Cell Characteristics

Question 1

all cells have

Answer 1

cell membrane, DNA, ribosomes, cytoplasm and cytoskeletal elements

Question 2

what limits cell size

Answer 2

diffusion, DNA, ratio of surface area to volume

Question 3

what organelles are specific to plant cells?

Answer 3

chloroplasts, plant cell walls, large central vacuole, plastid

Question 4

what organelles are specific to animal cells?

Answer 4

centrosome, lysosomes

Question 5

chromosome def

Answer 5

a DNA molecule - circular or linear, depending on the species - usually associated with specific proteins that bind to the DNA

Question 6

ribosome def

Answer 6

a molecular machine consisting of RNA and proteins that is the site of protein synthesis

Question 7

organelle def

Answer 7

any membrane-bound compartment inside a cell

Question 8

cytoskeleton def

Answer 8

rod-like proteins inside cells that function in structural support, transport of materials, and movement in some species

Question 9

cell wall def

Answer 9

a stiff structure outside the cell membrane composed of carbohydrates and other molecules

Question 10

flagellum def

Answer 10

a long, flexible structure that extends from the cell and whips or rotates to propel the cell through water

Question 11

nucleus def

Answer 11

an organelle unique to eukaryotes enclosed by a double membrane and containing the cell’s chromosomes

Question 12

mitochondrion def

Answer 12

an organelle found in all eukaryotes that functions in “burning” sugars to provide energy for the cell

Question 13

eukaryote def

Answer 13

a lineage of species with cells that contain a nucleus and mitochondria

Question 14

prokaryote def

Answer 14

a species in the lineages archaea and bacteria, with cells that lack a nucleus

Question 15

vacuole def

Answer 15

an organelle that stores key molecules, very prominent in most plant cells

Question 16

chloroplast def

Answer 16

an organelle that contains the molecular machinery required for photosynthesis

Question 17

cell wall def

Answer 17

a stiff structure outside of many types of cells, usually made primarily of carbohydrates

Question 18

ER def

Answer 18

a eukaryotic organelle that forms a branching network of narrow tubes and flattened sacs. the place where proteins, membrane lipids, and other molecules are synthesized and/or processed. can have ribosomes associated with it or not

Question 19

rough er

Answer 19

with ribosomes

Question 20

smooth er

Answer 20

without ribosomes

Question 21

golgi def

Answer 21

an organelle comprised of stacks, flattened sacs, where proteins and other molecules are processed and packaged for shipment to specific destinations.

Question 22

actin filaments def

Answer 22

small-diameter cytoskeletal fibers made of subunits of the protein actin

Question 23

intermediate filaments def

Answer 23

cytoskeletal fibers whose size is intermediate between those of actin filaments and microtubules and can be made from a variety of protein subunits

Question 24

microtubules def

Answer 24

large-diameter, hollow cytoskeletal elements made of pairs of the proteins α-tubulin and β-tubulin.