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MCAT > Biology Ch. 1 > Flashcards

Biology Ch. 1 Flashcards

1
Q

List the core tenants of cell theory

A

1) All living things are composed of cells
2) The cell is the basic functional unit of life
3) Cells only arise from pre-existing cells
4) Cells carry genetic info in the form of DNA

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2
Q

Why aren’t viruses alive? List 2 reasons

A

1) Can’t reproduce

2) Contain RNA instead of DNA as genetic info

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3
Q

What is the coding region of DNA?

A

Genes

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4
Q

What is linear DNA wound around?

A

Histones

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5
Q

RNA is synthesized in the ______

A

Nucleolus

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6
Q

Describe the basic functions of the cristae of the mitochondria

A

Contains the molecules and enzymes of the electron transport chain and increases the surface area for the enzymes of the electron transport chain

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7
Q

The space between the cristae (inner membrane) and outer membrane of the mitochondria is _______

A

The intermembrane space

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8
Q

Describe how and why the mitochondria is semi-autonomous? How does it replicate?

A

The mitochondria contains some genetic information independent of the cell and replicates independent of the nucleus via binary fission

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9
Q

Define cytoplasmic/extranuclear inheritance? What organelle undergoes this?

A

The transmission of genetic material independent of nucleus, undergone by the mitochondria and chloroplasts, or during viral or bacterial infiltration

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10
Q

How do lysosomes work with endosomes?

A

Endosomes transport, package, sort cell material to and from membrane.

Lysosomes usually sequester toxic enzymes brought by endosomes to be degraded, but can release them for apoptosis

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11
Q

Define the serial endosymbiosis theory

A

Membrane bound organelles formed by engulfing of one prokaryote by another

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12
Q

List the double membrane bound organelles

A

1) Mitochondria
2) Nucleus
3) Chloroplast
4) Endoplasmic reticulum
5) Golgi Apparatus

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13
Q

Describe the function and structure of the Rough ER

A

Lined with ribosomes; permit translation of proteins to be secreted in lumen

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14
Q

Describe the structure and function of the Smooth ER

A

Lacking ribosomes; involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification and transports proteins from RER to Golgi Apparatus

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15
Q

Briefly describe the function(s) of the endoplasmic reticulum

A

Involved in protein and lipid syntheses, carbohydrate metabolism, drug detoxification, and intracellular transport

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16
Q

Briefly describe the function(s) of the Golgi Apparatus

A

Process and package proteins and lipid molecules, especially proteins destined to be exported from the cell.

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17
Q

Describe the functions and features of peroxisomes

A

Breakdown fatty acid chains via beta-oxidation and participate in the synthesis of phospholipids using hydrogen peroxide and enzymes involved in the pentose phosphate pathway

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18
Q

List the three elements of the cytoskeleton

A

1) microfilaments
2) microtubules
3) intermediate filaments

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19
Q

Microfilaments are made up of ___

A

Actin rods

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20
Q

List the functions and mechanisms of actin rods

A

1) Use ATP and interactions with myosin to generate movement

2) Contraction of actin filaments forms cleavage furrow

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21
Q

Describe the structure of cilia and flagella

A

9+2 structure: 9 pairs of microtubules form the outer ring, 2 center microtubules form the inner ring

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22
Q

Centrioles organize ___ during cell division

A

microtubules

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23
Q

List the intermediate filaments

A

1) Keratin
2) Desmin
3) Vitamin
4) Lamins

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24
Q

Describe the function(s) of intermediate filaments

A

Cell-cell adhesion, maintain cytoskeleton integrity, increase structural rigidity of cell, anchor organelles

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25
Q

List the 4 tissue types

A

1) epithelial
2) connective
3) muscle
4) nervous

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26
Q

Describe the function of epithelial tissue

A

Covers body and lines cavities to prevent against pathogen invasion. Also involved in absorption, secretion, and sensation

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27
Q

___ constitutes the parenchyma

A

Epithelial tissue

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28
Q

Nephrons, hepatocytes, and acid producing cells of the stomach are examples of ___ tissue

A

Epithelial

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29
Q

Epithelial cells are: a) polarized or b) unpolarized

A

A

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30
Q

Describe the function of connective tissue

A

Contribute to stroma, provides framework for epithelial cells, produce and secrete collagen or elastin to form extracellular matrix

31
Q

Name the 2 components that form the extracellular matrix

A

1) collagen

2) elastin

32
Q

Collagen and elastin are secreted by ___ tissue

A

Connective

33
Q

Cartilage, bone, tendons, ligaments, adipose tissue, and blood are all examples of ____ tissue

A

Connective

34
Q

List the 2 prokaryotic domains

A

1) archaea

2) bacteria

35
Q

How is archaea similar to eukarya?

A

Contains genes, metabolic pathways, and histones

36
Q

Prokaryotes divide via _____

A

Binary fission

37
Q

List the 3 classification of bacteria

A

1) spirilli
2) cocci
3) bacilli

38
Q

Define obligate aerobes

A

Bacteria that need oxygen to metabolize

39
Q

Define obligate anaerobes

A

Bacteria that produce radicals and die in oxygen

40
Q

Define facultative anaerobes

A

Bacteria that can use oxygen for aerobic metabolism or use anaerobic metabolism of oxygen is not present

41
Q

Define aerotolerant anaerobes

A

Bacteria that doesn’t use oxygen to metabolize but won’t die in oxygen

42
Q

List the 2 types of bacterial cell walls and their features

A

1) gram positive: stain purple, contain high amounts of peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid
2) gram negative: stain pink, contain low amounts of peptidoglycan

43
Q

Gram negative bacteria have outer membranes made of ___ and ___

A

phospholipids and lipopolysaccharides

44
Q

Peptidoglycan is made of ___ and ___

A

Amino acids and sugars

45
Q

Describe the basic function of peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls

A

Protects the bacteria from the host’s immune system

46
Q

Prokaryotes don’t have any ____

A

membrane bound organelles

47
Q

The cell wall and membrane forms the ___ in prokaryotes

48
Q

Briefly compare the structures of prokaryote and eukaryote flagella

A

Prokaryote: 3 segments of basal body, hook, and filament
Eukaryotes: 9+2 microtubule structure

49
Q

True or false: as plasmids carry external DNA for some prokaryotes, they are consider part of the bacteria’s genome

A

False: this DNA is external and not needed for the prokaryote’s survival

50
Q 
In a prokaryotic cell, the \_\_\_\_ is used for the electron transport chain and ATP generation: 
A) nucleus
B) mitochondria
C) cell membrane
D) cell wall
51
Q

Binary fission results in ____

A

2 identical daughter cells

52
Q

True or false: mitosis is quicker than binary fission?

A

False; binary fission is quicker than mitosis

53
Q

Define virulence factors

A

Traits found on plasmids that increase the pathogenicity of plasmids

54
Q

Define and classify episomes

A

A subset of plasmids that integrate into the bacterial genome

55
Q

List the and describe the recombination processes

A

1) Transformation: integration of foreign genetic info into the host genome from nearby lysed bacteria
2) Conjugation: sexual reproduction of 2 bacteria
3) Transduction: vectors carry genetic information from one bacterium to another

56
Q

Briefly describe the mechanisms of conjugation in prokaryotic cells

A

The sexual reproduction of 2 bacteria from the unidirectional transfer of info from the male to female via the conjugation bridge

57
Q

In prokaryotic conjugation, + denotes ____ bacteria while - denotes ____ bacteria

A 
\+ = male
- = female
58
Q

In prokaryotic conjugation, + bacteria form the conjugation bridge from ____

59
Q

Sex pili on + bacteria are made by _____

A

Genetic material on sex factors

60
Q

Describe E coli conjugation and the role of sex factors

A

Cells that do not have the fertility factor (F-) become F+ when already existing F+ cells copy and donate their factors, so that new F+ cells can transfer its own copies

61
Q

Define transposons

A

Genetic elements capable of inserting and removing themselves from genomes

62
Q

True or false: transposons are seen with both eukaryotes and prokaryotes

63
Q

Viral genetic info is:

  1. a) circular or b) linear
  2. a) single stranded or b) double stranded
  3. a) DNA or b) RNA
A

Can be all of the above

64
Q

Define positive sense RNA

A

Viral RNA that is directly translated into proteins by ribosomes in the cytoplasm of the host cell

65
Q

Define negative sense RNA

A

Viral RNA that utilizes its own RNA strand and RNA replicase to act as the template of the synthesis of a complementary strand, which in turn is the template of protein synthesis

66
Q

Are protein coated or non-protein coated viruses easier to kill?

A

Protein coated

67
Q

Define virions

A

Viral progeny

68
Q

Describe the structure of bacteriophages

A

Capsid, tail sheath to inject info, tail fibers to recognize and connect to host

69
Q

Define retrovirus and name an example

A

Enveloped, single stranded RNA viruses that carry reverse transcriptase to synthesize DNA, which is then integrated into the host nucleus (i.e. HIV)

70
Q

Name 3 ways progeny can be released from a bacteria

A

Spilling out from the bacteria after cell death, bacterial lysing, extrusion

71
Q

Define the 2 possible cycles of a bacteriophage

A

1) Lytic: the bacteriophage maximizes the usage of to host, which causes it to lyse
2) Lysogenic: the bacteriophage integrates into the host genome as a provirus/prophage

72
Q

What stage are virulent viruses in?

A

Lytic phase

73
Q

Define prions and name an example

A

Proteins that cause protein misfolding, typically in the alpha-helical to beta-pleated sheet, causing protein aggregation; mad cow disease

74
Q

Define viroid and name an example

A

Pathogens of short, circular single-stranded RNA that binds to RNA sequences and silences genes, preventing protein synthesis; most common in plants, Hepatitis D is a human example

MCAT (13 decks)

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