Chapter 1: Cells Flashcards
What are the 4 Parts of Cell Theory?
The cell theory has four basic tenets:
- All living things are composed of cells.
- The cell is the basic functional unit of life.
- Cells arise only from preexisting cells.
- Cells carry genetic information in the form of DNA. This genetic
material is passed on from parent to daughter cell.
According to Cell Theory, what are Viruses?
Viruses are not considered living things because they are acellular, cannot reproduce without the assistance of a host cell, and may use RNA as their genetic material.
What are Eukaryotes?
Eukaryotes have membrane-bound organelles, a nucleus, and may
form multicellular organisms
What is Cytosol?
The cytosol suspends the organelles and allows diffusion of molecules throughout the cell.
What are genes?
DNA is organized into coding regions called genes.
A gene is a specific sequence of DNA that acts as the basic unit of heredity, passed from parents to offspring, containing instructions for making proteins which ultimately determine physical traits like eye color or hair type; essentially, genes are the building blocks of our inherited characteristics
What are cell membranes composed of?
The cell membrane and membranes of organelles contain phospholipids, which organize to form hydrophilic interior and exterior surfaces with a hydrophobic core.
What is the Nucleus?
The nucleus contains DNA organized into chromosomes. It is surrounded by the nuclear membrane or envelope, a double membrane that contains nuclear pores for two-way exchange of materials between the nucleus and cytosol.
What is the nucleolus?
The nucleolus is a subsection of the nucleus in which ribosomal
RNA (rRNA) is synthesized.
What are Mitochondria?
They generate most of the chemical energy needed to power the cell’s biochemical reactions.
Mitochondria contain an outer and inner membrane.
The outer membrane forms a barrier with the cytosol; the inner membrane is folded into cristae and contains enzymes for the electron transport
chain.
Between the membranes is the intermembrane space; inside
the inner mitochondrial membrane is the mitochondrial matrix.
Mitochondria can divide independently of the nucleus via binary fission and can trigger apoptosis by releasing mitochondrial enzymes into the cytoplasm.
What are Lysosomes?
contain hydrolytic enzymes that can break down substances ingested by endocytosis and cellular waste products.
When these enzymes are released, autolysis of the cell can occur.
What is autolysis?
the destruction of cells or tissues by their own enzymes, especially those released by lysosomes.
What is endoplasmic reticulum (ER)?
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a series of interconnected membranes and is continuous with the nuclear envelope.
What is The rough
ER (RER)?
The rough ER (RER) is studded with ribosomes, which permit translation of proteins destined for secretion.
What is The smooth
ER (SER)?
The smooth ER (SER) is used for
lipid synthesis and detoxification.
What is the Golgi apparatus?
The Golgi apparatus consists of stacked membrane-bound sacs in
which cellular products can be modified, packaged, and directed to
specific cellular locations.
What is the Peroxisomes?
Peroxisomes contain hydrogen peroxide and can break down very
long chain fatty acids via β-oxidation.
They also participate in
phospholipid synthesis and the pentose phosphate pathway.
What is the Cytoskeleton?
the cytoskeleton provides stability and rigidity to the overall structure
of the cell, while also providing transport pathways for molecules
within the cell.
What is the Microfilaments?
Microfilaments are composed of actin. They provide structural
protection for the cell and can cause muscle contraction through
interactions with myosin. They also help form the cleavage furrow
during cytokinesis in mitosis.
What are Centrioles?
Centrioles are found in
centrosomes and are involved in microtubule organization in the
mitotic spindle.
What are Microtubules?
Microtubules are composed of tubulin. They create pathways for
motor proteins like kinesin and dynein to carry vesicles. ey also
contribute to the structure of cilia and flagella, where they are
organized into nine pairs of microtubules in a ring with two
microtubules at the center (9 + 2 structure).
What is an Intermediate filaments?
Intermediate filaments are involved in cell–cell adhesion and
maintenance of the integrity of the cytoskeleton; they help anchor
organelles. Common examples include keratin and desmin.
What is the Epithial tissue and Parenchyma?
Epithelial tissues cover the body and line its cavities, protecting against
pathogen invasion and desiccation. Some epithelial cells absorb or
secrete substances, or participate in sensation.
In most organs, epithelial cells form the parenchyma, or the
functional parts of the organ.
Epithelial cells may be polarized, with one side facing a lumen or the
outside world, and the other side facing blood vessels and structural
cells.
What are the Epithelial layers?
Epithelia can be classified by the number of layers:
1. simple epithelia: have one layer,
2. stratified epithelia have many layers
3. pseudostratified epithelia appear to have multiple layers due to
differences in cell heights, but actually have only one layer
Epithelial classified by ____ and name them:
Epithelia can be classified by the shapes of the cells:
1. cuboidal cells are cube-shaped,
2. columnar cells are long and narrow,
3. squamous cells are flat and scale-like.
What are Connective tissue?
Connective tissues support the body and provide a framework for
epithelial cells.
Bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, adipose tissue, and blood are all
connective tissues.
What is the stroma?
In most organs, connective tissues form the stroma or support
structure by secreting materials to form an extracellular matrix.
What are prokaryotes?
Prokaryotes do not contain membrane-bound organelles; they contain their genetic material in a single circular molecule of DNA located in the nucleoid region.
3 domains of life:
There are three overarching domains of life; prokaryotes account for
two of these:
Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya
What are Archea?
Archaea are often extremophiles, living in harsh environments (high
temperature, high salinity, no light) and often use chemical sources of
energy (chemosynthesis) rather than light (photosynthesis).
They have similarities to both eukaryotes (start translation with
methionine, similar RNA polymerases, histones) and bacteria (single circular chromosome, divide by binary fission or budding).
What are Bacteria?
Bacteria have many similar structures to eukaryotes, and have
complex relationships with humans, including mutualistic symbiosis
and pathogenesis.
What is mutualistic symbiosis
Mutualistic symbiosis is when two different organisms live together and help each other out, benefiting both. It’s like a friendship where both sides gain something.
For example:
Bees and flowers: Bees get food (nectar) from flowers, and flowers get help with pollination as bees spread their pollen to other flowers.
Humans and gut bacteria: Humans provide food and a home for the bacteria, and the bacteria help break down food and make vitamins for us.
In mutualistic symbiosis, both partners win!
What is pathogenesis?
Pathogenesis is the process by which a disease develops and progresses in the body. It explains how an illness starts, what causes it, and how it spreads or damages the body.
For example, when a harmful bacteria or virus enters your body, pathogenesis describes how it invades cells, avoids the immune system, and causes symptoms like fever or inflammation. It’s essentially the story of how a disease begins and unfolds inside an organism.
What are Eukarya
Eukarya are the only non-prokaryotic domain
Eukarya are one of the three domains of life, and they include all living things made up of eukaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells are special because they have a nucleus (a compartment that holds the cell’s DNA) and other membrane-bound organelles like mitochondria.
Organisms in the Eukarya domain include:
Animals (like humans, cats, and insects)
Plants (like trees and flowers)
Fungi (like mushrooms and yeast)
Protists (like algae and amoebas)
These are more complex than bacteria or archaea (which belong to different domains) because of their organized internal structure.
Bacteria can be classified by shape, name the shapes:
- Spherical bacteria are called cocci.
- Rod-shaped bacteria are called bacilli.
- Spiral-shaped bacteria are called spirilli.
Bacteria can be classified based on metabolic processes:
name them
Obligate aerobe
Obligate anaerobes
Facultative anaerobes
Aerotolerant anaerobes
What is an Obligate aerobe
require oxygen for metabolism.
What is an Obligate anaerobe
cannot survive in oxygen-containing
environments and can only carry out anaerobic metabolism.
What is a Facultative anaerobes
can survive in environments with or without oxygen and will toggle between metabolic processes based on the environment
What is an Aerotolerant anaerobes
cannot use oxygen for metabolism, but can survive in an oxygen-containing environment.
The cell wall and cell membrane of bacteria form the ________
The cell wall and cell membrane of bacteria form the envelope.
Together, they control the movement of solutes into and out of the cell.
Bacteria can be classified by the color their cell walls.
Explain the procedure and colors of gram + and gram -
Bacteria can be classified by the color their cell walls turn during Gram staining with a crystal violet stain, followed by a counterstain with safranin.
Gram-positive bacteria turn purple, while gramnegative bacteria turn pink-red.
What’s in a gram + cell wall?
Gram-positive bacteria have a thick cell wall composed of peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid.
What’s in a gram + cell wall?
Gram-negative bacteria have a thin cell wall composed of peptidoglycan and an outer membrane containing phospholipids and lipopolysaccharides.
What is chemotaxis?
Moving in response to chemical stimuli is called chemotaxis.
Explain Flaeglla
Bacteria may have one, two, or many flagella that generate propulsion
to move the bacterium toward food or away from immune cells.
Bacterial flagella contain a filament composed of flagellin, a basal
body that anchors and rotates the flagellum, and a hook that connects
the two
Prokaryotic Vs Eukaryotic Ribosomes:
Prokaryotic ribosomes are smaller than eukaryotic ribosomes (30S
and 50S, rather than 40S and 60S).
Prokaryotes carry out the _______ _______ __________ using the cell
membrane.
Prokaryotes carry out the electron transport chain using the cell
membrane.
What is binary fission?
Prokaryotes multiply through binary fission, in which the
chromosome replicates while the cell grows in size, until the cell wall
begins to grow inward along the midline of the cell and divides it into
two identical daughter cells.
What are plasmids?
In addition to the single circular chromosome in prokaryotes,
extrachromosomal material can be carried in plasmids
What are virulence factors?
Plasmids may contain antibiotic resistance genes or virulence factors.
What are episomes?
Plasmids that can integrate into the genome are called episomes.
What is transformation?
Transformation occurs when genetic material from the surroundings is taken up by a cell, which can incorporate this material into its genome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvYNxoKyQp8
Does Bacterial genetic recombination [increase or decrease] bacterial diversity.
Bacterial genetic recombination increases bacterial diversity
What is conjugation
Conjugation is the transfer of genetic material from one bacterium
to another across a conjugation bridge; a plasmid can be transferred
from F+ cells to F– cells, or a portion of the genome can be transferred from an Hfr cell to a recipient
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvYNxoKyQp8
What is transduction?
Transduction is the transfer of genetic material from one bacterium
to another via a bacteriophage vector
What are Transposons?
Transposons are genetic elements that can insert into or remove
themselves from the genome
Bacterial growth graph:
Bacterial growth follows a predictable pattern:
The bacteria adapt to new local conditions during the lag phase.
Growth then increases exponentially during the exponential (log)
phase.
As resources are reduced, growth levels off during the stationary
phase.
As resources are depleted, bacteria undergo a death phase.
Parts of a Virus?
Viruses contain genetic material, a protein coat (capsid), and
sometimes a lipid-containing envelope.
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, meaning that they cannot
survive and replicate outside of a _______
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, meaning that they cannot
survive and replicate outside of a host cell.
Individual virus particles
are called ______.
Individual virus particles
are called virions.
Bacteriophages are viruses that target bacteria. In addition to the other structures, they contain a_______ ________, which injects the genetic material into a bacterium, and _____ ______, which allow the bacteriophage to attach to the host cell.
Bacteriophages are viruses that target bacteria. In addition to the other structures, they contain a tail sheath, which injects the genetic material into a bacterium, and tail fibers, which allow the bacteriophage to attach to the host cell.
Single-stranded RNA viruses may be ______ _______ (that can be
translated by the host cell)
Single-stranded RNA viruses may be positive sense (that can be
translated by the host cell)
Single-stranded RNA viruses may be _____ ______ (which requires a
complementary strand to be synthesized by ____ _______ before
translation)
Single-stranded RNA viruses may be negative sense (which requires a
complementary strand to be synthesized by RNA replicase before
translation)
_______ contain a single-stranded RNA genome, from which a
complementary DNA strand is made using ______ ______
The DNA strand can then be integrated into the genome.
Retroviruses contain a single-stranded RNA genome, from which a
complementary DNA strand is made using reverse transcriptase.
The DNA strand can then be integrated into the genome.
Explain the procedure of viruses infecting cells
Viruses infect cells by attaching to specific receptors, and can then
enter the cell by fusing with the plasma membrane, being brought in byendocytosis, or injecting their genome into the cell.
Thee virus reproduces by replicating and translating genetic material
using the host cell’s ribosomes, tRNA, amino acids, and enzymes.
Viral progeny are released through cell death, lysis, or extrusion.