Cell Biology

Question 1

What are prokaryotic cells? Provide examples.

Answer 1

Pro=first, before
Karyote=cell
Prokaryote cells contain DNA but do not have a definite nucleus or organelles. They are found in bacteria and cyanobacteria.

Question 2

What are eukaryotic cells? Provide examples.

Answer 2

Eu=good, well
Karyote=cell
Eukaryotic cells have definite nuclei and organelles and are found in plants, animals, fungi, algae, and protists.

Question 3

Name the organelles of a typical animal cell.

Answer 3

Nucleus, mitochondria, lysosomes, ribosomes, Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, cytoskeleton, cell membrane

Question 4

Compare and contrast an animal and a plant cell.

Answer 4

Plant cells have chloroplast, which is an organelle that stores water and carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis.
Plant cells also have cell walls, which creates their rectangular shapes.
Because plant cells have large water vacuoles, the other organelles (incl. nucleus) are pushed to the sides of the cell.

Question 5

Compare and contrast red blood cells to prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and determine whether they are prokaryotic or eukaryotic.

Answer 5

Much like prokaryotic cells, mature red blood cells do not contain nuclei or organelles. This is to maximise the efficiency of the diffusion of oxygen. The flat, dented shape of the cell also helps in this. While these features may lead to an assumption that red blood cells are prokaryotic, they are in fact eukaryotic as they are formed from bone marrow, which is part of a eukaryotic organism. At some point in their lives, red blood cells do contain nuclei and organelles; however as they mature, they shed these features.