Genes and Health

Question 1

Alveoli (singular alveolus)

Answer 1

Tiny air sacs in the lungs, where gas exchange takes place

Question 2

Cilia (singular cilium)

Answer 2

Microscopic hair-like structures on the surface of a cell

Question 3

Cystic fibrosis (CF)

Answer 3

Inherited disease which causes, among other symptoms,
the production of thick, sticky mucus in the lungs

Question 4

Epithelial cells

Answer 4

Cells which make up epithelium; there are several different
types, depending on their position in the body and their function

Question 5

Epithelium (plural epithelia)

Answer 5

Type of tissue found lining various tubes and other surfaces inside a living organism, often consisting of a single layer of similar epithelial cells

Question 6

Fick’s law

Answer 6

Mathematical expression used to calculate rate of diffusion

Question 7

Goblet cell

Answer 7

Cell that secretes mucus or other liquid

Question 8

Mucus

Answer 8

Thick slimy fluid secreted into body tubes and cavities, for a variety of
purposes

Question 9

Surface area to volume ratio

Answer 9

Ratio of an object’s surface area to Its volume, when both are measured in the same basic units (e.g. mm2 and mm3
respectively)

Question 10

Active transport

Answer 10

Type of membrane transport which requires energy, and which can move substances against a concentration gradient

Question 11

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

Answer 11

Produced by cellular respiration, ATP provides the source of energy for all biological processes

Question 12

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)

Answer 12

A membrane protein involved in the facilitated diffusion of chloride
ions

Question 13

Diffusion

Answer 13

Passive movement of molecules from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration

Question 14

Endocytosis

Answer 14

Entry of larger molecules and bacteria into some cells; cytoplasm surrounds the substance and takes it into the cell via a vesicle

Question 15

Exocytosis

Answer 15

Secretion of substances from cells involving vesicles fusing with the cell membrane and releasing their contents outside the cell

Question 16

Facilitated diffusion

Answer 16

Type of membrane transport which requires special proteins to assist the passage of water soluble ions and molecules

Question 17

Fluid mosaic model

Answer 17

Describes the structure of cell membranes, in which the component phospholipids and proteins are able to move around relative to each other

Question 18

Osmosis

Answer 18

Special type of diffusion, in which water passes through a partially permeable membrane to reduce differences in concentration on either side of the membrane

Question 19

Protein

Answer 19

Class of biological compounds with a variety of functions in living organisms

Question 20

Partially permeable membrane

Answer 20

Membrane which allows certain substances to pass through it, but is impermeable to other substances

Question 21

Vesicle

Answer 21

Tiny fluid-filled sac inside a cell, involved in endocytosis and exocytosis