cell biology Flashcards
2 types of cell
Eukaryotic (with a nucleus eg, animal, plant and yeast cells) and prokaryotic (no nucleus - bacterial cells only)
which cells are biggest / smallest
Plant cells are the largest, followed by animal cells, yeast cells and finally bacterial cells are the smallest.
where is the dna in eukaryotic
Eukaryotic cells have their DNA inside a nucleus. The DNA is coiled up into structures called chromosomes.
where is the dna in prokaryotic
Prokaryotic cells have their DNA in the cytoplasm.
They have a single DNA loop, and may also have small rings of DNA called plasmids.
cell structures in eukaryotic cells
Cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria and ribosomes.
function of cell membrane
Controls entry and exit of substances (cell transport).
function of mitochondria
To carry out aerobic respiration and release energy (in the form of ATP) for cell activities. The more mitochondria, the more energy the cell needs.
function of ribosome
To carry out protein synthesis (making proteins). The more ribosomes, the more proteins the cell needs to make.
structures found in only plant / algal cells
Chloroplasts, large vacuole and cell wall made of cellulose.
function of chloroplasts
Chloroplasts absorb light energy to carry out photosynthesis and produce glucose for the plant.
The more chloroplasts, the more glucose a cell can make.
function of large vacuole
function of cell wall
Cellulose is strong and rigid. It strengthens the cell (this is important as plants do not have a skeleton to give them support).
only cell structures in prokaryotic
why dont prokaryotic cells have mitochondria
Mitochondria are bigger than prokaryotic cells so they don’t fit inside.
specialised cells
A cell that has a certain structure to help it carry out a particular function
examples of specialised animal cells
Sperm cells, nerve cells (neurones), muscle cells, glandular cells, epithelial cells.
examples of specialised plant cells
Root hair cells, xylem cells, phloem cells, palisade and spongy mesophyll cells.
stem cell
A cell that has not become specialised yet.
cell differentiation
The process during development where a stem cell develops to form a specialised cell.
when does differentiation happen
in animal cells, differentiation happens at an early stage (when the animal is an embryo), but in plants some cells can differentiate throughout the life of the plant.
where are stem cells in animals
Early stage embryos are completely made of stem cells, but in adults, the only place stem cells exist is in our bone marrow (inside large hollow bones, eg.
Thigh bone)
where are stem cells in plants
Meristem tissue is made of stem cells. It is found near the xylem and phloem, and also in the root and shoot tips.
why do scientists think animal stem cells are so useful
Stem cells can be made to differentiate into different types of cell. We can use them to treat diabetes and paralysis as well as use them for research into other disorders.
therapeutic cloning
Producing an embryo with the same DNA as a patient, so that stem cells can be used for medical treatment. The stem cells will not rejected by the patient’s body.
risks of using animal stem cells
Infections caused by viruses could be transferred.
Also some people have ethical objections for religious reasons (as embryos are destroyed during treatments and research).
why do scientists think plant stem cells are so useful
Stem cells can be used to clone plants quickly and cheaply. This can save rare species from extinction, or produce crop plants with resistance to disease for farmers.