Chapter 2 Flashcards
What person advanced the field of neuroscience the most?
Charles darwin
What is ordinary matter in the universe made up of?
Elements on the periodic table
How many elements have been identified?
118, 94 naturally occurring on earth.
What are molecules?
Chemical compounds; different atoms bonded together
What is a chemical reaction?
When a chemical bond/compund is formed/broken/modified.
What do living entities use chemical reactions for?
To grow, accomplish things and manipulate their environment.
What are ions?
A molecule or single atom with an electric charge
What is it called when ions bond together?
Ionic bonds
What are atoms held together by ionic bonds called?
Salt
What do ionic bonds do in water?
Break apart
What are the main elements of cells/life on earth?
59% Hydrogen (H, 1 proton)
24% Oxygen (O, 8 protons)
11% Carbon (C, 6 protons)
4% Nitrogen (N, 7 protons)
2% others
What is CHNOPS?
Carbon
Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Phosphorus
Sulfur
the 6 most important chemical elements who’s covalent combinations make up most biological molecules on earth
What are the different types of molecules we find in cells?
- Water
- Sugar
- Lipid
- Nucleic acid
- Amino acid
What are cells made up of?
70% water
15% Sugars
10% Lipids
15% Nucleic acids
50% Amino acids
10% other organic CHNOPS molecules
What are these made up of/make up?
Sugar
Lipids
Nucleic acids
Amino Acids
strings of sugar molecules are called carbohydrates
cell membranes are made up of lipids
DNA and RNA are strings of nucleic acids
proteins are strings of amino acids
What is RNA?
A certain type of nucleic acid; ribonucleic acids
What can RNA based enzymes do?
Catalyze chemical reactions
What is special about RNA
It can self replicate
What are phospholipids?
Strands of lipids with a phosphate cap
What do phospholipids form?
Undisturbed
Shaken
Certain conditions
Undisturbed: bilayer sheets
Shaken: Micelles (soap bubbles)
Certain conditions: explode and reform as liposomes
What is the cell membrane?
A liposome
How is diffusion through the membrane?
Limited
What is the interior of the cell membrane filled up with?
Salt water
Why is DNA used for long term information storage? What are the consequences of this?
DNA is more stable and more durable. DNA replaced RNA as the predominant storage molecule for all of life.
What is the prokaryotic cell?
It’s a cell membrane filled with cytoplasm. In the cytoplasm, there are loose strands of DNA and ribosomes
What are the functions of ribosomes?
To make proteins
What are enzymes?
Proteins that perform (catalyze) chemical reactions
What are receptors?
Proteins that sense things and react accordingly
What are eukaryotic cells?
They’re similar to prokaryotic cells but…
1. The DNA is compacted into the nucleus, from which it cannot escape. A strand of compacted DNA is called a chromosome.
2. It has mitochondria, which are responsible for extracting energy from nutrients. This energy is typically stored in the molecular bonds of the molecule ATP
What is a chromosome?
A strand of compacted DNA
What is a gene?
A section of a chromosome, it is a section of DNA that encodes a specific protein
What happens when a gene is active (read)?
Copies of it are transcribed into RNA, which can leave the nucleus.
What do ribosomes do outside the nucleus?
ribosomes translate RNA into proteins
What is the genome of a cell?
All of its DNA
What does the genome do?
Provides all necessary information necessary to synthesize all of cell’s proteins.
Where is the nucleus located?
The cell body / soma
What is the cytoplasm?
A semi-transparent, gelatinous fluid in which organelles are suspended
What is the cell membrane?
Defines the boundary of the cell. It consists of lipids and is embedded with proteins that have special functions.
What are microtubules?
They allow for rapid transport of material throughout the neuron.
What is Mitochondria
semi autonomous double membrane-bound organelles. Known as the POWERHOUSE of the cell because they generate ATP, the cells main source of chemical
How did we study human neurons?
Through squid
Why do we use rodents as the dominant group of species used in neurobiology research?
Because of the genetic similarities between humans and rodents. As well as their size.
Whom are our closest living relatives?
Present day hominids - humanlike apes such as chimpanzees gorillas and orungutans
What happens to the production of new neurons at birth?
They cease but those that are already present grow and establish connections with each other and other types pf brain cells, which protect and support neurons, begin to proliferate.
What is neoteny?
Extended youth/prolongation of maturation
When does the human brain reach its adult size? How many g?
Late adolescence
1400 grams
