Cells Flashcards
Includes: cell theory, the ultrastructure of cells, membrane structure, membrane transport, the origin of cells, cell division
According to cell theory….
- Living organisms are composed of cells
- The cell is the smallest unit of life
- Cells can arise from pre-existing cells
What are the exceptions to cell theory?
- fungal hyphae- continuous cytoplasm
- muscle cells- multinucleated
- algae cells - unicellular organisms that are large
What are the 7 functions of life?
- metabolism
- homeostasis
- excretion
- growth
- nutrition
- reproduction
- sensitivity
What is the cell’s volume?
the rate of metabolism is a function of cell’s mass
What is the cell’s surface area?
The rate of material exchange is the function of the cell’s surface area.
What is the relationship between the volume and surface area of the cell?
As a cell grows the volume (units3), it increases faster than the surface area (units3)
- if the metabolic requirements exceed the material exchange the cell will die
- cell must stay small or increase the SA:Vol ratio to survive
What is the formula for magnification (MIA)?
Magnification= Image Size / Actual Size
What is the formula for the Actual Size (AIM)?
Actual Size = Imagine Size / Magnification
Remember 1000um = 1 mm
What are the emergent properties?
Function that is present in multicellular organisms, but not present in its individual component cell. They arise from the interactions between individual cells to produce new functions.
Difference between the light and electron microscopes
- light microscopes have lower magnification and can view living specimens in natural colors
- electron microscopes can only view dead specimens in monochrome and have higher magnification
What are stem cells?
The unspecialized cells that have two qualities:
- self renewal- they can continously divide and replicate
- potency- they have capacity to differentiate
2 types of stem cells and explain them
- Adult stem cells - multipotent, meaning they can differentiate into a limited range of cell types specific to the tissue or organ in which they are found.
- Embryonic stem cells -pluripotent, meaning they have the potential to differentiate into any cell type in the body.
Explain totipotent cells
can form any cell type as well as the extra-embryonic tissue
Explain pluripotent cells
can form any cell type e.g. embryonic stem cells
Multipotent cells
can differentiate into closely related cell types
Unipotent
cannot differentiate but are capable of self-renewal
Describe the stem cell therapy
This therapy can replace damaged or diseased cells with healthy ones. The therapeutic use of stem cells involves:
- harvesting stem cells from appropriate sources
- triggering cell differentiation
- monitoring new cells to ensure they do not become cancerous
- implanting new cells
Explain the stem therapy of the Stargardt’s disease
Replacing defective retinal cells
Explain the stem therapy of the Parkinson’s disease
Replacing damaging nerve cells
Explain the stem therapy of the Leukemia disease
Replacement of bone marrow
State the definition of cell differentiation
It means that each cell contains the entire set of genetic instructions for certain organism. Differentiation involves the expression of some genes. The activation of different genes within a given cell will cause it to develop differently from other cells.
Describe the stem cell from the embryo
- growth potential: high
- tumour risk: high
- disadvantages: requires the destruction of the embryo
Describe the stem cell from the umbilical cord blood
- growth potential: low
- tumour risk: low
- disadvantages: cells must be stored from birth at cost
Describe the stem cell from the adult tissue
- growth potential: low
- tumour risk: low
- disadvantages: may be restriction in availability
Gene packaging
The process where the DNA is packaged within proteins as chromatin in the nuclei of eukaryotic cells.
- active genes are loosely packed as eurochromatin
- inactive genes are packed tight as heterochromatin
The cell wall in the plant cells
- contain the cell wall that is made up of cellulose -> it supports the cell and limits its volume
What the plant cell consists of?
- smooth ER
- rough ER
- nucleus
- mitochondrion
- vacuole
- chloroplast
- ribosomes
- cell wall
- membrane
- cytoplasm
- golgi body
The function of chloroplast
it contains chlorophyll which is a site for photosynthesis and this process occurs in leaves
What is the chloroplast made of?
- DNA
- rybosomes
- outer and inner membranes
- thylakoid
- granum(the whole sac o thylakoids)
- stroma
Structure of mitochondria
structures bounded by the a double membrane. The inner membrane of these forms cristae. The fluid inside mitochondria is called matrix. It contains DNA, ribosomes, proton pumps and ATP synthase.
Function of mitochondria
- produce ATP by cell respiration, site of aerobic respiration
Explain the ER
Comprises a network of tubes and flattened sacs. It is continuous with the plasma membrane and nuclear membrane. The types of ER are:
- smooth- without ribosomes
- rough - with ribosomes
Function of smooth ER
- transporting materials between organelles and synthesis of metabolism
Function of rough ER
- transporting materials between organelles and synthesis of proteins
What is the function of Golgi apparatus?
- storing and modifying proteins for specific functions and prepares them for transport to other parts of the cell
Structure of Golgi apparatus?
- transport vehicles
- secretory vehicles - transporting hormones
- lumen - inner space
- cisternae - outer space
Lysosomes (only animal cells)
Membrane bound organelles that contain the digestive enzymes
What are perixisomes?
self-replicating organelles containing oxidative enzymes
Rybosomes
small molecules that do not have any membrane. their function is to synthesize proteins. site of translation.
What is the structure of ribosomes?
- small subunit
- large subunit
- proteins + rRNA
Where are 70s and 80s ribosomes?
- 70S in prokaryotic cells, mitochondria and chloroplasts
- 80S in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells
Centriosome (only animal cells)
cellular structure involved in the process of cell division ( meiosis and mitosis ) and it contains the set of microtubules.
Structure of animal cells
- lyzosome
- ribosomes
- mitochondrion
- nucleus
- ER
- vacuole
- golgi apparatus
- cytoplasm
- membrane
Function of nucleus
It stores genetic information and it is the site of transcription
Structure of nucleus
It contains the nuclear membrane, nuclear pores, nucleolus, and chromatin.
What are the differences between the animal cells and plant cells?
- animal cells do not have chloroplasts, cell wall, no plasmodesmata
- animal cells have temporary vacuoles but plant cells have large central vacuole
- cholesterol present in the animal cells
- animal cells have glycogen and plant cells have starch
Plasmodesmata function (only plant cells)
They connect the cytoplasm of neighboring cells causing an exchange of materials.
Double membrane is called also
nuclear envelope
Structure of prokaryotic cells
- fimbriae (sex pilli)
- plasmids
- cytoplasm
- cell wall
- capsule
- cell membrane
- flagellum
- ribosomes
- circular chromosome (DNA)
Function of pilus
used for bacterial conjugation
Function of fimbriae
used for attachement not movement
Function of plasmids
exchanged via sex pilli in conjugation