Cells Flashcards
Role of the cell surface membrane
Regulates the movement of substances in and out of the cell. It has receptor molecules which allow it to respond to chemicals like hormones.
Role of the nucleus
Controls the cells activities through transcription of mRNA, pores in the envelope allow substances to move between the nucleus and cytoplasm.
Role of the mitochondrion
The site of aerobic respiration, where ATP is produced. Found in large numbers in active cells that require a lot of energy.
Role of the chloroplast
Absorbs light energy for photosynthesis to produce organic substances
Structure of chloroplast
Stacked thylakoid membranes make up grana, which are linked together by lamellae. Stroma
Golgi apparatus
Processes proteins from rEr and packages them into Golgi vesicles, can produce lysosomes.
Golgi vesicle
Produced by apparatus, transports lipids and proteins made by the Golgi apparatus and transports them out the cells via the membrane.
Lysosome
Type of vesicle, contains digestive enzyme (lysozyme) . Used to digest invading cells or break down worn out components a cell.
Ribosome
Where proteins are made.
Rough endoplasmic reticulum
Surface covered with ribosomes, folds and processes proteins that have been made at the ribosomes. Proteins packaged into vesicles for transport.
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Synthesises and processes lipids.
Cell wall
Supports cells and prevents them changing shape.
Cell vacuole
Membrane is called tonoplast. Helps to maintain pressure inside the cell and keeps the cell rigid. Stops plants wilting. Involved in isolation of unwanted chemicals in the cell.
Plant cell extra
-Plasmodesmata: Channels for exchanging substances with adjacent cells.
-Vacuoles
-Chloroplasts
Fungal cells differences
-Cells walls made of chitin, not cellulose
-No chloroplasts as they don’t photosynthesise.
Tissues are…
A group of cells working together to perform a particular function.
Prokaryotic v Eukaryotic
- Prokarytic no membrane bound organelles, eukaryotic has membrane bound organelles
- Prokaryotic has smaller ribosomes than eukaryotes
- Prokaryotes have no nucleus, DNA floats free in the cytoplasm, not attached to histone proteins, eukaryotes have a nucleus
-Prokaryotes cell wall is made of murein, eukaryotes made of cellulose or chitin
-Prokaryotes have a capsule, helps protect bacteria from attack by cells of the immune system, eukaryotes don’t
-Prokaryotes have plasmids, small loops of DNA and contain genes, eukaryotes don’t
-Eukaryotes are much larger that prokaryotes
Viruses
Acellular nucleic acids surrounded by protein coat (capsid), which have attachment proteins sticking out.
How do prokaryotes replicate
-Circular DNA and plasmid replicate
-Main loop is only replicated ONCE
-Cell gets larger and DNA loops move to opposite ends
-Cytoplasm starts to divide and new cell wall forms
-Cytoplasm divides and two daughter cells form.
How do viruses replicate within a host
-Attachment proteins bind to complementary receptor proteins
Magnification formula
IAM
Magnification is..
how much bigger the image is than the specimen
Resolution is..
how well a microscope distinguishes between two points that are close together
Optical V Electron
-Optical uses light to form an image, electron uses electrons.
-Optical has a maximum resolution of 0.2 micrometers, electron has a higher resolution.
-Optical’s magnification is much lower than electrons
-Optical microscopes are much cheaper and more accessible
TEMs v SEMS
-TEMs can only be used on thin specimen, SEMs can be used on thick ones
-TEMs give high resolution images, SEMs give lower resolution
-SEMs produce 3D images, TEMs only produce 2D images
-On TEMs denser parts of the specimen absorb more electrons, which make them look darker
How to prepare specimen on a slide
-Pipette a small drop of water onto the slide
-Use tweezers to place a thin section of specimen top of the water
-Add a drop of a stain to highlight objects in a cell.
-Add cover slip on specimen carefully, avoiding air bubbles.
What happens in homogenisation
-Grind cells in a blender which breaks up plasma membrane and releases the organelles into solution
-Ice cold: reduces enzyme activity
-Isotonic: prevent damages to organelles through osmosis
-Buffer: maintains pH
Why is the homogenised solution filtered
Separates large cell debris
What happens in ultracentrifugation
-Place tube with cell fragments into a centrifuge spin at a low speed
-Heaviest organelles sink to the bottom and form a pellet, the others stay suspended in the fluid (supernatant)
-Supernatant is spun again at a higher speed, for longer times until all the organelles are separated out
What is the order of mass of organelles
-Nuclei (heaviest)
-Chloroplasts (plant cells)
-Mitochondria
-Lysosomes
-Endoplasmic Reticulum
-Ribosomes
Gap Phase 1?
Number of organelles and volume of cytoplasm increases, protein synthesis and ATP content increases
S phase?
Cell replicates its DNA, leading to two sister chromatids
Gap Phase 2?
Cell continues to grow and proteins needed for cell division are made
What happens in prophase?
Chromosomes condense, getting shorter and thicker. Centrioles move to opposite ends of the cell forming spindle fibres. Nuclear envelope breaks down.
What happens in metaphase?
Chromosomes line up along the middle of the cell and becomes attached to the spindle by their centromeres.
What happens in anaphase?
Centromeres divide, and the spindles fibres contract pulling chromatids two opposite poles.
What happens in telophase?
Chromatids uncoil and become long and thin again, they’re now chromosomes. A nuclear envelope forms around each group of chromosomes.
What happens in cytokinesis
Cytoplasm divides and there are now two genetically identical daughter cells.
Where in plants can cells undergoing mitosis be found
Meristem tissue at shoot root and tips
How to prepare a root tip slide
-Warm 1 mol dm-3 of HCl at 60 degrees C in a water bath
-Cut root tip using scalped and add to the HCl, leave for 5 minutes
-Remove from acid and wash with distilled water
-Cut the tip of the root tip and place on a slide
-Add a stain to make chromosomes visible
Hazards-RP2
-HCL is corrosive, avoid contact with skin and wear eye protection
-Toluidine Blue stain is an irritant, avoid contact with skin and wear eye protection
-Scalpel is sharp, cut away from fingers
How do tumours arise
-Cell cycle is controlled by genes
-If there’s a mutation in gene that controls division, cells can grow out of control
-Cells divide to make lots of cells, which forms a tumour
Cancer treatments that target cell cycle
G1- Chemical drugs prevent synthesis of enzymes required for DNA replication, if they’re not produced cell can’t enter s phase and will kill itself.
S- Radiation can damage DNA. Just before and during S phase, DNA is checked for damage and if damage is severe, the cell will kill itself
How to observe cells using a microscope
-Clip the slide to a stage
-Select lowest-powered objective lens
-Use course adjustment knob to rise stage
-Look through eyepiece and use the CAK to lower the stage until the image is slightly focused
-Adjust focus with fine adjustment knob until image is clear
-For greater magnification, switch to higher-powered objective lens
Describe the stucture of the fluid mosaic model
-Phospholipid molecules form a bilayer, which is fluid as phospholipids move
-Cholesterol is present in the bilayer
-Proteins present in the bilayer
Structure of phospholipids
Hydrophilic head
Hydrophobic tail
Centre is hydrophobic, the membrane doesn’t allow water soluble substances through it