Cell biology Flashcards
What are cells?
Cells are the building blocks of all living organisms.
What are unicellular organisms
Organisms made of a single cell, such as bacteria and the fungus yeast.
What are multicellular organisms
Organisms made of many cells such as animals, most plants and many species of fungi.
Multicellular organisms can be made up of millions of cells.
How can we see cell structure
Cells are microscopic, so to see their structure we need to use microscopes.
We can see more structures clearly if we use stains to colour specimens before putting them under the microscope.
What are stains?
Stains are coloured dyes that are absorbed by some cell structures but not by others. An example of a stain which is used is iodine.
What is the ultrastructure of a cell
The ultrastructure of a cell is its fine structure as revealed at high magnification.
What are organelles
The name given to a membrane bound compartment with a specific function in animal, plant and fungal cells.
Which organelles are found in an animal cell
Nucleus
Cytoplasm
Ribosome
Mitochondrion
Cell membrane
Which organelles are found in a plant cell
Nucleus
Cytoplasm
Ribosome
Mitochondrion
Cell membrane
Cell wall
Chloroplast
Vacuole
Which organelles are found in a fungal cell
Ribosome
Nucleus
Cell wall
Cell membrane
Cytoplasm
Mitochondrion
Vacuole
Which organelles are found in a bacterial cell
Cell wall
Cell membrane
Plasmid
Cytoplasm
Ribosome
Bacterial DNA
Where is DNA found
The nucleus of the cell (Animal.fungal.plant)
Describe the cell wall
Freely permeable layer surrounding cell membrane. The cell wall of plant cells is made from cellulose. This gives them a rigid structure.
What is the function of the cell wall?
Supports and strengthens cell
What cell types contain the cell wall?
Plant cell, fungal cell or bacterial cell
Describe the cell membrane
Selectively permeable double layer of lipid and protein molecules
What is the function of the cell membrane?
Controls which substances can enter and leave the cell
What cell types contain the cell membrane
All cell types
Describe the cytoplasm
Fluid enclosed by the cell membrane, containing organelles and ribosomes
What is the function of the cytoplasm
Location of many chemical reactions
What cell types contain the cytoplasm
All cell types
Describe the mitochondria
Rod-shaped structures found in cytoplasm
What is the function of the mitochondria
Location where aerobic respiration occurs and most of the cell’s ATP is produced
What cell types contain the mitochondria
Animal cell, plant cell or fungal cell
Describe chloroplasts
Disc-shaped structures found in cytoplasm
What is the function of chloroplasts
Location where photosynthesis occurs and sugar is produced
What cell types contain chloroplasts
Plant cell
Describe the vacuole
Compartment in cell containing solution of salts and sugars (cell sap)
What is the function of the vacuole
Water storage and maintenance of turgor within the cell
What cell types contain the vacuole?
Plant cell
Describe ribosomes
Small complexes found in cytoplasm
What is the function of ribosomes
Location where amino acids are connected together to produce proteins
What cell types contain ribosomes
All cell types
Describe plasmids
Small circular DNA molecules
What is the function of plasmids
Contains genes that help cell to function, eg genes for antibiotic resistance
What cell types contain plasmids
Bacterial cell
Describe the nucleus
Compartment in cell where DNA is stored as chromosomes
What is the function of the nucleus
Controls activities of cell
What cell types contain the nucleus
Animal cell, plant cell or fungal cell
