Introduction to the living cell

Question 1

What are cells?

Answer 1

• Cells are the fundamental units of all living things on earth.
• They are the smallest units of living things.

Question 2

Who and when was the first person to discover a cell?

Answer 2

First cell was discovered by Robert Hooke in 1664.

Question 3

How was the first cells discovered?

Answer 3

• Robert Hooke used a recently discovered microscope to study all sort of materials like cork.
• He saw spongy like appearances and reffered to them as cells because they looked like the places monks lived in.

Question 4

Who was the first person to ever see living cells? What was the person also famous for?

Answer 4

• First person to see living cells was Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek.
• He also made the worlds best microscopes. (He was the first to see sperm, blood cells).

Question 5

What is the cell theory? Whos idea is this theory (2 people)?

Answer 5

• Cell theory states that “All living things are composed of cells and cell products”.
• Idea of Theodor Schwann (worked on plant tissue) and Matthias Jakob Schleiden (worked on animal tissue).

Question 6

What does “Omnis Cellula e Cellula” mean?

Answer 6

It means “cells are created through a division of pre-existing cells”.

Question 7

What is the smallest known cell? What is its size and weight?

Answer 7

Mycoplasma genitalium (0.3um, 10 - 14gram).

Question 8

What is the biggest known cell? What is its size and weight?

Answer 8

Ostrich egg (20cm, 2kg).

Question 9

What are the three domains?

Answer 9

1. Bacteria
2. Archaea
3. Eukaryotes

Question 10

What is taxonomy?

Answer 10

Taxonomy is the academic discipline of defining groups of biological organisms on the basis of shared charateristics.

Question 11

Define phylogenetics.

Answer 11

Phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary relationships among groups of organisms.

Question 12

What are the three properties of DNA?

Answer 12

DNA is :-

1. Degenerate
2. Non-overlapping
3. Universal - Has exceptions where the DNA bases in the mitochondria codes for different proteins than the DNA bases in the nucleus.

Question 13

Define gene.

Answer 13

Gene is a section of DNA bases that codes for a particular protein.

Question 14

What is the function of peroxisomes?

Answer 14

• Peroxisomes carry out metabolic reactions that give out hydrogen peroxide.
• This is used in the degradation of fatty acids.

Question 15

What are the different chemical components of a typical mammalian cell and what are their percentages?

Answer 15

Question 16

How many RBCs are made every second?

Answer 16

5 million.

Question 17

Define homeostasis.

Answer 17

Homeostasis is the ability or tendency of an organism or cell to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes.