Exam 1: Introduction to the cell + water/carbon Flashcards
What are the two key characteristics of a prokaryotic cell?
- most are single-celled
- no nucleus
What are methanogens?
Archaeans that produce methane gas as a waste product of their metabolism
What are halophiles
Archaeans that live in high salt environments
What are thermophiles?
Archaeans that live in hot temperatures
What are bacteria?
Mostly unicellular prokaryotes that inhabit many diverse environments on earth
What three things are inside of the plasma membrane of a prokaryotic cell?
Cytoplasm, nucleoid region, ribosomes
What is the nucleoid region of a prokaryotic cell?
Where the DNA is located
What three things are outside of the plasma membrane of a prokaryotic cell?
Cell wall, glycocalyx, appendages
What are the three roles of the glycocalyx?
- trap water
- give protection
- help evade immune system
What are the two appendages of prokaryotic cells? What do they do?
- Pilli (attachment)
- Flagella (movement)
What is an organelle?
Membrane bound compartments that have unique structures and functions. Hallmark of eukaryotic cells.
What are the four main differences between eukaryotes and prokaryotes?
- eukaryotic chromosomes are found inside a nucleus
- eukaryotic cells are larger
- eukaryotic cells have internal membranes
- eukaryotic cells have a cytoskeleton
What are the 4 main elements of life?
- Carbon
- Oxygen
- Hydrogen
- Nitrogen
What are the 7 properties of water?
- Universal solvent
- Cohesion, Adhesion, Surface Tension
- Denser as liquid than solid
- High specific heat
- High heat of vaporization
- Chemical reactivity (hydrolysis and condensation)
- Lubrication
Why is water such an effective solvent?
-Polar O-H bonds => partially negative O and partially positive H
-Bent molecule => molecule has overall polarity
-Hydrogen bonding (allow for water to dissolve almost any ionic cmpd and polar molecule b/c of partial charges)