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GCSE Biology (AQA) > Cell Biology > Flashcards

Cell Biology Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the two types of cells?

A

● Eukaryotic (plant and animal)

● Prokaryotic (bacteria)

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2
Q

What are the differences between

eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?

A

Prokaryotic cells are much smaller than
eukaryotic cells.
Eukaryotic cells contain membrane
bound-organelles and a nucleus containing
genetic material, while prokaryotes do not.

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3
Q

What is the prokaryotic cell wall

composed of?

A

Peptidoglycan

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4
Q

How is genetic information stored in a

prokaryotic cell?

A

Found free within the cytoplasm as:
● Chromosomal DNA (single large loop of circular DNA)
● Plasmid DNA

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5
Q 
List the components of both plant and
animal cells (5)
A 
● Nucleus
● Cytoplasm
● Cell membrane
● Mitochondria
● Ribosomes
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6
Q

List the additional cell components found

in plant cells (3)

A

● Chloroplasts
● Permanent vacuole
● Cell wall

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7
Q

Other than storing genetic information,

what is the function of the nucleus?

A

Controls cellular activities

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8
Q

What is the function of the cytoplasm?

A

Site of cellular reactions e.g. first stage
of respiration.
Transport medium.

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9
Q

What is the function of the cell

membrane?

A

Controls the entry and exit of materials

into and out of the cell.

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10
Q

What is the function of the mitochondria?

A

Site of later stages of aerobic respiration

in which ATP is produced.

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11
Q

What is the function of the ribosomes?

A

Joins amino acids in a specific order
during translation for the synthesis of
proteins.

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12
Q

What is the plant cell wall made of?

A

Cellulose

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13
Q

What is the function of the plant cell

wall?

A

● Provides strength.
● Prevents the cell bursting when water
enters by osmosis.

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14
Q

What does the permanent vacuole

contain?

A 
Cell sap (a solution of salts, sugars and
organic acids).
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15
Q

What is the function of chloroplasts?

A

Site of photosynthesis

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16
Q

Describe how sperm cells in animals are

adapted to their function

A

● Haploid nucleus contains genetic information.
● Tail enables movement.
● Mitochondria provide energy for tail movement.
● Acrosome contains enzymes that digest the egg cell
membrane.

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17
Q

Describe how nerve cells in animals are

adapted to their function

A

● Long axon allows electrical impulses to be transmitted all over
the body from the central nervous system.
● Dendrites from the cell body connect to and receive impulses
from other nerve cells, muscles and glands.
● Myelin sheath insulates the axon and speeds up the
transmission of impulses along the nerve cell.

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18
Q

Describe how root hair cells in plants are

adapted to their function

A

● Large surface area to absorb nutrients and
water from surrounding soil.
● Thin walls that do not restrict water
absorption.

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19
Q

Describe how phloem cells in plants are

adapted to their function

A

● Sieve plates let dissolved amino acids and
sugars be transported up and down the stem.
● Companion cells provide energy needed for
active transport of substances along the
phloem.

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20
Q

Describe how xylem cells in plants are

adapted to their function

A

● No upper or lower margins between cells
to provide a continuous route for water to flow.
● Thick, woody side walls strengthen their
structure and prevent collapse.

21
Q

What is cell differentiation?

A

The process by which cells become

specialised.

22
Q

For how long do plant cells retain the

ability to differentiate?

A

Throughout their entire life cycle

23
Q

How can magnification be calculated?

A

magnification =

size of image / size of real object

24
Q

How do bacteria multiply?

A

Binary fission

25
Q

Why are cultures incubated at 25oC in

school laboratories?

A

Harmful pathogens are less likely to to

grow at this temperature.

26
Q

What are chromosomes made up of?

A

Chromosomes consist of DNA molecules
combined with proteins. They contain
genes which provide the instructions for
protein synthesis.

27
Q

What is a gene?

A

A section of DNA which codes for a

protein.

28
Q

How many chromosomes are found in

the nucleus of human body cells?

A

46

29
Q

How many chromosomes are found in the

nucleus of gametes?

A

23

30
Q

What are the stages of cell division?

A

Prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase

31
Q

Describe the first stage of the cell cycle

A

Longest stage - cells grow and increase
in mass, replicate DNA and synthesise
more organelles (eg. mitochondria,
ribosomes).

32
Q

What is a stem cell?

A

An unspecialised cell which is capable of
differentiating into other cell types and of
self-renewal.

33
Q

What is the function of stem cells in embryos?

A

Embryonic stem cells can replicate themselves and
differentiate into many other types of cells.
Embryonic stem cells may be able to treat conditions
such as paralysis and diabetes by dividing to replace
damaged cells.

34
Q

What is the function of stem cells in adult bone

marrow?

A

Adult stem cells can differentiate into several cell
types to replace dead or damaged tissues. For
example, bone marrow stem cells can form many
different types of blood cell.

35
Q

What is therapeutic cloning?

A

A cloning method where an embryo is produced
with the same genetic makeup as the patient.
The stem cells which originate from the embryo
will not be rejected by the patient’s immune
system, so can be used to treat certain medical
conditions.

36
Q

What are issues are associated with the use

of embryonic stem cells?

A

● Many embryonic stem cells are sourced from aborted embryos -
some people have an ethical/religious objection.
● Development of stem cell therapies is slow, expensive and difficult.
● Adult stem cells infected with viruses could transfer infections to
patients.
● If donor stem cells do not have a similar genetic makeup to the
patient, an immune response could be triggered.

37
Q

What is diffusion?

A

The net movement of particles from an
area of higher concentration to an area of
lower concentration.

38
Q

What three main factors affect the rate of

diffusion?

A

● Concentration gradient - larger gradient, faster
diffusion.
● Temperature - higher temperature, faster diffusion.
● Surface area - larger surface area, faster diffusion.

39
Q

Give examples of substances transported by

diffusion in the lungs and the kidney

A

● Lungs: oxygen diffuses into the blood from the lungs
and carbon dioxide diffuses into the lungs from the
blood, both down their concentration gradient.
● Kidney: urea diffuses from cells into blood plasma so
it can be excreted in urine.

40
Q

How are single-celled organisms adapted for

diffusion?

A

They have a large surface area to volume
ratio - maximises the rate of diffusion of
molecules to meet the organism’s needs.

41
Q

What is osmosis?

A

The movement of water from a dilute solution
to a concentrated solution through a partially
permeable membrane.

42
Q

What is meant when a solution is isotonic to a

cell?

A

The concentrations of the external and

internal (inside cell) solutions are the same.

43
Q

What is meant when a solution is hypertonic to a

cell?

A

The concentration of the external solution is
higher than that of the internal solution (inside
cell).

44
Q

What is meant when a solution is

hypotonic to a cell?

A

The concentration of the external solution is
lower than that of internal solution (inside
cell).

45
Q

What may happen when an animal cell is placed

in a hypotonic solution?

A

Water moves into the cell, causing it to burst.

46
Q

What may happen when an animal cell is placed

in a very hypertonic solution?

A

Water moves out of the cell, causing it to shrivel

up.

47
Q

What is active transport?

A

The movement of molecules from a more
dilute solution to a more concentrated solution
against a concentration gradient, using energy
from respiration.

48
Q

How do plant root hair cells use active transport?

A

Root hair cells use active transport to take
up mineral ions from a more dilute solution in
soils. Ions such as magnesium and nitrates
are required for healthy growth.

49
Q

How is active transport used to absorb the

products of digestion?

A

Active transport is used to transport glucose from a
lower concentration in the gut to a higher
concentration in the blood. Glucose is then
transported to the tissues where it can be used in
respiration.

GCSE Biology (AQA) (6 decks)

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