cells Flashcards
Describe the cell surface membrane
Found on the surface of animal cells and just inside the cell wall of other cells. Mainly lipids and proteins. Regulates the movement in and out of cells. Also has receptors to allow it to respond to chemicals
Describe the nucleus
Large organelle surrounded by a nuclear envelope which contains many pores. Nucleus contains chromosomes (made from linear protein bound DNA), and one or more nucleolus . Controls cells activities by controlling DNA transcription. Pores allow substances to move between nucleus and the cytoplasm. Nucleolus makes ribosomes
Describe mitochondria
Double membrane bound. Inner one folded to form cristae. Inside is matrix which contains enzymes involved in respiration. Site aerobic respiration, which produces ATP. Found in large numbers in cells are very active
Describe chloroplasts
Double membrane bound. Membranes inside called thylakoids. Stack of thylakoids called grana, which are linked by lamellae. Site of photosynthesis. Some parts happen in grana others in stroma (fluid in chloroplasts).
Describe the Golgi apparatus
Group of fluid filled membrane bound flattened sacs. Vesicles are often seen at the edges. Processes and packages new lipids and proteins and also makes lysosomes
Describe the golgi vesicles
Small fluid filled sac in cytoplasm, surrounded by a membrane and produced by the Golgi. Stores lipids and proteins made by the Golgi and transports them out of the cell
Describe the lysosomes
Round organelle surrounded by membrane. Type of Golgi vesicle which contains digestive enzymes called lysozymes. Can be used to digest invading cells or break down worn out components of the cell
Describe the ribosome
Small organelle floating free in cytoplasm and attached to the rER. Made up of proteins and RNA and not membrane bound. Site of protein synthesis
Describe the rough endoplasmic reticulum
System of membranes enclosing a fluid filled space. Surface covered with ribosomes. Folds and processes proteins that have been made at ribosomes
Describe the smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Similar to rER but no ribosomes. Synthesises and processes lipids
Describe the cell wall
Rigid structure that surrounds plant, algal and fungal cells. Plants and algae= cellulose. Fungi= chitin. Supports plants and prevents them changing shape
Define tissue, organ and organ system
Tissue: a group of cells working together to carry out a function
Organ: different tissues working together
Organ system: different organs working together
Describe a prokaryotic cell wall
Made of murein (a glycoprotein). Supports the cell and prevents it changing shape
Describe the flagellum
Long hair like structure that rotates to make cell move
Describe prokaryotic DNA
Floats free in cytoplasm. Circular DNA, present as one long coiled up strand. Not attached to any histone proteins
Describe plasmids
Small loops of DNA that aren’t part of the main circular DNA molecule. Can be passed between prokaryotes
Describe plasmids
Small loops of DNA that aren’t part of the main circular DNA molecule. Can be passed between prokaryotes
Describe the process of binary fission
- Circular DNA and plasmids replicate. Main DNA loop once but plasmids multiple times
- Cell gets bigger and DNA loops move to opposite poles of the cells
What does acellular mean?
Not cells or living things
Describe the structure of a virus
No cell surface membrane, cytoplasm or ribosomes. Have a protein coat called a capsid, with attachment proteins sticking out. These allow the viruses to cling on to a suitable host cell
Describe the process of viral replications
- Virus attaches to host cell receptor proteins
- Genetic material is released into cell
- Genetic material and proteins are replicated by host cell ‘machinery’
- Viral components assemble
- Replicated viruses released from host cell
What does magnification and resolution mean?
Magnification: how many times bigger the image is than the specimen
Resolution: how well a microscope distinguishes between two points that are close together
What are artefacts?
Things seen down microscope that aren’t part of specimen (e.g fingerprints, dust etc)
What are optical and electron microscopes?
Optical microscope: uses light to form an image. Max resolution of approx 0.2 micrometers. Can see nuclei and potentially mitochondria. max. magnification of x1500
Electron microscope: uses electrons to form image. Higher resolution so gives a more detailed image. Max resolution of 0.0002 micrometers and magnification of x1500000. Produces black and white images
What are transmission electron microscopes and scanning electron microscopes?
TEM: uses electromagnets to form a beam of electrons, which is then transmitted through specimen. Denser parts absorb more so look darker on image. Gives high resolution images but can only view very thin specimens and only dead specimens as uses a vacuum.
SEM: scans a beam of electrons across specimen, knocking electrons off specimen which are gathered in a cathode tube to form an image. Shows surface of specimen and could be 3D. Can be used on thicker specimens but lower resolution than TEM. Also can only use dead specimens
How would you prepare a temporary mount?
Pipette a small drop of water onto centre of slide. Use tweezers to place thin section of specimen onto water drop. Add drop of stain and add cover slip, being careful to not get air bubbles
How would you carry out cell fractionation?
Homogenisation: physically break up cell by either vibrating or blending. Breaks up plasma membrane and releases cells into solution. Solution must be kept ice cold and isotonic, and a buffer must be used
Filtration: cell solution filtered through gauze to separate large cell/tissue debris
Ultracentrifugation: cell fragments poured into tube, which is put into a centrifuge and spun at low speed. Heaviest organelle (nuclei) separate and form the pellet at the bottom. Rest of the organelles remain in solution- supernatant. Supernatant drained and poured into new tube and process repeated at higher speed each time
Order: nuclei, chloroplasts, mitochondria, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes
what is the cell cycle?
starts when a cel has been produced by cell division and ends with the cell dividing to produce two identical cells. consists of interphase and mitosis. interphase consists of G1, S and G2
describe interphase:
cell carries out normal functions but also prepares to divide. Cell’s DNA is unravelled and replicated to double its genetic content. Organelles are also replicated so it has spare ones and its ATP content is increased.
G1- cell grows and new organelles and proteins are made.
S- cell replicates its DNA, ready to divide by mitosis.
G2- cell keeps growing and proteins needed for cell division are made
What do chromosomes look like at the start of mitosis?
As mitosis begins, chromosomes are made of two sister chromatids joined by a centromere. Two chromatids because identical copy made during S phase of interphase
Describe the process of mitosis:
Prophase: chromosomes condense, getting shorter and fatter. Centrioles start moving to opposite ends of cell, forming network of protein fibres called the spindle. Nuclear envelope breaks down and chromosomes lie free in cytoplasm
Metaphase: chromosomes line up along middle of cell and become attached to the spindle by their centromere
Anaphase: centromeres divide, separating each pair of sister chromatids. Spindles contract, pulling each chromatid to opposite poles of cell, centromeres first. Chromatids appear V-shaped
Telophase: chromatids reach opposite poles on the spindle. Uncoil and become long and thin (now chromosomes again). Nuclear envelope forms around each group of chromosomes so now 2 nuclei. Cytoplasm divides (cytokinesis), and now 2 genetically identical daughter cells.
how do you calculate mitotic index?
number of cells with visible chromosomes / total number of cells observed
Define tumour and cancer:
Tumour- mass of cells which divide uncontrollably
Cancer- tumour that invades surrounding cells
How do cancer treatments work and affect different stages of the cell cycle?
designed to disrupt the cell cycle in order to control the rate of cell division. Treatments are unable to distinguish between normal and tumour cells. However tumour cells divide much more rapidly than normal cells, so more likely to kill tumour cells
G1 (cell growth and protein production)- some chemo prevents the synthesis of enzymes needed for DNA replication. If these aren’t produced, cells are unable to enter S phase, disrupting cell cycle and forcing cell to kill itself
S (DNA replication)- radiation and some drugs damage DNA. At several points in the cell cycle, DNA is checked for damage. If severe damage is detected, the cell will kill itself