonous substances, also helps bacteria stick to smooth surfaces
- plasmid - circular piece of DNA used to store extra genes ie. for antibiotic resistance
how has electron microscopy increased our understanding of sub-cellular structures
in transmission electron microscopes the resolution is increased and magnification is better
what 2 types of electron microscopes are there
- transmission electron microscope (TEM) send electrons through specimen producing 2D image
- scanning electron microscope (SEM) bounce electrons off surface of object and produce 3D image
what is DNA
- it’s all the genetic material found in the nucleus of a cell
- it coils up into chromosomes
what is a gene
a short section of DNA that codes for a particular protein
describe the structure of DNA
- it’s a polymer made of nucleotide monomers
- it’s made up of 2 strands forming a double helix
describe the structure of a nucleotide
- nucleotides consist of a sugar molecule joined to a phosphate group to form a sugar phosphate backbone
- one of 4 bases is attached to the sugar
what are the pairs of complementary bases
- A + T - Adeninine + Thymine
- C + G - Cytosine + Guanine
how are the two sugar phosphate backbones joined to create a double helix
with hydrogen bonds
what is protein synthesis
the creation of protein in a cell controlled by DNA
describe transcription
- DNA unzips around the gene
- free mRNA (messenger RNA) nucleotides pair up with complementary bases on DNA strand
- DNA zips back up
describe translation
- mRNA travels to the ribosome
- tRNA (transfer RNA) carry amino acids in to the ribosome and join to triplet / codon
- each triplet codes for a specific amino acid
- the amino acids are joined together
how does the structure of DNA affect the proteins made in protein synthesis
- DNA is a triplet code where 3 bases code for one amino acid and the order in which they are put together
- the order of amino acids determines the protein
what are enzymes
biological catalysts that speed up the rate of metabolic reactions (reactions that happen inside an organism are part of processes called metabolism)