Chapter 3 (Raven) Flashcards
Cells are
the structural and functional units of life.
Cell theory has 3 components. list them.
- all organisms are composed of cells
- cells are the smallest units of life.
a. cells are fundamental units of structure, function, and organization in living organisms.
b. nothing smaller than a cell can be alive. - new cells can only arise from preexisting cells
Who are the two scientists that are credited with formulation of the cell theory?
Schwann and Schleiden
How do prokaryotic cells differ from eukaryotic cells?
they lack a nucleus (nucleoid instead) most only have one chromosome lack organelles (membrane-bound structures that perform specific functions) lacks a cytoskeleton no nuclear envelop
What are the four basic parts of the cell wall?
middle lamella
primary wall
secondary wall
plasmodesmata
What are the two regions within the protoplast?
nucleus
cytoplasm
What are the four major structures of the nucleus?
nuclear envelope
nucleoplasm
chromatin
nucleolus
What are the eight structures located in the cytoplasm?
plasma membrane cytosol organelles surround be two membranes organelles surrounded by one membrane endomembrane system cytoskeleton robosomes oil bodies
What organelles in the cytoplasm are surrounded by two membranes?
Plastids and mitochondria
What organelles in the cytoplasm are surrounded by one membrane?
Peroxisomes
vacuoles (tonoplast)
What are the major components of the endomembrane system?
Endoplasmic reticulum
Golgi bodies
vesicles
What are the two components of the cytoskeleton?
microtubules and actin filaments
What are the four important functions of the plasma membrane?
- it separates the protoplast from the external environment
- it mediates the transport of substances into and out of the protoplast
- coordinates the synthesis and assembly of cell wall microfibrils (cellulose)
- detects and facilitates responses to hormonal and environmental signals involved in the control of cell growth and differentiation.
What structure inside the cell do plants cells have that animal cells lack?
the vacuole and its surrounding tonoplast.
What is cytoplasmic streaming (cyclosis)?
movement of suspended substances in the cytosol, being swept along in an orderly fashion in moving currents. It facilitates the transport of materials within the cell and between the cell and its environment.
What are the two important functions of the nucleus?
- controls the ongoing activities of the cell by determining which protein molecules are produced by the cell and when they are produced
- stores genetic information, passing it on to the daughter cells in the course of cell division.
What is the nuclear genome?
total amount of genetic information stored in the nucleus.
What does the nuclear envelope contain that allows direct passage for the exchange of materials between the nucleus and the cytoplasm?
pores, 30-100 nanometers in diameter.
True or False. The outer membrane of the nuclear envelope is sometimes aligned with the endoplasmic reticulum.
True.
chromatin resides in the…
nuclear matrix.
What is chromatin?
it is made up of DNA and histone proteins. During nuclear division, these coil to form chromosomes.
True or False. the content of DNA per cell is higher in bacteria than in eukaryotic cells.
False. eukaryotic cells have more DNA per cell.
What are haploid cells?
in gametes or sex cells, haploid cells represent half of the number of chromosomes (not in pairs) of the organism and is designated as n.
What are diploid cells?
in gametes or sex cells, diploid cells are the pairs of chromosomes of the organism and is designated as 2n.
What is usually the most visible section of the nucleus?
the nucleoli.
What is the nucleolus responsible for producing?
it is the site of formation of ribosomal subunits which are then transferred (by pores) to the cytosol, where they are assembled to form ribosomes.
RNA constitutes what percentage of the mass of a ribosome?
60%
How large are ribosomes?
17-23 nanometers
where are ribosomes found in metabolically active cells?
freely in the cytosol
attached to the endoplasmic reticulum.
True or false. Plastids and mitochondria contain their own ribosomes.
true.
Ribosomes can chain to form complex proteins. What are these chains called?
polysomes.
True or false. ribosomes will vary in structure by the protein they produce.
False. Ribosomes are structurally and functionally identical, and they only differ in the type of proteins they are making at a given time.
What two processes are plastids concerned with?
photosynthesis and storage
What are the three principal types of plastids?
chloroplasts, chromoplasts, and leucoplasts.
Plastids are surrounded by an envelope consisting of two membranes whereas internally…
They form a membrane system consisting of flattened sacs called thylakoids and a homogenous matrix called the stroma.
Chloroplasts contain what two pigments?
chlorophylls (green) and carotenoids (yellow and orange)
Describe chloroplasts in plants (not algae).
disk-shaped and measure 4-6 micrometers in diameter.
True or False. Chloroplasts can reorient themselves depending on the amount of light.
True. they orient in bright light into perpendicular structures to avoid too much light absorption and photodamage.
True or False. The thylakoids in the chloroplasts are believed to constitute a single, interconnected system.
True.
Chloroplasts are generally characterized by the presence of …
grana, (granum) or stacks of disklike thylakoids that resemble a stack of coins.
True or False. Grana thylakoids are interconnected with stroma thylakoids.
True.
True or False. Chlorophylls and carotenoids are found embedded everywhere except inside the thylakoid membranes.
False. They are inside the thylakoid membranes.
What are starch grains?
temporary storage products that accumulate only when the algae or plant is actively photosynthesizing.
True or false. Chloroplasts are completely autonomous, meaning they contain all the components necessary for the synthesis of all of their own polypeptides.
False. they are semiautonomous, meaning they contain some of the components necessary for the synthesis of their own polypeptides.
How do chloroplasts resemble bacteria?
chloroplast DNA occurs in nucleoids
DNA is also not associated with histones.
their ribosomes are 2/3 of the size of those found in the eukaryotic cell.
both replicate by binary fission
How are chloroplasts different from bacteria?
bacteria have only a single DNA molecules, whereas chloroplasts have multiple DNA copies.
True or False. the formation of chloroplasts only involves the NDA from plastids.
False. both nuclear and plastid DNA are necessary for the formation of chloroplasts.
Why are chloroplasts important?
- ultimate source of all our food supplies and fuel
- use light energy and carbon dioxide to form carbs, but also involved in synthesis of amino acids, fatty acids, and a number of secondary metabolites.
- provide space for starch storage
How are chromoplasts different from chloroplasts?
they lack chlorophyll
can engulf a mass of carotenoids as occurs during the ripening of fruit
functions are not well known, but do serve as attractant for insects, so they are important in cross-fertilization.
How are leucoplasts different from chromoplasts and chloroplasts?
they lack any pigment, are less differentiated, lack an elaborate system of inner membranes.
What is the function of leucoplasts?
for amyloplasts (a type of leucoplast) the function is the synthesis of starch. for other types, they are thought to be capable of forming a variety of substances like oils and proteins.
What are proplastids?
small, colorless or green, undifferentiated plastids that occur in meristematic cells of roots and shoots; precursors to other plastid types.
what is an etioplast?
a plastid containing prolamellar bodies, which develop in leaf cells of plants grown in the dark. They become chloroplasts when exposed to light.
True or False. Plastids can change type.
True.
True or False. Proplastids in embryos of seeds develop first into etioplasts, then into chloroplasts upon light exposure.
True.
How do plastids reproduce?
by fission. in meristematic cells, the division keeps pace with cell division, but in mature cells, most plastids are derived from the division of mature plastids.
What is the purpose of cristae in mitochondria?
they increase surface area available to proteins and reactions associated with them. (folds or tubules)
True or False. both mitochondria and plastids have 2 membranes and are the same size.
False. While they both have two membranes, mitochondria are smaller, measuring about half a micrometer in diameter, and exhibit great variation in length and shape.
Mitochondria are the site of…
respiration
What is respiration?
the process involving the release of energy from organic molecules and its conversion to ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the chief immediate source of energy for all eukaryotic cells.
True or false. the number of mitochondria in cells is related to the cell’s demand for ATP.
True.
Other than respiration, what processes are mitochondria involved in?
biosynthesis of amino acids, vitamin cofactors, and fatty acids
play a role in programmed cell death
What is programmed cell death?
genetically determined process that leads to the death of the cell.
What is cytochrome c?
it is released by mitochondrial swelling prior to programmed cell death. It normally involved in electron transport. It’s release is critical for the activation of proteases and nucleases (enzymes) that bring about degradation of the protoplast.