Mock Revision Flashcards
Explain the importance of enzymes as biological catalysts in the synthesis and breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins
Enzymes speed up chemical reactions involved in both building (synthesis) and breaking down (digestion) of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, ensuring efficient energy production and proper nutrient utilization in the body. Without enzymes, these processes would occur too slowly to sustain life’s essential functions
Describe the function of embryonic stem cells in animals and meristems in plants
Embryonic stem cells in animals can turn into any cell the body needs, aiding in growth and repair. Meristems in plants are busy centers of cell division, allowing plants to keep growing and regenerating throughout their lives
Explain how the sub-cellular structures of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells are related to their functions, including: animal, plant & bacteria
In eukaryotic cells, sub-cellular structures like the nucleus, mitochondria, and chloroplasts enable specialized functions in animals and plants. Prokaryotic cells lack these structures but efficiently utilize ribosomes and plasmids for essential functions in bacteria
Explain the mechanism of enzyme action including the active site and enzyme specificity
Enzyme action begins when a substrate fits into the enzyme’s active site. This specific fit enables the enzyme to speed up the chemical reaction. Enzyme specificity ensures that only certain substrates can bind to the active site, allowing enzymes to perform their specific functions
Explain how enzymes can be denatured due to changes in the shape of the active site
Enzymes can be denatured when changes in temperature, pH, or other environmental factors alter the shape of their active site. This distortion prevents substrates from fitting properly, disrupting enzyme function and rendering them inactive
Explain how substances are transported into and out of cells, including by diffusion, osmosis and active transport
Substances enter cells through diffusion, where molecules move from high to low concentration, and osmosis, which is the diffusion of water across a membrane. Active transport requires energy and specialized proteins to move molecules against the concentration gradient into or out of the cell
