CELL BIOLOGY Flashcards
Describe the characteristics of Prokaryotes
-Smaller than eukaryotes
- have a cytoplasm and a cell membrane and are surrounded by a cell wall
- the genetic material is not enclosed in a nucleus
- a single DNA loop and may be one or more small rings of DNA called plasmids
- are bacterial cells
Describe the characteristics of a eukaryotic cell
- they are plant and animal cells
- have cell membrane, cytoplasm and genetic material enclosed in a nucleus
What are the different parts of a cell called
Subcellular structures
Describe the functions of subcellular structures in an animal cell
NUCLEUS - contains genetic material that controls the activities of the cell
CYTOPLASM- gel-like substance where modt of the chemical reactions happen. It contains enzymes that control these chemical reactions
CELL MEMBRANE: holds the cell together and controls what goes in and out of the cell.
MITOCHONDRIA: these are where most of the reactions for aerobic respiration take place. Respiration transfers energy that the cell needs to work
RIBOSOME: these are where proteins are made in the cell
Decribe the functions of the subcellular structures in a plant cell
CELL WALL: made of cellulose. Supports the cell and strengthens it.
PERMANENT VACUOLE: contains cell sap, a weak solution of sugar and salts.
CHLOROPLAST: where photosynthesis occurs, shich makes food for the plant. They dontain a green substance called chlorophyll, which absorbs the light needed for photosynthesis
Bacterial cells, what subcellular structures does it include
Cytoplasm
Cell membrane
Cell wall
May include one or more small rings of DNA called plasmids
What is the definition of resolution
Resolution is the ability to distinguish between two points, so a highee resolution gives a sharper image
What is magnification
How large the image is compared to its actual size
What do microscopes do?
Microscopes let us see things that we can’t see with the naked eye.
Why have microscopy techniques have developed over time?
Because technology and knowledge have improved.
Explain how electron microscopes has increased understanding of sub-cellular structures?
An electron microscope has much higher magnification and resolving power than a light microscope. This means that it can be used to study cells in much finer detail. This has enabled biologists to see and understand many more sub-cellular structures.
What is an electron microscope?
Uses electrons instead of light to form an image.
How does a light microscope work
It uses light and lenses to form an image of a specimen and magnify it.
IAM TRIANGLE
Image size
Mag. actual size
1000um = ? Mm
1mm
What is differentiation?
Differentiation is the process by which a cell change to become specialised for its job
At what stage do most animal cells and plant cells differentiation
-Animal cells differentiate at an early stage
-Plant cells retain the ability to differentiate throughout life
Why is cell differentiation important.
As cells develop, they develop dfiferent subcellular structures and turn into different types of cells allowing them carry out specific functions
In mature animals what is cell division mainly
restricted to repair and replacement.
What is it when a cell becomes specialised cells?
As a cell differentiates it acquires different sub-cellular structures to enable it to carry out a certain function
Explain how sperm cells are specialised for reproduction
- Function of a sperm is basically to get the male DNA to the female DNA.
- It has a long tail and a streamlined head to help it swim to the egg
- lots of mitchondria providing energy.
- carries enzymes in its head to digest through the egg cell membrane
Explain how nerve cells are specialised for rapid signalling?
- function of nerve cells is to carry electrical signals from one part of the body to another
- long and have branched connections at their ends to connect to other nerve cells and form a network throughout the body
Explain how muscle cells are specialised for contraction
Function of muscle cell is to contract quickly.
- these cells are long ( have space to contract) and contain lots of mitochondria to generate the energy needed for contraction
Explain how root hair cells are specialised for ansorbing water and minerals
Root hair cells are cells on surfsce of plant roots, which grow into long “hairs” that stick out into the soil.
Explain how phloem and xylem cells are specialised to trnasporting substances
They form tubes, which transport substances such as food and water around plants.
- to form tubes, the cells are long and joined end to end.
- xylem cells are hollow in the centre and phloem cells have very few subcellular structures, so that stuff can flow through them
What are chromosomes
They are coiled up lengths of DNA molecules
Facts about chromosomes
- the nucleus of a cell contains chromosomes made of DNa molecules.
- each chromosome carries a large number of genes
- in body cells the chromosomes are normally found in pairs
- 23 pairs of chromosomes from a human cell
Describe the stages of the cell cycle
During the cell cycle the genetic material is doubled and then divided into two identical cells.
Before a cell can divide it needs to grow and increase the number of sub-cellular structures such as ribosomes and mitochondria. The DNA replicates to form two copies of each chromosome.
In mitosis one set of chromosomes is pulled to each end of the cell and the nucleus divides.
Finally the cytoplasm and cell membranes divide to form two identical cells.
What is the stage called in the cell cycle where cells divide
Mitosis