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Biology (Triple) > Cell Biology > Flashcards

Cell Biology Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Where are eukaryotic cells found?

A

In plants, animals, fungi and protists

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2
Q

What is a eukaryote?

A

An organism made up of eukaryotic cells

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3
Q

How big are eukaryotic cells?

A

10 - 100 micrometers

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4
Q

How big are Prokaryotic cells?

A

0.1 - 5 micrometers

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5
Q

What is a Prokaryote?

A

An organism made up of prokaryotic cells

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6
Q

Where are Prokaryotes found?

A

In bacteria

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7
Q

Which is bigger, Prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells?

A

Eukaryotic cells

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8
Q

What sub-cellular structures do Prokaryotes not contain?

A

Mitochondria, nucleus and chloroplasts

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9
Q

What does the cell membrane do?

A

The cell membrane separates the interior of the cell from the environment outside. It is selectively permeable, meaning it has control over which substances enter and exit the cell.

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10
Q

What does the nucleus do?

A

The nucleus contains chromosomes, which contains the cell’s genetic material

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11
Q

What are ribosomes?

A

Ribosomes are responsible for synthesising proteins

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12
Q

What is the function of mitochondria?

A

Mitochondria is where aerobic respiration takes place. Aerobic respiration is a process which uses glucose and oxygen to release energy.

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13
Q

What is the function of cytoplasm?

A

Cytoplasm is a jelly-like fluid that fills the cell. It is where most of the cell’s chemical reactions take place.

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14
Q

What is a permanent vacuole?

A

A permanent vacuole is a fluid-filled sac that stores water. It is enclosed in a membrane, and can make up as 90% of a plant cell’s volume.

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15
Q

What is the function of chloroplasts?

A

Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, which is needed for the process of photosynthesis.

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16
Q

What is the function of a cell wall?

A

The cell wall surrounds the cell and is made of cellulose. The cell wall also increases the structural strength of the cell.

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17
Q

Two points of differentiation in plants.

A

1) Many plant cells can differentiate throughout their lives.
2) This means that plants are always able to create new tissue.

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18
Q

Three points of differentiation in animals.

A

1) Most animsl cells differentiate early on in their development.
2) In mature animals, cells mostly divide (one cell splits to create 2 new cells) to replace cells and repair tissues that are already present.
3) New tissues are rarely created by cell differentiation.

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19
Q

What are plasmids?

A

Plasmids are small rings of DNA

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20
Q

What is the function of a flagella?

A

Flagella are whip-like structures used for movement.

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21
Q

Why can plasmids replicate?

A

Plasmids can replicate and move between cells so that genetic information can be shared.

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22
Q

What is cell differentiation?

A

Cell different is a process where a cell gains new sub-cellular structures to perform a specific function.

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23
Q

What happens when a cell is differentiated?

A

The cell becomes specialised.

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24
Q

What is the function of the head of a sperm cell?

A

The head contains the sperm’s nucleus, carrying half of an organism’s genetic material, it combines with the egg cell’s half genetic material to fertilise the egg cell.

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25
Q

What is the middle section of a sperm cell?

A

The middle section is filled with mitochondria to provide the sperm with energy to travel.

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26
Q

What is the function of a flagellum in sperm?

A

The flagellum is used for the cell’s movement to travel.

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27
Q

What is the function of the acrosome in sperm cells?

A

The acrosome is found at the tip of the head, containing digestive enzymes needed to penetrate an egg cell.

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28
Q

What is the function of an axon in a nerve cell?

A

An axon is part of the cell that the electrical signals travel along. Nerve cells have a long axon to increase the distance that electrical signals can travel.

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29
Q

What is a myelin sheath?

A

A sheath made of material called myelin that surrounds the axon of a nerve cell, stopping electrical nerve signals leaking out of the nerve cell, which increases the speed of transmission.

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30
Q

What are dendrites?

A

Dendrites are branches of a nerve cell. Several dendrites spread outward from the cell body to transfer electricity messages to other neurons.

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31
Q

What are synapses?

A

Synapses are in-between neurons to let electrical messages travel.

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32
Q

What is the function of protein fibres?

A

Protein fibres within the cell can contract, allowing muscles to move.

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33
Q

What are root hair cells specialised for?

A

To absorb water/minerals to survive.

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34
Q

What is the function of long projections in root hair cells?

A

Root hair cells have long projections that increase the surface area that the plant can use to absorb water and minerals.

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35
Q

Why do root hair cells not have chloroplasts?

A

Root hair cells are located underground, so there is no light for photosynthesis.

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36
Q

What is a xylem specialised for?

A

To transport water up the stem of a plant and into the leaves.

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37
Q

What is the function of lignin in xylem cells?

A

Lignin strengthens the cell wall of xylem cells.

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38
Q

Why are phloem cells specialised?

A

To transport food products to parts of the plant where they are needed.

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39
Q

Why do phloem cells have small holes?

A

The end walls of phloem cells contain small holes to allow food products to move up and down the phloem vessels throughout the plant.

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40
Q

What two variables matter most in microscopes?

A

Magnification and resolution

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41
Q

What is magnification?

A

Magnification tells us how many times larger an image seen through a microscope is compared to the real object.

42
Q

What is resolution?

A

Resolution is the ability to distinguish between two or more objects that are close together.

43
Q

What is the equation for magnification?

A

Magnification = image size ÷ actual size

44
Q

How does a light microscope work?

A

A light microscope passes light through a specimen and creates a magnified image using lenses.

45
Q

What can you see with a light microscope?

A

Light microscopes allowed bacteria to be seen for the first time. We can also see plant cells and animal cells as separate objects.

46
Q

How do electron microscopes work?

A

Electron microscopes have electrons that pass through the specimen.

47
Q

What can you see with electron microscopes?

A

You can see sub-cellular structures more clearly and how they function.

48
Q

Why do you stain the cell when using a microscope?

A

To give contrast to the features.

49
Q

What is the name of the lens with the lowest magnification when trying to initially focus on a sample?

A

Objective lens

50
Q

Why do we grow cultures of microorganisms?

A

To investigate the effects of antibiotics and disinfectants, which both kill bacteria.

51
Q

How many mediums are microorganisms grown in?

A

Two mediums

52
Q

What is an agar gel plate for?

A

For microorganisms to be grown as colonies.

53
Q

What is nutrient broth used for?

A

For microorganisms to be grown within a solution. The broth contains carbohydrates as an energy source, minerals and sometimes other chemicals.

54
Q

What are the main four potential sources of contamination?

A

1) Air
2) Skin
3) Water
4) Soil

55
Q

Why is the maximum temperature 25 degrees celsius (at schools) for cultures to be incubated?

A

To prevent/reduce risk if harmful bacteria growing.

56
Q

Why is a flame used on inoculation loops?

A

For sterilisation, so all bacteria is removed on the loop.

57
Q

Why are lids used for cultures on an agar gel plate?

A

To stop air from getting in the dish (place lid rapidly) before and after using the inoculating loop. The plate should also be stored upside down to prevent condensation.

58
Q

Why must solutions and agar be boiled?

A

For sterilisation

59
Q

What is the equation of future bacterial population?

A

Future population = current population X 2^ time passed ÷ mean division time.

60
Q

What are chromosomes made from?

A

Chromosomes are made from molecules of DNA and are made up of many different genes that encode (produce) many different proteins.

61
Q

Where can chromosomes be found?

A

Chromosomes are found in cell nuclei

62
Q

How many sex cells are there and what are they called?

A

Two - sperm cells and egg cells

63
Q

Do body cells or sex cells have more chromosomes?

A

Body cells have 2x as many chromosomes as sex cells

64
Q

What is cell cycle?

A

The cell cycle is a series of events involved in cell growth and cell division. It involves mitosis (a type of cell division) which allows for growth, repair and asexual reproduction.

65
Q

What happens in the first stage of the cell cycle?

A

Initial growth stage - extra ribosomes, mitochondria and other sub-cellular structures are produced. The cell’s chromosomes are replicated so that there are two sets of the cell’s chromosomes.

66
Q

What happens in the second stage of the cell cycle?

A

Mitosis - the two sets of chromosomes are pulled to opposition ends of the cell, then the nucleus divides in two.

67
Q

What is the last stage of the cell cycle?

A

Cell division - The cytoplasm and cell membranes are divided resulting in the production of two identical cells.

68
Q

What is mitosis?

A

Mitosis is the process that produces two genetically identical cells.

69
Q

How can we use microscopy to study the cell cycle?

A
  • Microscope allow us to see things we can’t with the naked eye.
  • By culturing cells and then viewing them at a high resolution under a microscope, we can identify different cells in different stages of the cell cycle.
70
Q

Why is it important that the daughter cells, produced during mitosis, have the same chromosomes as each other?

A

It is important for processes that require identical cells to be produced, for example the growth and repair of tissues and asexual reproduction.

71
Q

What are stem cells?

A

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have not yet specialised to perform a specified function. They can create more stem cells or differentiate to perform a function.

72
Q

Where can stem cells be found in?

A

Bone marrow
Embryos
Plant meristems

73
Q

What are three of the uses of stem cells and why?

A

1) Stem cell treatments - to replace damage cells in the body.
2) Plant clones - to quickly and cheaply produce cloned plants (etc from extinction).
3)Therapeutic cloning - to produce an embryo with genes identical to the patients, to prevent rejection.

74
Q

What are the disadvantages of stem cells?

A
  • Viral infections by transplantation
  • Ethical beliefs as religion or life begins at conception.
75
Q

What is diffusion?

A

Diffusion is the net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. It describes the movement of particles in fluids.

76
Q

What are some examples of diffusion and where do they diffuse?

A
  • Urea (waste product of cells, into the blood for excretion by the kidneys).
  • Carbon dioxide (diffuses from the blood stream into the lungs as cells respire).
  • Oxygen (diffuses from the lungs into the bloodstream).
77
Q

What factors can affect the rate of diffusion?

A
  • Membrane surface area
  • Temperature
  • Concentration gradient
78
Q

What happens to the rate of different if there is a high temperature?

A

The rate of diffusion increases

79
Q

What happens to the rate of diffusion if there is a bigger diffusion of concentration between two areas?

A

The rate of diffusion increases

80
Q

How are alveoli specialised to transfer gases in the lungs?

A

They have a large surface area

81
Q

What are exchange surfaces?

A

Exchange surfaces are surfaces that are adapted to maximise the efficiency of gas and solute exchange across them.

82
Q

What are the adaptations of exchange surfaces?

A
  • Ventilation
  • Large surface area
  • Blood supply
  • Thin membrane
83
Q

Why is a thin membrane a useful adaptation of an exchange surface?

A
  • A thin membrane reduces the diffusion distance.
84
Q

What are some examples of specialised exchange surfaces?

A
  • Small intestine
  • Lungs
  • Gills
  • Roots
  • Leaves
85
Q

What does the small intestine exchange?

A

Nutrients between digested food in the small intestine and the blood

86
Q

What do the lungs exchange?

A

They exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen between the blood and air

87
Q

What do gills exchange?

A

They exchange oxygen that is dissolved in water, with the carbon diode if the fish’s bloodstream

88
Q

What do roots exchange?

A

They take up both water and minerals from the soil around them

89
Q

What do leaves exchange?

A

They exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen between the leaves and surrounding air

90
Q

What is osmosis?

A

Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a partially permeable membrane from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution.

91
Q

What is the role of the partially permeable membrane?

A

A partially permeable membrane allows water through, but won’t let larger molecules dissolved in water pass through.

92
Q

What is water movement in osmosis?

A

To make concentrations the same on both sides of the membrane

93
Q

What is the net movement of water in osmosis?

A

Net (overall) movement of water = from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution

94
Q

What is an independent variable?

A

The variable that you control, it is changed to see how the dependent variable will change.

95
Q

What is the dependent variable?

A

It is the variable that you measure as an outcome of the experiment

96
Q

What are some examples of active transport?

A
  • Sugar absorption in the human gut
  • Mineral absorption in plants
97
Q

What is active transport?

A

Active transport is the process where molecules move from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated solution.

98
Q

What are the three main forms of transportation in cells?

A
  • Osmosis
  • Diffusion
  • Active transport
99
Q

When drawing a graph, on which axis does the depend variable go?

A

Y axis

100
Q

When drawing a graph, on which axis does the independant variable go?

A

X axis

Biology (Triple) (6 decks)

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