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MCAT Biology > Biology: Chapter 1: The Cell > Flashcards

Biology: Chapter 1: The Cell Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the tenets of Cell Theory

A

1) All living organisms are made up of cells
2) Cells are the basic functional unit
3) Cells are made from pre-existing cells
4) Cells contain genetic information in the form of DNA

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2
Q

Why are viruses not considered living organisms?

A

Viruses violate tenets 3 and 4 of the cell theory: They cannot reproduce alone (require the host cell) and they do not have DNA

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3
Q

What are Eukaryotic cells

A

Cells with a nucleus, membrane bound organelles, and unicellular/multicellular

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4
Q

What is the cytosol

A

fluid that suspends the organelles and allows for diffusion of molecules throughout the cell

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5
Q

what is the nucleus

A

contains DNA in the form of chromosomes; surrounded by nuclear envelope; site of transcription

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6
Q

what are nuclear pores

A

pores in the nuclear envelope that allow for two-way exchange of materials between the nucleus and the cytosol

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7
Q

what is the nucleolus

A

subsection of nucleus where RNA is synthesized (transcription)

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8
Q

what is the mitochondria

A

powerhouse of the cell; divide independently via binary fission; trigger apoptosis by releasing mitochondrial enzymes

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9
Q

what are lysosomes

A

Contain hydrolytic enzymes to break down molecules ingested by endocytosis; autolysis happens if these enzymes are released into cytosol

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10
Q

what is the rough endoplasmic reticulum

A

contains ribosomes; site of protein synthesis

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11
Q

what is the smooth endoplasmic reticulum

A

lipid synthesis; detoxication;
moves proteins from RER -> Golgi Apparatus

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12
Q

what is the Golgi Apparatus

A

modifies, packages, and secretes proteins

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13
Q

what are peroxisomes

A

contains H2O2; breaks down fatty acid chains via beta oxidation; lipid synthesis; contribute to pentose phosphate pathway

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14
Q

what are the components of the cytoskeleton

A

microfilaments
microtubules
intermediate filaments

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15
Q

what are microfilaments

A

made up of actin; provide structural protection for the cell and cause muscle contraction when interacting with myosin; formation of cleavage furrow during mitosis

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16
Q

what are microtubules

A

made up of tubulin; create pathways for vesicle movement; make up cilia and flagella

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17
Q

what is the 9 + 2 arrangement for flagella

A

9 outer microtubules and 2 center microtubules

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18
Q

What are intermediate filaments

A

cell to cell adhesion and maintenance of the integrity of cytoskeleton; anchor organelles; examples keratin and desmin

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19
Q

what is epithelial tissue

A

cover the body and line cavities; protect against pathogen invasion; absorb/secrete substances; participate in sensation; parenchyma; polarized (inner lumen and outer membrane)

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20
Q

what are the classifications of epithelial tissue

A

simple –> one layer
stratifies –> multi-layer
pseudo stratified –> looks like multiple layers but is one

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21
Q

what are the types of epithelial tissue shapes

A

cuboidal –> cubed
columnar –> long and narrow
squamous –> flat and scale like

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22
Q

what is connective tissue

A

support the body and provide framework for epithelial cells; stroma; secrete materials to form extracellular matrix

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23
Q

what are the types of connective tissue

A

bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, adipose tissue, and blood

24
Q

what are prokaryotic cells

A

do not contain membrane bound organelles, nucleus, or mitochondria; single circular DNA located in nucleoid region; ETC using cell membrane; ribosomes are smaller (30s and 50s)

25
Q

what are the three domains of life

A

archaea, prokaryotes, eukaryotes

26
Q

What are archaea

A

Often extremophiles that use chemical sources of energy

27
Q

how are archaea similar to eukaryotes

A

start translation with methionine; similar RNA polymerases; DNA histones

28
Q

How are archaea similar to prokaryotes

A

single, circular DNA; divide by binary fission; no membrane bound organelles/nucleus

28
Q

what are the classifications of bacteria

A

Cocci –> Circular
Bacilli –> Rod-like
Spirilli –> Spiral

29
Q

What is an obligate aerobe

A

survives and uses oxygen for metabolic processes

30
Q

what is an obligate anaerobe

A

cannot survive in oxygen and does not use it for metabolic purposes

31
Q

what is a facultative anaerobe

A

can survive in oxygen containing environments; can use/not use oxygen for metabolic processes

32
Q

what is an aero-tolerant anaerobe

A

can survive in an oxygen containing environment but does not use oxygen for metabolic processes

33
Q

What is a gram positive bacteria

A

Contain peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid in cell wall

34
Q

What is a gram negative bacteria

A

Thin cell wall with little peptidoglycan and an outer membrane of phospholipids and lipopolysaccharides

35
Q

what are flagella

A

generate propulsion to move toward or away from chemical stimuli (chemotaxis)

36
Q

what is the difference between bacterial flagella and eukaryotic flagella

A

Bacteria –> flagellin make up basal body, filament and hook
Eukaryote –> 9 outer microtubules and 2 inner

37
Q

what is binary fission

A

chromosome replicates, cell grows in size until cell wall grows inward along midline (invagination) then divides into two daughter cells

38
Q

what are plasmids

A

contain extrachromosomal material that can be integrated into genome (episomes)/transferred; can contain virulence factors

39
Q

what are the kinds of genetic recombination

A

transformation, conjugation, transduction, transposons

40
Q

what is transformation

A

genetic material from surroundings is taken up by a cell which can be incorporated by genome

41
Q

what is conjugation

A

transfer of genetic information across a conjugation bridge (sex pillus); transferred from F+ to F- cells

42
Q

what is transduction

A

genetic information passed through bacteriophages

43
Q

what is a transposons

A

genetic elements that can insert or remove themselves from genome

44
Q

what is the bacterial growth pattern

A

lag phase, exponential phase, stationary phase, death phase

45
Q

what is the structure of a virus

A

genetic material surrounded by a capsid (protein coat) and sometimes a lipid containing envelope

46
Q

why is a virus called an obligate intracellular parasite

A

viruses cannot survive and replicate outside of a host cell

47
Q

what is a tail sheath

A

structure of bacteriophage that injects genetic information into a bacterium

48
Q

what are tail fibers

A

structure of bacteriophage that allow attachment to host cell

49
Q

What is a positive sense single stranded RNA virus

A

directly translated by host genome into functional proteins

50
Q

what is a negative sense single stranded RNA virus

A

requires complimentary strand to be synthesized by RNA replicase before translation

51
Q

what is a retrovirus

A

single stranded RNA from which a DNA strand is made using reverse transcriptase; DNA strand is then integrated in to host genome

52
Q

How are viral progeny released

A

cell death, lysis, or extrusion

53
Q

what is the lytic cycle

A

viral progeny replicate until cell swells and lyses; bacteria in lytic phase are virulent

54
Q

what is the lysogenic cycle

A

virus integrates into host genome as provirus/prophage which then reproduces along with the cell; provirus remains in genome indefinitely or leaves genome in response to stimuli and enters lytic cycle

55
Q

what are prions

A

infectious misfolded proteins; misfolded from alpha helical to beta pleated sheets; decreases solubility and increases resistance

56
Q

what are viroids

A

plant pathogens that are small circles of complementary RNA that can turn off genes resulting in metabolic and structural changes and potential cell death

MCAT Biology (11 decks)

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