Chapter 4 Cells Flashcards
What is the significance of the Surface area to volume ratio of a cell?
Volume determines metabolic activity
Surface area determines excretion and absorption
Larger cells have increased waste production and increased need for nutrient absorption, but decreased surface area for that to occur
What are the two types of microscopes used to see cells? What resulution can the see?
Light microscope - 0.2um
Electron microscope - 2nm
What is the first step in chemical analasys of cells?
breaking them open to make cell-free extract (which has the same properties as the cell)
Cell structures can then be separated by size in a centrifuge
What is the role of the cell membrane?
Selectively permeable barrier. Helps maintain homeostasis, role in communication and may contain proteins for binding to adjacent cells.
What are the two types of cells and their differences
Prokaryotic - no membrane enclosed compartments (organelles)
Eukaryotic - membrane enclosed compartments (organelles) such as the nucleus
Where do prokaryotic cells contain their DNA?
In the nucleoid region.
What does the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells contain?
ribosomes and cytosol (water and dissolved materials) and suspended particles.
Most prokaryotic cells have a rigid cell wall - what do bacterial cell walls contain?
peptidoglycans
What external structures do some bacteria cells containt
Most have rigid cell wall
Some have additional outer membrane that is permeable
Others have slimy layer of polysaccharides (capsule)
What is the structure some prokaryotes use to swim and what is it made of?
Flagella - made of flagellin
What is the cytoskeleton?
Filaments of polymer and monomer subunits that play a role in cell division and cell shape. - Helical actin-like protein.
What structures do eukaryotic cells contain?
Cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes and membrane enclosed organelles
What is the role of ribosomes in the cell?
Present in eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells - they translate nucleotide sequence of RNA into polypeptides (proteins)
What do ribosomes consist of?
One large and one small subunit that consist of ribosomal RNA bound to small protein molecules.
Where are ribosomes found in the cell?
Either in the cytoplasm or, in Eukaryotic cells, attached to RER or mitochondria
What is the role of the nucleus?
Holds DNA and site of DNA replication
Where DNA is transcribed to RNA
Contains the nucleolus - where ribosomes form RNA and proteins begin
What makes up chomosomes?
DNA and Chromatin
What makes up the endomembrane system?
Nuclear envelope, ER, golgi apparatus and lysosomes
What is the nuclear envelope?
two membranes that separate nucleus from cytoplasm. Control the movement of molecules via pores.
How are substances transported between parts of the endomembrane system?
In membrane surrounded vesicles
What is the Endoplasmic Reticulum and what are the 2 types?
Network of interconnected membanes in the cytoplasm with large surface area.
Rough ER
Smooth ER
What is the role of RER?
proteins are chemically modified (folded into tertiary structure) and tagged for delivery to specific areas
All secreted proteins and most membrane proteins pass through RER
What are glycoproteins and what is their role?
proteins linked to carbohydrate groups
Important in cell recognition and interractions
What it he role of SER?
chemically moifies small molecules (Drugs and pesticides), site of glycogen degranulation, site of lipid and steroid synthesis and storage site for calcium ions.
Describe the Golgi apparatus and its role
flattened sacs and vesicles
- concentrates, packages and stores protiens
- site of polysaccharide synthesis for cell wall
What are the 3 regions of the golgi apparatus
Cis, medial and trans