Cell Structure Flashcards
structure of eukaryotes, structure of prokaryotes & viruses, methods of studying cells & all cells arise from other cells
What are eukaryotes and prokaryotes?
Eukaryotic: DNA is contained in a nucleus, contains membrane-bound specialised organelles e.g. plant, animal and fungi
Prokaryotic: DNA is ‘free’ in cytoplasm, no organelles e.g. bacteria and archaea
Structure of the Nucleus?
- large membrane-bound organelle, surrounded by nuclear envelope which contains many pores
- nucleus contains chromosomes and 1 or more structure called a nucleolus (assembles cell’s ribosomes)
The function of a nucleus?
- houses the cell’s genetic material/DNA, and is also the site of synthesis for ribosomes (nucleolus) = the cellular machines that assemble proteins
Structure of the cell-surface membrane?
- found on the surface of animal cells and just inside cell wall of others (plants)
- phospholipid bilayer with intrinsic and extrinsic proteins
Function of the cell-surface membrane?
- regulates movement of substances in and out of cell
- also has receptor molecules on it, which allow it to respond to chemicals like hormones
Structure of mitochondrion?
- oval shaped
- double membrane (inner one folded to form cristae and inside is matrix which contains enzymes involved in respiration)
Function of mitochondrion?
- site of aerobic respiration, where ATP is produced
- Found in large numbers in cells that are v actice and require a lot of energy
Structure of the Golgi Apparatus?
- group of membrane-bound fluid-filled flattened sacs
- vesicles are often seen at edge of sacs
Function of Golgi Apparatus?
- processes and packages new lipids and proteins.
- also makes lysosomes
Structure of Golgi Vesicle?
- membrane-bound
- small fluid-filled sac in cytoplasm, and produced by golgi apparatus
The function of Golgi vesicle?
- stores lipids and proteins made by the Golgi apparatus and transports them out of the cell (via cell-surface membrane)
Structure of the lysosome?
- type of golgi vesicle
- round organelle surrounded by membrane
- no clear internal structure
Function of the lysosomes?
- contains lysozymes (digestive enzymes)
- lysozymes kept separate from cytoplasm by surrounding membrane
- can be used to digest invading cells or break down worn-out components of cell
Structure of ribosomes?
- very small organelle that floats freely in cytoplasm or is attached to rough endoplasmic reticulum
- made up of proteins and RNA
- not surrounded by a membrane
Function of ribosomes?
- site where proteins are made
Structure of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) ?
- a system of membranes enclosing a fluid-filled space
- surface covered w ribosomes
Function of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) ?
- folds and processes proteins that have been made at the ribosomes
Structure of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) ?
similar to RER but no ribosomes
Function of SER?
synthesizes and processes lipids
Structure of chloroplast?
- small, flattened structure found in plants and algal cells
- surrounded by double membrane
- Inside the chloroplast are stacks of thylakoids, called grana, as well as stroma, the dense fluid inside of the chloroplast
Purpose of thylakoids
- thylakoids contain chlorophyll (which absorbs light) that is necessary for the plant to go through photosynthesis
Function of chloroplast?
- site of photosynthesis takes place
- some parts happen in the grana and others in the stroma (thick fluid)
Structure of the cell wall?
- rigid structure that surrounds cells in plants and fungi
- in plants/algae it’s made mainly of cellulose
- in fungi, it’s made of chitin (polysaccharides)
Function of cell wall?
- provides strength to the cell, which helps protect the cell against physical damage
- prevents it from changing shape
Structure of cell vacuole?
- membrane-bound organelle found in cytoplasm of plant cells
- contains cell sap - weak solution of sugars & salts
- surronding membrane called tonoplast
What is tonoplast?
- cytoplasmic membrane surrounding the vacuole
- separating the vacuolar contents from the cytoplasm in a cell
Function of the vacuole?
- helps maintain pressure inside cell and keep cell rigid, stops plant wilting
- also involved in isolation of unwanted chemicals inside the cell
Organelles that plant cells contain & others don’t?
- cellulose cell wall with plasmodesmata (‘channels’ for exchanging substances with adjacent cells)
- vacuole (compartment that contains cell sap)
- chloroplast
Name the parts of a bacteria cell
- cytoplasm
- plasma membrane
- cell wall
- capsule
- plasmids
- circular DNA
- flagellum (pl. flagella)
How are specialized cells organized?
into tissues, tissues into organs & organs in organ systems
e.g.
tissue - muscle tissue
organs - animal heart
organ systems - female reproductive system - includes uterus, ovaries, mammary glands & breasts
Compare prokaryotes and eukaryotes
- prokaryotic cells are smaller
- prokaryotic cells are unicellular, eukaryotic cells are often multicellular
- prokaryotic cells have no nucleus or membrane, eukaryotes have nucleus & membrane-bound organelles
- in prokaryotes, DNA is circular w/o proteins, in eukaryotic cells DNA linear & associated with protein to form chromatin
- in prokaryotes, cell division by binary fission, in eukaryotes cell division is by mitosis or meiosis
- in prokaryotes reproduction is asexual, in eukaryotes, it’s sexual or asexual
- in prokaryotes there’s a huge variety of metabolic pathways but common metabolic pathways for eukaryotes
- in prokaryotes ribosomes are small (70S), in eukaryotes ribosomes are large (80S)
Cells of prokaryotes and eukaryotes?
- prokaryotes are simple, single-celled organisms
- eukaryotes are complex multicellular organisms
Examples of eukaryotes?
animal, plant, fungi and algae cells
Example of prokaryotes?
Bacteria
What kind of organism are viruses?
Acellular, they’re not cells
How do viruses replicate?
- being non-living, viruses don’t undergo cell division
- they use host cells to replicate themselves
Describe how Viruses Replicate
- viruses use host cells
- use their attachment protein to bind to complementary receptor proteins on the surface of host cells (different viruses have different attachment proteins)
- inject their own DNA (or RNA) into host cell, which provides instructions for metabolic processes of host cell to produce viral components, which are then assembled into new viruses
Describe the structure of a virus
- smaller than bacteria
- contains nucleic acids (e.g, DNA or RNA) as their genetic material
- attachment proteins vital for virus to identify and attach to host cell
- nucleic acid enclosed within protein called CAPSID
Describe Mitosis cell structure practical (RP 2)
- cut root tip (e.g. from onion)
- put root tip in HCl (1 mol dm-3) and in water bath (60 degrees C)
- rinse root tip w/ cold water and dry/blot
- place on microscopic slide (2mm of tip) and spread w/ mounted needle
- Add a stain (touidine blue O) to see cells
- place cover slip on top to sqaush cells
- place under microscopic microscope
Give 3 controlled variables to ensure similar root growth in plants (with reasons) in mitosis practical
- all plants of same age (so same time for cell divisions)
- all plants given same watering (so same amount of water for cell expansion)
- all plants given same light (same rate of photosynthesis)
Why is a root tip used in mitosis practical?
it’s where mitosis occurs
why is a stain used in mitosis practical?
to distinguish chromosomes - not visible w/o stain
why is root tip firmly squashed?
make tissue thinner and allow light to pass through it
What could make results different from others in mitosis practical?
- temp
- age of root tip
- chance
- genetic differences / different type of onion (or garlic)
- water availability