Cell biology: Membrane transport

Question 1

What is the cell membrane?

Answer 1

The cell membrane is a thin semi-permeable layer of lipids and proteins that surrounds the cytoplasm of a cell and separates it from the environment.

Question 2

What is the structure of the cell membrane?

Answer 2

The cell membrane consists of a phospholipid bilayer, with cholesterol molecules, glycoproteins and proteins embedded in it.

Question 3

What are membrane proteins?

Answer 3

Membrane proteins are proteins that are embedded in the cell membrane and are involved in a variety of functions such as cell-cell communication, cell signaling, and transport of molecules.

Question 4

How do molecules move across the cell membrane?

Answer 4

Molecules can move across the cell membrane through passive transport, which does not require energy, or active transport, which requires energy.

Question 5

What is passive transport?

Answer 5

Passive transport is a type of transport that does not require energy and involves the movement of molecules down their concentration gradient. Examples of passive transport include simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis.

Question 6

What is active transport?

Answer 6

Active transport is a type of transport that requires energy and involves the movement of molecules against their concentration gradient. Examples of active transport include sodium-potassium pumps, endocytosis, and exocytosis.

Question 7

What is simple diffusion?

Answer 7

Simple diffusion is the movement of molecules down their concentration gradient without the aid of transport proteins. This would be low concentration to high concentration. Hydrophobic and uncharged molecules are able to go straight through the bilayer.

Question 8

What is facilitated diffusion?

Answer 8

Facilitated diffusion is the movement of molecules down their concentration gradient with the aid of transport proteins. This would be moving from high concentration to low concentration. Charged molecules and polar molecules must use facilitated diffusion. Channels and Carrier proteins.

Question 9

What is osmosis?

Answer 9

Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane.

Question 10

What is sodium-potassium pump?

Answer 10

The sodium-potassium pump is an active transport mechanism that uses energy to move sodium and potassium ions across the cell membrane.

Question 11

What is endocytosis?

Answer 11

Endocytosis is a process by which cells take in molecules from the extracellular space through the invagination of the cell membrane into a vesicle.

Question 12

What is exocytosis?

Answer 12

exocytosis is like a cell packaging substances into vesicles, transporting them to the cell membrane, fusing the vesicle with the membrane, and releasing the substances outside the cell.

Question 13

What are the components of the cell membrane?

Answer 13

The components of the cell membrane include phospholipids, cholesterol molecules, glycoproteins, and proteins.

Question 14

How do phospholipids form the cell membrane?

Answer 14

Phospholipids form a phospholipid bilayer, which forms the basis of the cell membrane.

Question 15

How do cholesterol molecules affect the cell membrane

Answer 15

Cholesterol molecules help to stabilize the cell membrane and regulate the fluidity of the membrane.

Question 16

What are glycoproteins?

Answer 16

Glycoproteins are proteins that have carbohydrates attached to them and are involved in cell recognition and cell-cell communication.

Question 17

What are the functions of membrane proteins?

Answer 17

The functions of membrane proteins include cell-cell communication, cell signaling, and transport of molecules.

Question 18

What is the purpose of the cell membrane?

Answer 18

The purpose of the cell membrane is to separate the cell from its environment, control the movement of molecules in and out of the cell, and maintain the cell’s internal environment.

Question 19

What is Isotonic?

Answer 19

Equal concentration in and outside of the cell. Water will move into the cell and out of the cell at the same rate.

Question 20

What is Hypotonic

Answer 20

Distilled water is an example. the hypotonic solution, water flows into the cell, making it swell up and potentially burst because the solution has fewer particles than the inside of the cell.

Question 21

What is Hypertonic

Answer 21

when a cell is in a hypertonic solution, water leaves the cell, causing it to shrink and potentially become wrinkled.

Saltwater is a good example.

Question 22

Endocytosis-Phagocytosis

Answer 22

Phagocytosis is when special cells called phagocytes act like little Pac-Man superheroes, wrapping themselves around harmful invaders, breaking them down, and getting rid of the waste to keep our body healthy.

Question 23

Endocytosis-Pinocytosis

Answer 23

In simple terms, pinocytosis is like a cell taking little sips or “drinking” tiny droplets from its surroundings, bringing them inside, and using any useful parts for its own needs.

Question 24

Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis

Answer 24

receptor-mediated endocytosis is like a cell using special receptors on its surface to recognize and selectively take in specific substances, forming vesicles to bring them inside, and utilizing them for various cellular functions.