Cell Biology Flashcards
What are the two types of cells?
Eukaryotic (plants and animals) and prokaryotic (bacteria)
What are the differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?
Prokaryotic cells are much smaller than eukaryotic cells
Eukaryotic cells contain membranes bound-organelles and a nucleus containing genetic material, while prokaryotes don’t
What do animal cells contain?
Nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria, ribosomes
What do plant cells contain?
cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, vacuole, nucleus and chloroplasts
What do bacteria cells contain?
cell wall, plasma membrane, cytoplasm, capsule, ribosomes, plasmid, pili, nucleotide and bacteria flagellum
What are prokaryotic cells?
Cells without a nucleus
What are eukaryotic cells?
Cells with a nucleus
What is an organelle?
A tiny cell structure that carries out a specific function within the cell
What is the function of the nucleus?
Contains DNA coding for particular protein needed to build new cells and enclosed in the nuclear membrane
What is the function of the cytoplasm?
Liquid substance in which chemical reactions occur, contains enzymes and organelle are found in it
What is the function of the cell membrane?
controls what enters and leaves the cell
What is the function of the mitochondria?
Where aerobic respiration reactions occur and providing energy for the cell
What is the function of the ribosomes?
Where protein synthesis occurs
What is the function of chloroplasts?
where photosynthesis takes place (providing food for the plant)
What is the function of the permanent vacuole?
Contains cell sap, found within the cytoplasm, improves cell’s rigidity
What is the function of the cell wall?
Made from cellulose fibres and strengthens the cell and supports the cell
What is the function of the capsule?
Prevents drying, helps organism evade immune system
What is the function of the plasma membrane?
To protect the cell from harmful stuff and to let in stuff it needs.
What is the function of the plasmid?
A small ring of DNA
What is the function of the pili?
Attachment
What is the function of the singular circular strand of DNA?
As bacteria cells have no nucleus, this floats in the cytoplasm
What is cell specialization?
Cells throughout an organism can develop in different ways to perform different tasks
What are stem cells?
unspecialized cells from which differentiated cells develop
What are stem cells used for?
Growth and repair
What are sperm cells specialised for?
Specialised to carry the males DNA to the egg cell (ovum) for successful reproduction
How are sperm cells in animals adapted to their function?
Haploid nucleus - contains genetic information
Tail - enables movement
Mitochondria - provides energy for tail movement
Acrosome - contains enzymes that digest the egg cell membrane
What are the features of sperm cells?
- male gametes
- tale and lots of mitochondria to supply energy to swim
- acrosome on head to digest layers of ovum allowing it to penetrate leading to fertilisation
What are nerve cells specialised for?
Specialised to transmit electrical signals quickly from one place in the body to another
How are nerve cells in animals are adapted to their function?
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 cell, muscles and glands
What are the features of nerve cells?
Long, has branches and has insulation
What are root hair cells specialised for?
Absorbing water by osmosis and mineral ions by active transport
How are root cells in plants are adapted to their function?
Large surface area - to absorb nutrients and water from surrounding soil
Thin walls - that don’t restrict water absorption
What are the features of a root hair cells?
• Large surface area for water to enter by osmosis
• Cellulose cell wall is freely permeable to water
• Large numbers of mitochondria to provide atp for active transport of mineral ions
• Large numbers of protein carriers embedded in membrane for active transport of mineral ions
What are xylem cells specialised for?
Specialised to transport water and mineral ions up the plants from the roots to the shoots
How are xylem cells in plants adapted to their function?
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.
What are the features of a xylem cells?
- transports water and minerals the roots up the plant stem and into the leaves
- consists of dead cells
What are phloem cells specialised for?
Specialised to carry the products of photosynthesis (food) to all parts of the plant
How are phloem cells in plants adapted to their function?
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.
What is cell differentiation?
The process in which cells become specialized.
Why is cell differentiation important?
Allows production of different tissues and organs that perform various vital functions in the human body.
What time do animal cells differentiate?
At an early stage and then lose this ability
For how long do plant cell retain the ability to differentiate?
Throughout their entire life cycle
What is the purpose of cell division in mature animals?
Repair and replacement of cells
What changes does a cell go through as it differentiate?
Becomes specialised through acquisition of different sub-cellular structure to enable a specific function to be performed by the cell
What is magnification?
The number of times bigger an image appears compared to the size of the real object
What is resolution?
The smallest distance between two object can be distinguished
How does a light microscope work?
Passes a beam of light through a specimen which travels through the eyepiece lens, allowing the specimen to be observed
What are the advantages of light microscopes?
Inexpensive, easy to use, portable, observe both dead and living specimens
What are the disadvantage of light microscopes?
Limited resolution
How does an electron microscope work?
It uses a beam of electrons which are focused using magnets, the electrons hit a fluorescent screen which emits visible light and producing an image.
What are the two types of electron microscopes?
transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM)
What are the advantages of electron microscopes?
Greater magnification and resolution
Why do electron microscope have a great magnification and resolution?
They use a beam of electrons which has a shorter wavelength than photons of light
How have electron microscopes enabled scientists to develop their understanding of cells?
Allow small sub-cellular structures to be observed in detail and enable scientists to develop more accurate explanations about how cell structure relates to function.
What are the disadvantages of electron microscopes?
Expensive, large so less portable, require training to use and only dead specimens can be observed
How came magnification be calculated?
Magnification = size of image / size of real object
What are the pieces of laboratory equipment you could have used to prepare cells to view using a microscope?
Slide, coverslip, dye/stain, pipette/dropper, scalpel and forceps/tweezers
How do bacteria multiply?
Binary fission (simple cell division)
How often do bacteria multiply?
Once every 20 minutes if enough nutrients are available and the temperature is suitable.
What are the ways that bacteria can grow?
Nutrient broth solution and colonies on an agar gel plate
What nutrients make up a nutrient broth solution?
All nutrients required for bacteria to grow including nitrogen for protein synthesis, carbohydrates for energy and other minerals.
What are uncontaminated cultures of microorganisms needed for?
Investigating disinfectant and antibiotic action.
Describe the preparation of an uncontaminated culture using aseptic technique
- Use pre-sterilised plastic Petri dishes or sterilise glass Petri dishes and agar gel before using with an autoclave.
- Pour the sterile agar gel into the Petri dish and allow time to set.
- Sterilise the inoculating loop by passing it through a Bunsen burner flame.
- Dip the inoculating loop into the solution of microorganisms and make streaks with the loop on the surface of the agar.
- Put the lid on the Petri dish and secure it with tape. Label accordingly then turn and store upside down.
- Incubate the culture at 25oC in school laboratories.
Why must Petri dishes and culture media before sterilised before use?
To kill any bacteria already present.
Why must inoculating loops be sterilised by passing them through a Bunsen burner flame?
To kill any bacteria present on the inoculating loop.
Why must the Petri dish lid be secured with tape and the whole dish stored upside down?
Stops bacteria in the air contaminating the culture.
The lid is not fully sealed to prevent the growth of anaerobic bacteria in a lack of oxygen.
Upside down to prevent condensation from forming and dripping down onto the colonies
Why are cultures incubated at 25C in school laboratories?
Harmful pathogens are less likely to grow at this temperature
What is the formula used to calculate cross-sectional area of a bacterial colony or clear area around a bacteria colony?
Pi x radius^2
How is the number of bacteria in a population after a certain time calculated from the mean division time?
- Calculate the number of times the bacteria will divide in the given time period from the mean division time.
- Use the following equation to calculate the number of bacteria:
Number of bacteria in population at end of time period = number of bacteria at the beginning of the time period x 2number of divisions in the time period .
Express the answer in standard form if possible.
What are chromosomes made of?
DNA and proteins
What is gene?
A section of DNA which codes for a protein
How many chromosomes are found in the nucleus of human body cells?
46 chromosomes
How many chromosomes are found in the nucleus of gametes?
23 chromosomes