module 1 Flashcards
all organisms possess 7 properties. what are they?
- cellular organization
- energy & metabolism
- reproduction
- heredity and evolution
- growth and development
6.regulation and homeostasis
7.response to stimuli
what is cell theory
a cell is the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of organisms. It is the smallest unit of life. All cells derive from pre-existing cells. All organisms are made of cells (one or more)
Which 3 things are not considered organisms
- virus
- prions
- viroids
why are virus, prions, viroids not considered organisms?
- No cellular organization
- no internal metabolism
- no growth or development
What are viruses?
- infectious particle.
cannot replicate outside of a cell - Some viruses have a membranous envelope.
What are prions?
- infectious agents (misfolded version of a normal cellular protein).
- increase in number by converting correctly folded versions to more prions
What are viroids?
- small infectious circular RNA molecules. Can replicate using the replication machinery of their plant host cell.
- Don’t code for any protein and can be transmitted between cells/individual plants.
What is the importance of carbon on earth? and why?
Life on earth uses carbon because :
* Highly abundant on earth and in the atmosphere
* Small molecular weight and size
* Can bind 4 other atoms to form reactive and stable molecules (organic)
* Can bind to other carbon atoms: polymerisation
Which elements constitute the majority of biological molecules?
Carbon; oxygen; hydrogen; nitrogen
COHN!!
What is the Origin of life hypothesis?
- origin of life ~3,500 my ago
- prokaryotes were the first cell
- Organic molecules necessary for the first step in the origin of life may have been synthesized from abiotic molecules on the early Earth.
- first cells had RNA
What did early atmosphere consist of?
methane, ammonia, hydrogen and some energy
What is the significance of clay in the origin of life?
Clay is mineral catalyst for the polymerization of RNA (RNA world). RNA can also self-replicate.
Describe the diversity of cellular functions:
- Contain and transmit the genetic material
- Acquisition and conversion of energy
- Feeding and absorption of nutrients
- Structure and support
- Communication and response to environmental stimuli
- Barrier and defense mechanisms (environmental stresses: biotic and abiotic)
- Transport of molecules (osmoregulation, gas exchange)
- Reproduction (gametes)
Cells are like busy cities with different functions: they store and pass on information, get energy, eat and absorb nutrients, provide structure, communicate and respond to the environment, defend against threats, transport molecules, and reproduce.
Describe the organization of cells in multicellular organisms:
In multicellular organisms, cells are organized in tissues and tissues are organized in organs.
What is the central dogma?
DNA -> RNA -> Protein:
The central dogma is like a recipe book where DNA provides the instructions (recipe) to make RNA, which then serves as a template to make proteins, but proteins cannot give instructions to make DNA or RNA.
What is the relationship between DNA and RNA
The genetic information encoded in DNA can be transferred to other DNA molecules. New RNA molecules that have been discovered can transfer their information into DNA.
What are the three domains?
Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya
What are archaea?
Prokaryotes that are not bacteria but can thrive in extreme conditions like highly acidic, hot, and high-salinity environments, and some even produce methane.
How do ribosomes reflect the common ancestor of all life?
ribosomes are found in all components of life
What is the importance of ribosomes for proteins synthesis?
ribosomal proteins are highly critical for protein synthesis, as they and are under very strong selection (mutations that disrupt their amino-acid sequence are selected out), they undergo slow evolution and accumulate more mutations among distant lineages; them being highly conserved aids in resolving the root of the tree of life.
What are the advantages of multicellularity?
Multicellularity is crucial as:
- it enhances surface area for efficient diffusion
- extends lifespan
- allows for the specialization of cells into various types, tissues, and organs
- ultimately enabling organisms to excel in vital functions like protection, feeding, locomotion, and reproduction.
What is the colonial hypothesis?
single-celled organisms from the same species started working together by either sticking together after they split or by joining up again after separating. They kept dividing, but some of them started to do specific jobs better, like protection or feeding, gradually evolving into multicellular organisms with specialized cells, enabling the development of complex life forms.
What are protists?
all of the eukaryote organisms that are neither fungi, plants or animals
Describe how light microscopes work.
The light goes through the specimen and the image is magnified by refraction through a lens.
Describe how a transmission electron microscope (TEM) works.
A beam of electrons goes through the specimen and can reveal internal structures. Requires very thin slices of the specimen hardened in resin or frozen, stained with heavy metal and cut using a microtome.
Describe how a scanning electron microscope (SEM) works
In a scanning electron microscope, a beam of electrons is directed onto the surface of a specimen that has been coated with a thin layer of gold (a good conductor of electricity). When these high-energy electrons strike the sample’s surface, they knock off secondary electrons from the specimen. These secondary electrons are then detected and converted into an electric signal for imaging. This technique allows scientists to create detailed 3D images of the specimen’s surface, providing valuable insights into its structure and morphology at a very small scale.
Describe how a fluorescence microscope works
In a fluorescence microscope, the specimen is labeled with a fluorescent marker like GFP or a fluorescent chemical. When exposed to specific light, these markers emit a different colored light, creating a vivid image that helps scientists see specific structures or molecules in the specimen.
What is the relationship between surface area and volume in cells?
as cells grow, volume increases faster than surface area, leading to a decreased surface area-to-volume ratio.
why is surface area important to cells?
because the surface area of a cell’s membrane determines the cell’s ability to exchange materials with its surroundings (like taking in nutrients and getting rid of waste). When the surface area doesn’t grow as fast as the volume, it can become less efficient at these exchanges, which can have biological consequences.
How do larger cells compensate for a low SA:Vol ratio?
- Foldings (like villi in intestine) may be formed to maximize absorption and to increase the surface area of the inner lining
How do smaller cells compensate for a high S:V ratio?
How do smaller cells compensate for a high S:V ratio?
What similarities exist between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?
- Genetic information encoded in DNA
- Plasma membrane
- Similar mechanisms for transcription & translation, photosynthesis, synthesizing and inserting membrane proteins
- presence of a cytoskeleton
- Similar processes for the conversion of chemical energy into ATP
- Shared metabolic pathways
Prokaryotes & Eukaryotes genetic information is encoded in:
DNA;
The genetic code is not universal. Variations between species. Mitochondria have a different code.
Prokaryotes & Eukaryotes plasma membrane is made of:
a bilayer of phospholipid
What is the role of the plasma membrane?
selective barrier
communication
adhesion
cell structure
Prokaryotes & Eukaryotes share what similar mechanisms regarding genetic info?
- transcription and translation of genetic information, including similar ribosomes
- photosynthesis (cyanobacteria and plants)
- synthesizing and inserting membrane proteins
Explain the presence of cytoskeleton in both Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
It provides shape, support, and aids in various cellular processes like cell division and movement. but the proteins differ between
prokaryotes :FtsZ and MreB eukaryotes : actin, tubulin, keratin
How are prokaryotes and eukaryotes similar in converting chemical energy into ATP?
- Similar process for the conversion of chemical energy into ATP:
- prokaryotes: plasma membrane
-eukaryotes: mitochondrial membrane - also have shared metabolic pathways (glycolysis, citric acid cycle)
Cytoplasm
is thetotal content of the cell bounded by the plasma membrane; in eukaryotes,
EXCLUDES THE NUCLEUS
Cytosol:
Fluid portion of cytoplasm; internal fluid containing organic molecules, proteins, metabolic waste etc.
How is the cytoplasm different between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?
prokaryotic cells
- simpler
- lacks membrane-bound organelles,
- has free-floating ribosomes, - therefore made of the cytosol.
In eukaryotic cells
- compartmentalized with organelles, has attached ribosomes
- complex cytoskeleton
- excludes the nucleus
What are the differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes in terms of the nucleus?
In prokaryotes
- there is no nucleus
- Presence of a nucleoid
In Eukaryotes
- presence of a nucleus with linear chromosomes
- made of chromatin (DNA + histone proteins)