B1 Cell level systems Flashcards
What is a eukaryotic cell?
-Type of cell found in plants and animals.
-Contains a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
What is the nucleus?
-Contains the genetic material arranged as chromosomes.
-Controls the cell’s activities.
-Contains instructions to make new cells.
What is the cytoplasm?
A jelly-like substance that fills the cell and is the site of chemical reactions.
What are the ribosomes?
Site of protein synthesis.
What are the mitochondria?
Site of aerobic respiration.
What is the cell membrane?
-A selective barrier which controls which substances enter / leave the cell.
-Contains receptor molecules to help identify the cell.
What is the cell wall in a eukaryotic cell?
-Made of tough cellulose.
-Surrounds and supports the cell.
What is the sap vacuole?
Contains cell sap (a water solution of sugars and salts) which helps to support the plant.
What are chloroplasts?
-Contain green pigment, chlorophyll.
-Used in photosynthesis to transfer light energy from the sun / environment.
What does an animal cell contain?
-Nucleus.
-Cytoplasm.
-Cell membrane.
-Mitochondria.
-Cytoplasm.
What does a plant cell contain?
-Cytoplasm.
-Cell membrane.
-Cell wall.
-Mitochondria.
-Sap vacuole.
-Nucleus.
-Chloroplasts.
What is a prokaryotic cell?
A unicellular type of cell like bacteria which is very small to allow it to reproduce quickly and effectively.
What does a bacterial cell contain?
-Slime capsule.
-Pili.
-Cell wall.
-Cell membrane.
-Genetic material.
-Ribosomes.
-Cytoplasm.
-Plasmids.
-Flagella.
How does a bacterial cell store genetic material?
As long, circular strands of DNA that float freely in the cytoplasm.
What are plasmids?
Circular chromosomes (rings of DNA).
What are the flagella?
Allow prokaryotic cells to move through liquids.
What are pili?
Allow the cell to attach to structures.
What is the slime capsule?
Protects the cell.
What is the purpose of cell wall in a prokaryotic cells?
-Made of peptidoglycan.
-Holds the cell together.
What are features of a eukaryotic cell?
-Has a nucleus.
-DNA located in nucleus.
-Has membrane-bound organelles.
-DNA is held in linear chromosomes.
-Cell wall isn’t always present.
-Cell wall is made of cellulose.
-Can be unicellular / multicellular.
-Has no flagella.
-Large and complex cells (10-100 micrometers).
What are features of a prokaryotic cell?
-Has no nucleus.
-DNA contained within the cytoplasm.
-Has no membrane-bound organelles.
-DNA is held in plasmids.
-The cell wall is always present.
-Cell wall is made of peptidoglycan.
-Only unicellular organisms.
-May have flagella for movement.
-Small and simple cells (0.2 to 2 micrometers).
What is the equation for total magnification?
Total magnification = magnification of eyepiece lens x magnification of objective lens
Why do scientists use staining?
Most cells are colourless so staining allows different parts of a cell to be seen more clearly.
How does methylene blue stain work?
Stains the nucleus of an animal cell.
How does iodine stain work?
Stains the nucleus of a plant cell.
How does crystal violet stain work?
Stains bacterial cell walls.
What is the definition of magnification?
How many times larger the image appears compared to the object.
What is the definition of resolution?
The ability to distinguish between two points that are close to each other.
What is an image?
What you see under the microscope.
What is an object?
What you’re examining under the microscope.
What is the formula for magnification?
Magnification = image size / object size.
Image size and object size must be in same units.
What are advantages of light microscopes?
-Relatively cheap.
-Portable.
-Doesn’t require specialist training.
-Can look at living specimens.
What are disadvantages of light microscopes?
-Low resolution (200nm) as limited by the wavelength of visible light.
-Low magnification strength (x1500).
-Staining required to see some organelles.
What is an electron microscope and why is it more effective than a light microscope?
-Uses electrons instead of light to form images.
-More effective than light microscopes as electrons have a much smaller wavelength than light waves therefore scientists can view smaller, sub cellular structures like mitochondria and ribosomes.
What are the 2 types of electron microscope?
-SEM (Scanning Electron Microsocope).
-TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope).
What is an SEM?
-Large depth of field so can examine the surface structure of specimens.
-Creates 3D images at lower resolution of 10nm.
-Tend to be used at lower magnifications of x100,000.
What is depth of field?
The distance between nearest and furthest objects in focus.
What is a TEM?
-Creates 2D images detailing organelles at a higher resolution than SEM (0.2nm).
-Maximum magnification of x1,000,000 but images can be enlarged beyond that photographically.
What are advantages of electron microscopes?
-Can see very small organelles.
-Can produce 3D images (SEM).
-Can see images at very high resolution.
What are disadvantages of electron microscopes?
-Cannot look at living specimens as samples need to be placed in a special vacuum.
-Extremely expensive.
-Very large so cannot be moved easily.
-Requires specialist training and skill.
What is DNA?
-Deoxyribonucleic acid.
-A chemical that holds all the genetic information of an organism and therefore controls growth and development.
-Carries a set of instructions that make all the proteins required for life.
-Made up of a chain of nucleotides that form chromosomes.
-Made from 4 different nucleotides.
Why is DNA a polymer?
DNA is a polymer made from 2 strands of nucleotides (monomers) that are coiled together in a double helix shape (double stranded spiral).