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Cell Biology 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
What is the middle section of a sperm cell?
The middle section is filled with mitochondria to provide the sperm with energy to travel.
26
What is the function of a flagellum in sperm?
The flagellum is used for the cell's movement to travel.
27
What is the function of the acrosome in sperm cells?
The acrosome is found at the tip of the head, containing digestive enzymes needed to penetrate an egg cell.
28
What is the function of an axon in a nerve cell?
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.
29
What is a myelin sheath?
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.
30
What are dendrites?
Dendrites are branches of a nerve cell. Several dendrites spread outward from the cell body to transfer electricity messages to other neurons.
31
What are synapses?
Synapses are in-between neurons to let electrical messages travel.
32
What is the function of protein fibres?
Protein fibres within the cell can contract, allowing muscles to move.
33
What are root hair cells specialised for?
To absorb water/minerals to survive.
34
What is the function of long projections in root hair cells?
Root hair cells have long projections that increase the surface area that the plant can use to absorb water and minerals.
35
Why do root hair cells not have chloroplasts?
Root hair cells are located underground, so there is no light for photosynthesis.
36
What is a xylem specialised for?
To transport water up the stem of a plant and into the leaves.
37
What is the function of lignin in xylem cells?
Lignin strengthens the cell wall of xylem cells.
38
Why are phloem cells specialised?
To transport food products to parts of the plant where they are needed.
39
Why do phloem cells have small holes?
The end walls of phloem cells contain small holes to allow food products to move up and down the phloem vessels throughout the plant.
40
What two variables matter most in microscopes?
Magnification and resolution
41
What is magnification?
Magnification tells us how many times larger an image seen through a microscope is compared to the real object.
42
What is resolution?
Resolution is the ability to distinguish between two or more objects that are close together.
43
What is the equation for magnification?
Magnification = image size ÷ actual size
44
How does a light microscope work?
A light microscope passes light through a specimen and creates a magnified image using lenses.
45
What can you see with a light microscope?
Light microscopes allowed bacteria to be seen for the first time. We can also see plant cells and animal cells as separate objects.
46
How do electron microscopes work?
Electron microscopes have electrons that pass through the specimen.
47
What can you see with electron microscopes?
You can see sub-cellular structures more clearly and how they function.
48
Why do you stain the cell when using a microscope?
To give contrast to the features.
49
What is the name of the lens with the lowest magnification when trying to initially focus on a sample?
Objective lens
50
Why do we grow cultures of microorganisms?
To investigate the effects of antibiotics and disinfectants, which both kill bacteria.
51
How many mediums are microorganisms grown in?
Two mediums
52
What is an agar gel plate for?
For microorganisms to be grown as colonies.
53
What is nutrient broth used for?
For microorganisms to be grown within a solution. The broth contains carbohydrates as an energy source, minerals and sometimes other chemicals.
54
What are the main four potential sources of contamination?
1) Air 2) Skin 3) Water 4) Soil
55
Why is the maximum temperature 25 degrees celsius (at schools) for cultures to be incubated?
To prevent/reduce risk if harmful bacteria growing.
56
Why is a flame used on inoculation loops?
For sterilisation, so all bacteria is removed on the loop.
57
Why are lids used for cultures on an agar gel plate?
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
Why must solutions and agar be boiled?
For sterilisation
59
What is the equation of future bacterial population?
Future population = current population X 2^ time passed ÷ mean division time.
60
What are chromosomes made from?
Chromosomes are made from molecules of DNA and are made up of many different genes that encode (produce) many different proteins.
61
Where can chromosomes be found?
Chromosomes are found in cell nuclei
62
How many sex cells are there and what are they called?
Two - sperm cells and egg cells
63
Do body cells or sex cells have more chromosomes?
Body cells have 2x as many chromosomes as sex cells
64
What is cell cycle?
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
What happens in the first stage of the cell cycle?
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
What happens in the second stage of the cell cycle?
Mitosis - the two sets of chromosomes are pulled to opposition ends of the cell, then the nucleus divides in two.
67
What is the last stage of the cell cycle?
Cell division - The cytoplasm and cell membranes are divided resulting in the production of two identical cells.
68
What is mitosis?
Mitosis is the process that produces two genetically identical cells.
69
How can we use microscopy to study the cell cycle?
- 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
Why is it important that the daughter cells, produced during mitosis, have the same chromosomes as each other?
It is important for processes that require identical cells to be produced, for example the growth and repair of tissues and asexual reproduction.
71
What are stem cells?
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
Where can stem cells be found in?
Bone marrow Embryos Plant meristems
73
What are three of the uses of stem cells and why?
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
What are the disadvantages of stem cells?
- Viral infections by transplantation - Ethical beliefs as religion or life begins at conception.
75
What is diffusion?
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
What are some examples of diffusion and where do they diffuse?
- 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
What factors can affect the rate of diffusion?
- Membrane surface area - Temperature - Concentration gradient
78
What happens to the rate of different if there is a high temperature?
The rate of diffusion increases
79
What happens to the rate of diffusion if there is a bigger diffusion of concentration between two areas?
The rate of diffusion increases
80
How are alveoli specialised to transfer gases in the lungs?
They have a large surface area
81
What are exchange surfaces?
Exchange surfaces are surfaces that are adapted to maximise the efficiency of gas and solute exchange across them.
82
What are the adaptations of exchange surfaces?
- Ventilation - Large surface area - Blood supply - Thin membrane
83
Why is a thin membrane a useful adaptation of an exchange surface?
- A thin membrane reduces the diffusion distance.
84
What are some examples of specialised exchange surfaces?
- Small intestine - Lungs - Gills - Roots - Leaves
85
What does the small intestine exchange?
Nutrients between digested food in the small intestine and the blood
86
What do the lungs exchange?
They exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen between the blood and air
87
What do gills exchange?
They exchange oxygen that is dissolved in water, with the carbon diode if the fish's bloodstream
88
What do roots exchange?
They take up both water and minerals from the soil around them
89
What do leaves exchange?
They exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen between the leaves and surrounding air
90
What is osmosis?
Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a partially permeable membrane from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution.
91
What is the role of the partially permeable membrane?
A partially permeable membrane allows water through, but won't let larger molecules dissolved in water pass through.
92
What is water movement in osmosis?
To make concentrations the same on both sides of the membrane
93
What is the net movement of water in osmosis?
Net (overall) movement of water = from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution
94
What is an independent variable?
The variable that you control, it is changed to see how the dependent variable will change.
95
What is the dependent variable?
It is the variable that you measure as an outcome of the experiment
96
What are some examples of active transport?
- Sugar absorption in the human gut - Mineral absorption in plants
97
What is active transport?
Active transport is the process where molecules move from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated solution.
98
What are the three main forms of transportation in cells?
- Osmosis - Diffusion - Active transport
99
When drawing a graph, on which axis does the depend variable go?
Y axis
100
When drawing a graph, on which axis does the independant variable go?
X axis

Biology (Triple) (6 decks)

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