Biology - Cells Flashcards
What are the two types of cell?
Eukaryotic (with a nucleus eg, animal, plant and yeast cells) and prokaryotic (no nucleus - bacterial cells only)
Which cells are biggest/smallest?
Plant cells are the largest, followed by animal cells, yeast cells and finally bacterial cells are the smallest.
Where is the DNA in a eukaryotic cell?
Eukaryotic cells have their DNA inside a nucleus. The DNA is coiled up into structures called chromosomes.
Where is the DNA in a prokaryotic cell?
Prokaryotic cells have their DNA in the cytoplasm. They have a single DNA loop, and may also have small rings of DNA called plasmids.
What cell structures are in all eukaryotic cells?
Cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria and ribosomes.
What is the function of a cell membrane?
Controls entry and exit of substances (cell transport).
What is the function of mitochondria?
To carry out aerobic respiration and release energy (in the form of ATP) for cell activities. The more mitochondria, the more energy the cell needs.
What is the function of a ribosome?.
To carry out protein synthesis (making proteins). The more ribosomes, the more proteins the cell needs to make
What structures are only found in plant/algal cells?
Chloroplasts, large vacuole and cell wall made of cellulose.
What is the function of chloroplasts?
Chloroplasts absorb light energy to carry out photosynthesis and produce glucose for the plant. The more chloroplasts, the more glucose a cell can make.
What is the function of a large vacuole?
To store water and solutes and help keep the cell uprigh
What is the function of the cell wall?
Cellulose is strong and rigid. It strengthens the cell (this is important as plants do not have a skeleton to give them support).
What are the only cell structures in a prokaryotic cell?
DNA and ribosomes are the only cell structures in a prokaryotic (bacterial) cell.
Why don’t prokaryotic cells have mitochondria?
Mitochondria are bigger than prokaryotic cells so they don’t fit inside.
What is a specialised cell?
A cell that has a certain structure to help it carry out a particular function
What examples are there of specialised animal cells?
Sperm cells, nerve cells (neurones), muscle cells, glandular cells, epithelial cells.
What examples are there of specialised plant cells?
Root hair cells, xylem cells, phloem cells, palisade and spongy mesophyll cells.
What is a stem cell?
A cell that has not become specialised yet.
What is cell differentiation?
Where a stem cell develops to form a specialised cell.
When does differentiation happen?
In animal cells, differentiation happens at an early stage (when the animal is an embryo), but in plants some cells can differentiate throughout the life of the plant.
Where can stem cells be found in an animal?
Early stage embryos are completely made of stem cells, but in adults, the only place stem cells exist is in our bone marrow (inside large hollow bones, eg. Thigh bone)
Where can stem cells be found in a plant?
Meristem tissue is made of stem cells. It is found near the xylem and phloem, and also in the root and shoot tips.
Why do scientists think animal stem cells are so useful?
Stem cells can be made to differentiate into different types of cell. We can use them to treat diabetes and paralysis as well as use them for research into other disorders.
What is theraputic cloning?
Producing an embryo with the same DNA as a patient, so that stem cells can be used for medical treatment. The stem cells will not rejected by the patient’s body
What are the risks of using animal stem cells?
Infections caused by viruses could be tranferred. Also some people have ethical objections for religious reasons (as embryos are destroyed during treatments and research).
Why do scientists think plant stem cells are so useful?
Stem cells can be used to clone plants quickly and cheaply. This can save rare species from extinction, or produce crop plants with resistance to disease for farmers.