Molecular Biology Wk 1 Flashcards
What are the most fundamental properties of cells
- cells are highly complex and organised
- cells posses a genetic program and the means to use it
- cells are capable of producing more of themselves
- cells acquire and utilise energy
- cells carry out a variety of chemical reactions
- cells engage in mechanical activities
- cells are able to respond to stimuli
- cells are capable of self regulation
- cells evolve
(Cells are highly complex and organised)
Name the 4 categories in the hierarchy
Cellular level
Organismal level
Populational level
Ecosystem level
What is the basic property of cells
Life and cells are the smallest unit to exhibit this property
Describe the cellular level
Atom
Molecule
Macromolecule
Organelle
Cell
Describe the organismal level
Tissue
Organ
Organ system
Organism
This is known as cellular organisation
Describe populational level
Population
Species
Community
Describe the ecosystem level
Ecosystem
Biosphere (for example earth)
(Cells possess a genetic program and the means to use it)
Describe
Organism are built according to information encoded in a collection of genes, which are constructed of DNA
This is done through gene expression - so the activation of a gene in order to make a protein that can then take part in various biological processes
Functions of genes
Construct cellular structures
Directions of running cellular activities
Program for making more of themselves
(Cells are capable of producing more of themselves)
Cells reproduce by … a process in which the contents of a … cell are distributed into two … cells
Division
Mother
Daughter
Do the daughter cells have approx the same volume
Yes
What do some cases include?
As the human oocyte undergoes division, one of the cells can retain nearly all of the cytoplasm (only having half of the genetic material)
(Cells acquire and utilize energy)
Describe this
- Cells expend an enormous amount of energy by breaking down and making macromolecules
- This continual turnover maintains the integrity of cell components
(Cells carry out a variety of chemical reactions)
All chemical changes that take place in cells require…
Enzymes
What is the sum total in a cell?
The sum total of chemical reactions in a cell represents the cells metabolism
What is metabolism?
Chemical process that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life
(Cells engage in mechanical activities)
Describe this
These mechanical activities are based on dynamic, mechanical changes within cells, many of which are initiated by changes in the shape of ‘motor’ proteins
(Cells are able to respond to stimuli)
What do cell receptors possess?
Hormones, growth factors and extra cellular materials and substances of other cells
Function of cells receptors
Provide pathways through which the external stimuli can evoke specific responses in target cells.
Cells may respond to specific stimuli by altering their metabolic activities, moving from one place to another, or even committing suicide
(Cells are capable of self regulation)
Why is it important?
Maintaining a complex, ordered state requires constant regulation.
The importance of regulatory mechanisms becomes most evident when they break down
(Cells evolve)
Describe this
Cells have evolved from a single, common ancestral cell that lived more than a billion yrs ago
LUCA- LAST UNIVERSAL COMMON ANCESTOR
Name the two different classes of cells
Prokaryotic - bacteria
Eukaryotic- protists, fungi, plants and animals (they have nucleus and membrane bound organelles)- plasma membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus
What is population
The number of organisms of the same species that live in a particular geographic area at the same time
What is a community
An interacting group of various species in a shared area
What is an ecosystem
A community of biotic - living organisms and abiotic- non living factors living together in a particular habitat
What is the difference between meiosis and mitosis
Mitosis
Involves the division of body cells
The division of the cell only occurs once in mitosis
Two daughter cells are produced
Daughter cells are diploid (two complete sets of chromosomes) and they are genetically identical
Meiosis
Involves sex cells
Division of the cell occurs twice
Four daughter cells are produced after meiosis
The cells in meiosis are haploid (only contain a single set of chromosomes) and the cells are genetically diverse
Why is ATP the most important source of energy
Due to the phosphate groups that link through the phosphodiester bonds
Releases energy by breaking off one of its three phosphate groups becoming ADP
Cells acquire and utilise energy
Anabolic - are those that require energy to synthesise larger molecules
Catabolic pathways are those that generate energy by breaking down larger molecules
Cells are able to respond to stimuli - receptors….
A receptor is a protein
Cell surface receptor recognises large hydrophobic molecules and hydrophilic molecules
What are the function of peroxisomes
Take part in diverse oxidative reactions and play important roles in lipid metabolism, detoxification and signalling , processing of reactive oxygen species
What type of ribosomes do prokaryotes have
70 s
What is cell biology
Study of cells
And their behaviour, function, structure
