Introduction to Cell Biology – Structure and Function of the Cell Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the three principles of cell theory?

A
  • Cells are the fundamental units of life
  • All organisms are composed of cells:
  • All cells come from pre-existing cells:
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2
Q

Describe the principle Cells are the fundamental units of life:

A

The principles that underlie the functions of the single celled bacterium are similar to those governing the 60 trillion cells of your body.

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3
Q

Describe the principle All organisms are composed of cells

A

Life is continuous, arising from other cells.

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4
Q

Describe the principle All cells come from pre-existing cells.

A

The origin of life on Earth was marked by the origin of the first cells.

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5
Q

Prokaryotic cells include…

A

…all bacteria and possess a simpler structure than eukaryotic cells.

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6
Q

What are prokaryotic cells?

A

Cells with no defined nucleus

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7
Q

What is the function of the plasma membrane in prokaryotes?

A

separates the external environment from the internal cytoplasm. It creates an impermeable barrier to most molecules.

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8
Q

What is the function of the cell wall in prokaryotes?

A

Cell wall provides strength and rigidity: but permeable to many small molecules

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9
Q

Eukaryotic cells include…

A

…all plants and animals as well as many single celled organisms: algae, amoebae, fungi and moulds. (Eukaryotic – cells with a true nucleus)

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10
Q

Unlike prokaryotes, eukaryotic cells contain…

A

…extensive internal membranes that define a collection of subcellular structures – organelles

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11
Q

The cytoplasm of eukaryotes also contains…

A

…a network of fibres called the cytoskeleton, which give the cell strength and rigidity and also control movement within the cell.

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12
Q

Plant cells are surrounded by…

A

…a rigid cell wall and contain a large membrane bound vacuole and chloroplasts.

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13
Q

Despite their differences, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have many …

A

…biochemical pathways in common – thus believed to have descended from the same ancestral cell.

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14
Q

Size of prokaryotes?

A

2um (2x10-6m)

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15
Q

Amount of dna in prokaryotes?

A

1.36 mm

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16
Q

Number of genes in prokaryotes?

A

4377

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17
Q

DNA organisation of prokaryotes?

A

1 circular chromosome in nucleoid

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18
Q

Size of eukaryotes?

A

10 – 100 mm
(1x10-5 – 1x10-4 m)

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19
Q

Amount of DNA in eukaryotes?

A

990 mm

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20
Q

Number of genes in eukaryotes?

A

30-38000

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21
Q

DNA organisation of eukaryotes?

A

2 or more chromosomes in membrane bound nucleus

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22
Q

The scale in microscopy is…

A

…logarithmic. Each unit is 10 times bigger than the previous unit.

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23
Q

Describe how Standard Light Microscopy: The compound microscope works.

A

Uses UV-visible light and several lenses to magnify the image of a specimen under study.

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24
Q

Describe how Electron microscopy (EM): transmission EM/ scanning EM works.

A

Fundamental principles similar to light microscopy except electromagnetic lenses focus a high velocity electron beam under high vacuum.

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25
Q

Example of microscope of standard light microscopy?

A

The compound microscope

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26
Q

Example of microscope of electron microscope.

A

transmission EM/ scanning EM

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27
Q

WHats the resolving power of the compound microscope (bright-field microscopy)?

A

0.2um (1 x 10-7 m)

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28
Q

Describe Confocal and Immunofluorescence microscopy

A

Fluorescent antibodies ‘stain’ specific organelles/structures within the cell.

Confocal scanning microscope (which looks at a single focal plane) creates much sharper images.

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29
Q

Describe Time-Lapse Microscopy.

A
  • Saccharomyces cerevisae
  • Treated with a-mating factor
  • Picture taken every 3 minutes for 16 hours.
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30
Q

In Electron microscopy (EM): transmission EM / scanning EM…

A

…Heavy metal stains scatter (diffract) the electrons and appear dark in the image

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31
Q

Describe Transmission electron microscopy

A
  • Passes an electron beam through a sample.
  • Very thin samples (50-100nm) need to be prepared and stained with heavy metals (gold / osmium).
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32
Q

Resolving power of Transmission electron microscopy?

A

50pm (5 x 10-11 m)

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33
Q

Describe Scanning electron microscopy

A

Sample is coated with a thin layer of heavy metal (platinum) and the electron beam scans the surface. The image is formed from secondary electrons given off by the sample.

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34
Q

Resolving power of Scanning electron microscopy.

A

Resolving power: 10nm (1 x 10-8 m)

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35
Q

The plasma membrane forms…

A

…the boundary between the external and internal environment of the cell.

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36
Q

What is the phospholipid bilayer comprised of?

A
  • Hydrophilic phosphate head groups.
  • Hydrophobic lipid tails
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37
Q

Describe the Hydrophilic phosphate head groups

A

orientate toward the aqueous internal / external environments

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38
Q

Describe Hydrophobic lipid tails

A

orientate towards each other.

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39
Q

The phospholipid bilayer / plasma membrane contains…

A

…proteins embedded in the membrane: integral membrane proteins

40
Q

Plasma membrane is …

A

…impermeable to most molecules except CO2, O2 and water

41
Q

What is the nucleus surrounded by?

A

Surrounded by a double membrane

42
Q

Describe the inner membrane of the nucleus’ double membrane?

A

Inner: defines the nucleus

43
Q

Describe the outer membrane of the nucleus’ double membrane?

A

Outer: continuous with rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

44
Q

What is the nucleolus?

A

nuclear organizer, RNA / Ribosome synthesis occurs here.

45
Q

What do the nuclear pores do?

A

Nuclear pores serve as channels regulating the movement of material between the nucleus and the cytoplasm

46
Q

What does the chromatin do?

A

combination of DNA and protein

47
Q

What does the Nucleoplasm do?

A

equivalent to the cytoplasm but in the nucleus – nucleotides and enzymes are dissolved in here.

48
Q

What is the The Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)?

A

Interconnected network of internal membranes, responsible for the synthesis of membrane lipids and protein destined for other organelles, membranes and secretion.

49
Q

THere are two types of endoplasmic reticulum which are…

A

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum and Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

50
Q

What is the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum?

A

site of fatty acid and phospholipid synthesis

51
Q

Why is the rough endoplasmic reticulum rough?

A

its studded with ribosomes, hence the rough appearance.

52
Q

Proteins from the rough ER move by …

A

…transport vesicles to the Golgi apparatus, where further processing of the protein occurs.

53
Q

Golgi has three defined regions…

A
  • Cis (same)
  • Medial (middle)
  • Trans (away)
54
Q

What does the golgi sort?

A

the golgi sorts proteins so that they end up at their correct cellular destinations by recognising ‘tags’ encoded within the protein.

55
Q

The mitochondrion is known as…

A

…The ‘power plant’ of the cell

56
Q

The mitochondrion completes…

A

the aerobic degradation of glucose

57
Q

Respiration equation?

A

C6H12O6 + 6 O2 —> CO2 + H2O + ENERGY

58
Q

Most eukaryotic cells contain many…

A

…mitochondria

59
Q

Mitochondria have a…

A

…double membrane

60
Q

Function of the inner membrane of the mitochondrial double membrane?

A

impermeable and has a large number of foldings called cristae.

61
Q

Why is the double membrane of the mitochondrial double membrane permeable?

A

permeable due to presence of porins (proteins that allow the passage of small molecules)

62
Q

Mitochondria also contain its…

A

…own DNA (mitochondrial DNA), located in the matrix.

63
Q

The Lysosome contain a…

A

…battery of degradative enzymes.

64
Q

The Lysosomes are…

A

…Acidic with a pH of 5

65
Q

Function of lysosomes?

A
  • Help to break down complex DNA, proteins, lipids etc into their component parts.
  • Also breakdown organelles that have outlived their usefulness.
66
Q

Where is The Peroxisome found?

A

Found in animal and plant cells.

67
Q

What does the peroxisome contain?

A
  • Contain enzymes that break down fatty acids and amino acids and as a by-product generate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
  • Many peroxisomes contain a crystalline array of catalase.
68
Q

How is hydrogen peroxide neutralised?

A

This potentially damaging chemical is neutralized by large amounts of catalase within the peroxisome.

69
Q

the chloroplast is…

A

…the site of photosynthesis

70
Q

What is the chloroplast surrounded by?

A

Surrounded by a double membrane -
- Inner: impermeable
- Outer: permeable to small molecules

71
Q

Describe internal membrane of chloroplasts

A

Further extensive internal membrane system made of thylakoid vesicles arranged in stacks called grana.

72
Q

Thylakoid vesicles contain …

A

…chlorophyll and other pigments

73
Q

In chloroplasts, a space called the stroma surrounds …

A

…the grana

74
Q

Chloroplasts (like mitochondria) contain …

A

…their own dna.

75
Q

It was orignally thought that the cytosol was…

A

…a soup

76
Q

Cytosol is the site of…

A

…glycolysis.

77
Q

THe cytosol is high in…

A

…protein concentration

78
Q

The cytosol contains…

A

…glycogen (storage granules)

79
Q

How many classes of fibres in the cytoskeleton?

A

three

80
Q

What are the different classes of fibres in the cytoskeleton?

A

1) Microtubules:
2) Microfilaments
3) Intermediate filaments

  • These help to maintain cell shape and mobility
81
Q

Cilia and Flagella are…

A

…Motile extensions of the plasma membrane

82
Q

What runs through the cores of cilia?

A

Microtubule filaments run through the cores of cilia

83
Q

Function of flagella?

A

Flagella are used to propel the cell, e.g. bacterium or sperm cell.

84
Q

Function of cilia?

A

Cilia beat back and forwards, flagella rotate

85
Q

What kind of membrane do vacuoles have?

A

Semi-permeable membrane

86
Q

Describe semi-permeable membrane

A

Permeable to water, but
Impermeable to small molecules contained within the vacuole.

87
Q

Describe formation of turgor.

A

entry of water causes the vacuole to expand, creating a turgor inside the cell, balanced by the rigidity of the cell wall.

88
Q

The vacuole stores:

A

Water
Ions
Waste products
Food materials (sucrose)
Excess nitrogenous compounds (amino acids)

89
Q

Whats the cell wall in plant cells used for?

A
  • Impart strength and rigidity under turgor pressure.
  • It contributes to plant form by growing as the plant cells expand.
90
Q

Whats the cell wall in plant cells composed of?

A

Primarily composed of cellulose (polysaccharide of glucose sugar)
or lignin (complex polymer of phenolic compounds).

91
Q

Thje cell wall in plant cells acts as a…

A

A physical barrier to many fungi, bacteria and other organisms that may cause disease.

92
Q

THe cell wall of plant cells may also contain?

A

May also contain waxes to prevent plant tissues and proteins from drying out.

93
Q

A variety of proteins and polysaccharides form …

A

…specific contacts and junctions between cells.

94
Q

The Extra-cellular Matrix imparts…

A

…strength and rigidity to multicellular tissues.

95
Q

What are connective tissues?

A

extracellular spaces between cells consisting mainly of collagen

96
Q

The connective tissue is rich in…

A

…rich in proteoglycans - form the ground substance in which collagen and other connective tissue fibres are embedded.