Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Biology Unit 2 > Cell Types and Requirements > Flashcards

Cell Types and Requirements Flashcards

1
Q

What is a cell?

A
  • The basic structural unit of all forms of life on Earth.
  • All living things are made up of one or more cells.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a heterotroph?

A

An organism that can obtain energy by consuming organic substances (animal or plant tissue).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is an autotroph?

A

An organism that can use light or chemical energy to synthesise food from simple inorganic substances (photosynthesis).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a chemotroph?

A

A small group of bacteria that are able to create sugars (organic molecules) from inorganic compounds without sunlight (chemosynthesis).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the cell theory?

A

1.The cell is the most basic unit of life.
2. All cells arise from pre-existing cells.
3. Every living organism is made up of one or more cells.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are chemical reactions?

A

Cellular processes build and break down complex molecules through chemical reactions. Chemical reactions are occuring in your body at all times.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the 2 types of chemical reactions?

A
  • Exothermic
  • Endothermic
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are exothermic reactions?

A

Reactions that release energy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are endothermic reactions?

A

Reactions that absorb energy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What do exothermic and endothermic reactions require?

A

The require energy to proceed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is metabolism?

A

Metabolism is the sum of all of the chemical reactions occuring in a body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What types of energy enter/exit cells?

A
  • Light from the sun
    AND/OR
  • Chemical energy stored in complex molecules
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What types of matter enter/exit cells?

A
  • Gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide
  • Simple nutrients, ions and water
  • Wastes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe prokaryotic cells.

A
  • Simplest type of cell
  • Small in size 1 -10μm long 0.2 - 2μm diameter
  • Have difficultly in performing multiple functions at the same time
  • Lack membrane bound organelles, including a nucleus
  • Belong to the Domains - Bacteria and Archaea
  • Exist as single cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe the cytoplasm in prokaryotic cells.

A
  • Makes up the bulk of the cell and contains ribosomes, cytosol, plasmids and circular chromosomes.
  • Cytosol is the semi fluid component of the cytoplasm, it contains many dissolved substances.
  • Chemical reactions that enable the cell to live are carried out here.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe the ribosomes in prokaryotic cells.

A
  • Scattered freely throughout the cytosol.
  • Only distinguishable organelles in a prokaryotic cell.
  • Not bound by a membrane.
  • Site of protein synthesis (joining of amino acids to form proteins).
  • Proteins are required for cell growth, repair and general cell functioning.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe the genetic material in prokaryotic cells.

A
  • The genetic code in DNA differs between different species of bacteria.
  • Most contain a single circular chromosome (not visible by light microscope) which is in direct contact with the cytoplasm.
  • Chromosome contain the instructions for making different proteins.
  • Numerous small rings of DNA (plasmids) may also be present. These can reproduce independently of the main chromosome.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe eukaryotic cells.

A
  • More complex type of cells.
  • Made up of organelles/membrane bound compartments that perform specialist functions, including photosynthesis and respiration.
  • Organelles allow for the synthesis of complex molecules, storage of substances for chemical reactions and for the entry and exit of substances out of the cell/
  • Belong to the Kingdoms - Protist, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.
19
Q

What cellular structures do plants and animals have?

A

Cell membrane, cytoplasm and cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum (rough and smooth), golgi apparatus, lysosomes, mitochondria, nucleus, ribosomes and centrosomes and centrioles.

20
Q

What cellular structures do only plants have?

A

Chloroplast, cell wall and large vacuole.

21
Q

What is the cell membrane and its function?

A

A flexible phospholipid bilayer that controls the entry and exit of substances and encloses the cell.
- Cell membranes can engulf large particles in liquids in its environment in a process known as endocytosis. It surrounds and encloses the material to form an endocytotic vesicle within the cell, which it then uses to store or transport the material within the cytoplasm.
- Exocytosis occurs when a small membrane bound vesicles move through the cytosol and joins with the cell membrane and then releases its contents to the exterior of the cell.

22
Q

What is the cytoplasm/cytosol and its function?

A

All of the cell’s contents (including organelles) between the nuclear membrane and the cell membrane. The cytosol is the semi-liquid (jelly-like) part of the cytoplasm and does not include the organelles. Metabolic activity occurs both in the organelles (in the cytoplasm) and the cytosol.

23
Q

What is the endoplasmic reticulum and its function?

A
  • An interconnecting system of thin membrane sheets dividing the cytoplasm into compartments and channels.
  • The membrane of the ER is able to pinch off small sacs called vesicles and deliver proteins to all parts.
24
Q

What is the rough endoplasmic reticulum and its function?

A
  • Most of the ER is studded with ribosomes rough endoplasmic reticulum. The proteins produced by the ribosomes move directly into the ER to be moved about the cell.
  • Some proteins are exported or secreted into other cells (e.g. hormones and enzymes).
  • Therefore the ER is both an intercellular and intracellular transport system within the cell.
25
Q

What is the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and its function?

A
  • Parts with no ribosomes attached is known as the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The amount and function of smooth ER depends on the cell type.
  • Its main role is to transport proteins, synthesise lipids and to assist in the manufacture of cell membranes. In liver cells it also detoxifies drugs and in adrenal cortical cells it produces the steroid hormone. Some carbohydrates are produced on the smooth ER. It is also the place for the storage of calcium ions used in muscle contraction and some interactions between membrane proteins.
26
Q

What is the Golgi apparatus and its function?

A
  • The Golgi apparatus consists of a system of membranes within the cytoplasm. Parts of the Golgi apparatus membrane are able to pinch off into small vesicles. These vesicles move to the so membrane where they joined to the membrane and discharge their contents to the outside of the cell.
  • Proteins produced by the ribosomes in the endoplasmic reticulum move into the Golgi apparatus were they’re package and stored before being secreted from the cell to move to other parts of the body.
27
Q

What is a lysosome and its function?

A
  • Recycle the raw materials that make up old organelles.
  • They are formed by the Golgi apparatus and contain digestive enzymes that are responsible for splitting complex chemical compounds into simpler ones. For example splitting proteins down into amino acids. These simpler substances can then be used as building blocks for new compounds and organelles.
  • Programmed cell death occurs when the lysosome’s membrane ruptures and releases the enzymes which digest the contents of the cell, killing it.
28
Q

What is the nucleus and its function?

A

The structure that contains most of a cell’s DNA. It includes:
- Nuclear membrane with nuclear pores.
- A nucleolus - production of ribosomes.
- Chromatin - loose form of DNA.

29
Q

What are ribosomes and their function?

A

A non-membranous structure that carries out protein synthesis.

30
Q

What are centrosomes and centrioles and their function?

A

The structures that play a major role in cell division. The centrosome is located at one end of the cell, close to the nucleus. In many cells microtubules grow out from a centrosome. In animal cells, the centrosome has a pair of centrioles.

31
Q

What is the cell wall and its function?

A

A structure made of tough cellulose fibres which protects the plant cell, maintains its shape and prevents excessive uptake of water.

32
Q

What is the large vacuole and its function?

A

A plant cell may have one or several large vacuoles that can store water, nutrients, metabolic wastes and toxins. In plant cells full vacuoles can provide rigidity of the whole organism.

33
Q

Describe the protein pathway in cells.

A
  1. Protein-building instructions move from the nucleus into the cytoplasm.
  2. The protein chains are manufactured on ribosomes.
  3. Some protein chains have signal peptides so they enter the lumen of the ER and are chemically modified.
  4. Lipids are manufactured in the membrane of the smooth ER.
  5. Vesicles, which bud from the ER membrane, transport unfinished proteins and lipids to a Golgi apparatus.
  6. Proteins and lipids take on final form in the space inside the golgi apparatus.
  7. Vesicles budding from the golgi membrane transports finished products to the cell membrane where they are released by exocytosis.
34
Q

What are stem cells?

A

Stem cells are cells that have the potential to develop into specific kinds of cells, examples include bone marrow, cardiac muscle and neural cells.

35
Q

What are specialised cells?

A

Specialised cells are cells that are able to perform a specific function.

36
Q

What is photosynthesis?

A
  • Photosynthesis is a metabolic process that converts light form the sun into stored chemical energy in the form of carbohydrates.
  • Carbon dioxide and water combine in the presence of light and chlorophyll to produce sugars and oxygen.
  • Chlorophyll absorbs light to make it available for photosynthesis.
37
Q

Where does photosynthesis occur?

A

Chloroplast

38
Q

What is the chemical equation for photosynthesis (balanced)?

A

6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

39
Q

Describe the structure of chloroplast.

A
  • Stroma - Jelly like semi fluid interior of the chloroplast. Has the appropriate pH and enzymes required for the calvin cycle.
  • Thylakoids - Small flatten discs, contain chlorophyll, site for light dependent reactions.
  • Granum - Stacks of thylakoids that increase the surface area to volume ratio.
  • Lamella- Links the granum.
40
Q

What is respiration?

A
  • Metabolic process that coverts stored energy (such as that in glucose) into a usable form of energy stored in ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
  • A series of chemical reactions that use glucose and oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water. During certain stages of respiration, energy is released which is used to build up molecules of ATP. ATP is an energy storage molecule that is used to power cellular processes.
41
Q

Where does respiration occur?

A

First stage occurs in the cytoplasm, the second stage occurs in the mitochondria.

42
Q

What is the chemical equation for respiration (balanced)?

A

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O

43
Q

Describe the structure of a mitochondria.

A
  • Outer membrane – the outer membrane contains transport proteins that enable the shuttling of pyruvate from the cytosol.
  • Inner membrane – contains the electron transport chain and ATP synthase (used for oxidative phosphorylation).
  • Cristae – the inner membrane is arranged into folds (cristae) that increase the SA:Vol ratio (more available surface).
  • Inter-membrane space – small space between membranes maximises hydrogen gradient upon proton accumulation.
  • Matrix – central cavity that contains appropriate enzymes and a suitable pH for the Krebs cycle to occur.

Biology Unit 2 (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions