Biodiversity & Natural Resources Flashcards
Give the function of the cell wall.
Provides strength and support to the cell.
Give the function of chloroplast.
Site of photosynthesis.
Give the function of amyloplast.
Stores amylopectin/ starch.
Give the function of tonoplast.
Seperates the contents of the cytoplasm from the contents of the vacuole.
Give the function of plasmodesmata (singular plasmodesma).
Cytoplasmic connections allowing transfer of substances between two adjacent cells.
What is parenchyma.
Type of plant tissue found throughout plant.
Compare the differences in structure of animal cells and plant cells.
- Plant cells contain chloroplasts, animal cells do not.
- Plant cells contain a rigid cellulose cell wall, animal cells do not.
- Plant cells contain a large central vacuole (permanent), animal cells do not.
- Animal cells contain centrioles, plant cells do not.
Give the function of cellulose.
Structural component of plant cell walls, provide strength and support.
Describe the structure of cellulose.
Made of beta glucose joined by 1,4 glycosidic bonds in condensation reactions. Unbranched structure. Every alternate B-glucose in cellulose is inverted.
Describe the structure of a cellulose microfibril.
- Composed of 60-70 (many) cellulose molecules held together by hydrogen bonds.
- Contains beta glucose joined by 1,4 glycosidic bonds in condensation reactions.
- Unbranched chain.
- Every alternate B-glucose in cellulose is inverted.
Describe the structure of xylem vessels.
- Cellulose microfibrils in cell walls
- Walls thickened with lignin often in rings or spirals to allow for flexibility.
- Continuous column made of hollow, dead cells, with no end walls and no cell contents
- Have pits in their walls
- Vessels have open ends
Describe the structure of phloem.
- Has a cellulose cell wall
- Sieve tube elements have thin peripheral cytoplasm and very few organelles
- Have sieve tubes with sieve pores
- A companion cell is linked to each sieve tube by plasmodesmata
- living tissue
Describe the structure of sclerenchyma fibres.
- Fibres have cellulose cell walls which are thickly lignified
- Dead and hollow cells when mature
- Often have pits in their walls
- Long, narrow and usually pointed at both ends.
Describe the function of the xylem vessels.
Transport of water and dissolved mineral ions from roots to leaves and provide structural support.
Describe the function of the phloem.
Transport of organic solutes e.g sucrose from source to sink through translocation.
Describe the function of the sclerenchyma.
Provide structural support only.
What are calcium ions needed for?
To make calcium pectate needed for forming the middle lamella which holds plant cells togehter. Also has role in membrane permeability.
What are magnesium ions needed for?
To make chlorophyll needed for photosynthesis, Also needed in activation of some plant enzymes and nucleic acid synthesis.
What are nitrate ions needed for?
To make amino acids needed for the synthesis of proteins for growth. Also needed for chlorophyll, nucleic acids e.g. dna and rna, ATP, growth hormones.