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Biology > Key Concepts in Biology > Flashcards

Key Concepts in Biology Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What are the two type of cells?

A
  • Eukaryotic
  • Prokaryotic
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2
Q

What is the difference between a eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell?

A

A eukaryotic cell contains a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, a prokayotic cell doesn’t.

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3
Q

What are the five components both animal and plants cells have?

A
  • Nucleus
  • Cytoplasm
  • Cell membrane
  • Mitochondria
  • Ribosomes
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4
Q

How is genetic information stored in a eukaryotic cell?

A

Within the nucleus, arranged in chromosomes.

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5
Q

Other than storing genetic information, what is the function of the nucleus?

A

Controls cellular activities.

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6
Q

What’s the structure of the cytoplasm?

A
  • Fluid component of the cell
  • Contains organelles, enzymes and dissolved ions and nutrients
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7
Q

What is the function of the cytoplasm?

A

Site of cellular reaction, e.g. first stage of respiration

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8
Q

What is the function of the cell membrane?

A

Controls the entry and exit of materials into and out of the cell

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9
Q

What is the function of the mitochondria?

A

Site of later stages of aerobic respiration in which ATP is produced

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10
Q

What is the function of the ribosomes?

A

Joins amino acids in a specific order during translation

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11
Q

Which organelles are found in plant cells only?

A
  • Large, permanent vacuole
  • Cell wall
  • Chloroplasts
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12
Q

What is the cell wall made of?

A

Cellulose

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13
Q

What is the function of the cell wall?

A
  • Provides strength
  • Prevents the cell bursting when water enters by osmosis
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14
Q

What does the permanent vacuole contain?

A

A solution of salts, sugars, and organic acids

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15
Q

What is the function of the permant vacuole?

A

Supports the cell, maintaininf its turgidity

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16
Q

What is the function of the chloroplasts?

A

Site of photosynthesis

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17
Q

When looking at a cell using a light microscope, why do chloroplasts appear green?

A

Contain chlorophyll, a green pigment

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18
Q

Which six organelles are found in prokaryotic cells?

A
  • Chromosomal DNA
  • Plasmid DNA
  • Cell Wall
  • Cell Membrane
  • Ribosomes
  • Flagella
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19
Q

How is genetic information stored in a prokaryotic cell?

A

Found free within the cytoplasm as:
* Chromosomal DNA (single large loop of circular DNA)
* Plasmid DNA

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20
Q

What are plasmids?

A
  • Small, circular loops of DNA found free in the cytoplasm and separate from the main DNA
  • Carry genes that provide genetic advantages, e.g. antibiotic resistance
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21
Q

What is the prokaryotic cell wall composed of?

A

Peptidogylycan

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22
Q

What is a flagellum?

A
  • Long, rotating, ‘whip-like’ protrusion
  • Enables bacteria to move
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23
Q

What is a haploid cell?

A

A cell that contains a single copy of each chromosome (half the number of chromosomes).

24
Q

What is a diploid cell?

A

A cell that contains two copies of each chromosome (full set of chromosomes).

25
Q

What are gametes?

A
  • Reproductive cells
  • Haploid cells
26
Q

What is sexual reproduction in terms of chromosome number?

A
  • Two haploid gametes fuse
  • Resulting embryo has two chromosomes for each gene and two copies of each allele: a diploid
27
Q

How are egg cells adapted to their function?

A
  • Haploid nucleus contains genetic material
  • Mitochondria in cytoplasm produce energy for the developing embryo
  • Cytoplasm contains nutrients after the developing embryo
  • Cell membrane hardens after fertilisation, preventing the entry of other sperm ans ensuring the zygote is diploid
28
Q

How are sperm cells adapted to their function?

A
  • Haploid nucleus contains genetic information
  • Tail enables movement
  • Mitochondria provide energy for tail movement
  • Acrosome contains enzymes that digest the egg cell membrane
29
Q

Where are ciliated epithelial cells found?

A

Found lining the surface of structures such as respiratory tract and uterus

30
Q

What are the function of ciliated epithelial cells lining the airways?

A

Move in syncronised waves to beat mucus (containing dirt pathogens) up to the back of the throat when it can be swallowed.

31
Q

What is magnification?

A

The number of times bigger an image appears compared to the size of the specimen.

32
Q

How can the total magnification of an image be calulated from lens powers?

A

total magnification = eyepiece lens magnification x objective lens magnification

33
Q

How can the magnification of an image be calculated?

A

magnification = size of image / size of specimen

34
Q

What is resolution?

A

The smallest distance between two objects that can be distinguished.

35
Q

How does a light microscope work?

A

Passes a beam of light through a specimen which travels through the eyepiece lens, allowing the specimen to be observed.

36
Q

What are the four advantages of light microscopes?

A
  • Inexpensive
  • Easy to use
  • Portable
  • Observe both dead and living specimens
37
Q

What is the disadvantage of light microscopes?

A

limited resolution

38
Q

How does an electron microscope work?

A

It uses a beam of electrons which are focused using magnets. The electrons hit a fluorescent screen with emits visible light, producing an image.

39
Q

What are the two types of electron microscope?

A
  • Transmission electron microscope (TEM)
  • Scanning electron microscope (SEM)
40
Q

What is the advantage of electron microscopes?

A

Greater magnification and resolution

41
Q

Why do electron microscopes have a greater magnification and resolution?

A

They use a beam of electrons which has a shorter wavelength that photons of light.

42
Q

How have electron microscopes enabled scientists to develop their understanding of cells?

A
  • Allow small sub-cellular structures to be observed in detail
  • Enable scientists to develop more accurate explanations about how cell structure realtes to function
43
Q

What are the disadvantages of electron microscopes?

A
  • Expensive
  • Large so less portable
  • Require training to use
  • Only dead specimens can be observed
44
Q

How do you convert from m to mm?

A

x 1,000

45
Q

How do you convert from m to um?

A

x 1,000,000

46
Q

How do you convert from m to nm?

A

x 1,000,000,000

47
Q

How do you convert from nm to m?

A

/ 1,000,000,000

48
Q

How do you convert from m to pm?

A

x 1000,000,000,000

49
Q

What are enzymes?

A

Biological catalysts that increase the rate of a chemical reaction without being permanently altered themselves.

50
Q

What is an advantage of enzymes in the body?

A

They enable cellular reactions to take place at lower temperatures

51
Q

What is the active site of an enzyme?

A

The region of an enzyme to which a substrate molecule binds and the reaction takes place

52
Q

Why are enzymes described at having ‘high specificity’ for their substrate?

A

Only substrates with a specific, complementary shape can fit into an enzyme’s active site.

53
Q

What’s the lock and key model?

A
  • Substrate collides with the active site of an enzyme
  • Substrate binds, enzyme-substrate complex forms
  • Substrate converted to products
  • Products released from the active site which is now free to bind to another substrate
54
Q

What factors affect the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction?

A
  • Temperature
  • pH
  • Substrate concentration
55
Q

How does increasing the temperature initially affect the rate of an enzyme controlled reaction?

A
  • As temperature increases molecules have more KE
  • Movement of molecules increases
  • Probability of successful collision increases
  • More enzyme-substrate complexes form
  • Rate of reaction increases
56
Q

How does increasing the temperature above the optimum affect the rate of an enzyme controlled reaction?

A
  • Temperature increases above the optimum
  • Increased vibrations break bonds in enzyme’s structure
  • Active site changes shape, enzyme is denatured
  • No more enzyme-substrate complexes can form
  • Rate of reaction decreases
57
Q
A

Biology (3 decks)

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