Lecture 1 Flashcards
What is the Protoplasm?
The protoplasm consists of all living components of a cell.
What is the Cytoplasm?
All the cellular components between the plasma membrane and the nucleus.
What are organelles?
Are persistent structures of various shapes and sizes with specialized functions in the cell.
Importance of Cell Walls to plants:
-maintains cell shape
-controls cell expansion
-provides protection
-regulates transport
-stores food reserves
Importance of Cell Wall to the Cell:
The cell wall protects the delicate cell contents within.
Cell Wall provides the basis of:
-food
-fuel
-shelter that sustains a majority of life
What is Pectin?
Organic material that gives stiffness to fruit jellies. Found in the middle lamella and the primary cell wall where they function to hold cells together.
What are cell walls composed of?
Composed mainly of structural carbohydrates (cellulose, hemicellulose and pectins) and variable amounts of lignin and small amounts of protein and minerals.
What is Cellulose?
Composed of glucose monomers in long chains. It serves as a primary food source for grazing animals. Found majority in the secondary cell walls.
What is the middle lamella?
Consists of a layer of pectin, first produced when new cells walls are formed. Normally shared by two adjacent cells.
What are Secondary Cell Walls?
They are produced toward the inside of the primary walls. Derived from primary walls by thickening and inclusion of lignin.
What happens during secondary wall formation?
Cellulose microfibrils become embedded in lignin
Thin Wall Cells:
Manufacture, process or store food
Thick wall cells:
Involved in support
What is the Plasmodesmata?
They are tiny strands of cytoplasm that extend between the cells through minute openings. Fluids and dissolved substances can pass through primary walls of adjacent cells via the plasmodesmata.
