cells Flashcards
What are the principles of cell theory ?
- All living organisms are composed of one or more cells
- The cell is the smallest and most basic unit of life
- Cells arise from pre-existing cells
How is SA:V ratio affected when cell size increases ?
SA:V decreases
What are the two types of cells ?
Prokaryotic cells
Eukaryotic cells
Why is a large SA:V ratio of cells bad ?
The cell surface membrane does not have sufficient surface area to support the rate of diffusion required for larger cell volume
Which type of cells are smaller ?
Prokaryotes
What does the small size of prokaryotes allow for ?
Allows ions and molecules that enter to quickly diffuse to other parts of the cell while any waste products can quickly diffuse out
What are the two types of microscopes ?
Light microscope
Electron microscope
Which type of microscope is used to see the organelles within eukaryotic cells?
Electron microscope
What is cell fractionation ?
A technique used to separate and isolate specific organelles so as to study their respective features and functions
What are the two steps in cell fractionation ?
Homogenisation
Centrifugation
What is homogenisation ?
The process of breaking open cells to release their cellular contents
How are cells broken apart through homogenisation ?
Cutting or grinding process using chemicals, enzymes, sound waves or forcing cells through small spaces at high pressure
What is centrifugation ?
The separation and isolation of the difference size cell organelles using centrifugal force
What are the two types of centrifugal techniques ?
Differential centrifugation
Density gradient centrifugation
What does differential centrifugation involve ?
A series of centrifugation at successively higher speeds, spinning down organelles of increasingly smaller sizes
What does density gradient centrifugation involve ?
Setting up a sucrose gradient and organelles of specific sized will migrate during centrifugation to form a band at the position in the gradient where its own density equals that of the sucrose solution
What are the three major differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes ?
- Location of DNA
- Presence of membrane-bound organelles
- Internal membranes
Where is DNA located in eukaryotes and prokaryotes ?
Euk :
- linear DNA found in nucleus, enclosed by nuclear envelope
- mitochondria and chloroplast also contain DNA
Prok :
- circular DNA found in nucleoid region not enclosed by membrane
- smaller circular DNA molecules, plasmids, are found throughout the cytoplasm
What are the membrane bound organelles found in euk and prok ?
Euk :
- double membrane bound (nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplast)
- single membrane bound (ER, GA, lysosome)
Prok :
- no membrane bound organelles
- have few organelles than euk
What is the membrane system in euk called ? Function ?
Endomembrane system
- involved in the synthesis, transport and modification of proteins and lipids
What makes up the endomembrane system in euks ?
Nucleus
Rough endoplasmic reticulum
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Golgi apparatus
Lysosomes and vesicles
What are the three non-membrane bound organelles in an euk ?
Ribosomes
Centrioles
Nucleolus
Describe nucleus structure
Spherical shape
Enclosed by a double membrane called the nuclear envelope
- nuclear pores present
- outer membrane is continuous with rER
Nucleoplasm, semi-fluid matrix, fills nucleus
Presence of nucleolus
What is the function of nuclear pores present on nuclear envelope ?
Function as channels for regulated movement of molecules between nucleus and cytoplasm
What does the nucleolus contain?
Genes coding for ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA)
What is the function of the nucleolus ?
Functions as the site of transcription of rRNA and assembly of ribosomal subunits
What are the functions of the nucleus ?
Stores hereditary material (DNA) of an organism essential to provide continuity of genetic information to next generation of cells
DNA within the nucleus contains genes which are templates for protein synthesis
Nucleus controls and directs cell activities by regulating gene expression and protein synthesis