Organisms Respond to their Environment (3.6) Flashcards
Survival & Response (AO1)
Organisms [1] their chance of survival by responding to [2] in their environment.
[1] increase
[2] changes
Survival & Response (AO1)
List two simple responses by small organisms such as insects
Taxis
Kinesis
Survival & Response (AO1)
Function of taxis and kinesis for mobile organisms?
1. Keep organisms in a favourable environment.
(e.g. more food, more mates, less predators, less desiccation)
2. Increase chances of survival
Survival & Response (AO1)
Define taxis
Directional movement in response to a stimulus
Survival & Response (AO1)
Positive taxis
Directional response with movement towards the stimulus
Survival & Response (AO1)
Negative taxis
Directional response with movement away from the stimulus
Survival & Response (AO1)
Define kinesis
Random OR non-directional movements in response to the stimulus
Survival & Response (AO2)
Behaviour:
(Positive photo) taxis;
Advantage:
Avoid competition / to find a mate / increase dispersal / to avoid predators;
Survival & Response (AO2)
1. Kinesis;
2. Movement is random / non-directional
Survival & Response (AO2)
Taxis
Survival & Response (AO1)
Give one similarity and one difference between a taxis and a tropism.
Similarity − directional response to a stimulus / movement towards OR away from a stimulus;
Difference − in taxis whole organism moves whereas tropism a growth response in part of the plant (e.g. shoot or root tips).
OR
Difference - taxis occurs in animals whereas tropisms occurs in plants
Survival & Response (Maths)
11.1%
Survival & Response (AO2)
Taxis
B moves towards stimulus / light
Survival & Response (AO2)
kinesis;
random / non-directional movements;
Survival & Response (AO1)
In flowering plants, specific [1] factors move from growing regions to other tissues, where they regulate growth in response to directional [2].
[1] growth
[2] stimuli
Survival & Response (AO1)
Which organisms demonstrate tropisms?
Plants
Survival & Response (AO1)
Define tropism
Response of a plant to a directional stimulus
Survival & Response (AO1)
Stimuli that cause tropisms
Light
Gravity
Water
Salinity
Survival & Response (AO1)
Positive phototropism
Directional response of shoot tips towards light
Survival & Response (AO1)
Directional response of root tips away from light
negative phototropism
Survival & Response (AO1)
Positive gravitotropism
Directional response of root tips towards gravity
Survival & Response (AO1)
Auxis are a family of growth factors that cause tropisms. Which specific auxin must you know.
IAA
Full name: Indoleacetic acid
Survival & Response (AO1)
Where is IAA synthesised?
Shoot tips &
root tips
Survival & Response (AO1)
How does IAA move into the growing region of the shoot or root tip?
Diffusion
Survival & Response (AO1)
Where does IAA build up in the shoot tips in response to light?
On the shaded side
Survival & Response (AO1)
Effect of IAA in the shoot tips
- Stimulates elongagation of cells on the shaded side;
- Causes shoot to bend towards the light;
(this is a positive phototropism)
Survival & Response (AO1)
Where does IAA build up in the root tips in response to gravity?
On the side closest to gravity / on the underside
Survival & Response (AO1)
Effect of IAA in the root tips
- Inhibits elongagation of cells on the underside;
- Cells on opposite side (away from gravitiy) can elongate and cause the root tip to bend towards gravity;
Survival & Response (AO2)
1. Tip produces/synthesises IAA;
2. IAA diffuses (into growing region of shoot);
3. Stimulates elongation of cells on one side (than other);
Survival & Response (AO2)
1. Tip produces IAA;
2. Affects concentration of IAA
OR Affects (shoot) length/growth/elongation;
Survival & Response (Maths)
0.4cm^3 stock IAA + 39.6cm^3 water
Step by step working:
C1 x V1 = C2 x V2
C1 = stock concentration
V1 = volume of stock
C2 = desired concentration
V2 = desired volume
1 x V1 = 0.01 x 40
V1 = 0.4cm^3 of IAA stock + 39.6cm^3 of water
Survival & Response (AO2)
1. Grow in direction of / towards (pull of) gravity;
Accept: tropism for growth
Accept: positively geotropic / gravitropic
2. Grow away from salt;
3. Salt has more effect than gravity;
Survival & Response (AO2)
1. Seedlings / root tips respond to light;
2. Only measuring the effect of gravity;
Survival & Response (AO2)
When a young shoot is illuminated from one side, IAA stimulates growth on the shaded side.
Explain why growth on the shaded side helps to maintain the leaves in a favourable environment (2 marks).
1. Causes plant to bend / grow towards light / positive phototropism;
2. Light energy required for photosynthesis;
Survival & Response (AO1)
TRUE or FALSE:
IAA is only produced in the light
FALSE
IAA is produced in the light AND dark
Survival & Response (AO1)
Draw out a simple reflex arc
(include the neurons and an effector)
Survival & Response (AO1)
Which neuron in the simple reflex arc contains receptors to the stimulus?
Sensory
Survival & Response (AO1)
Suggest two advantages of simple reflexes
- Rapid;
- Protect against damage to body tissues;
- Do not have to be learnt / innate behaviour / involuntary;
- Help escape from predators;
- Enable homeostatic control;
- Finding suitable conditions / keep organism in favourable environment;
Survival & Response (AO1)
Give two types of cell that act as effectors.
Muscles
Glands
(which produce hormones)
Survival & Response (AO1)
Only 3 neurones
Survival & Response (AO1)
What is found between the sensory neuron and relay neuron
Synapse
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Draw out and annotate a myelinated motor neuron
Nerve impulses (AO1)
What is found on the cell surface membrane of the dendrites?
Receptors
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Organelles in the cell body of a neuron
Nucleus
Golgi apparatus / body
Ribosomes / Rough ER
Mitochondria
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Specialised cell that produces the myelin sheath
Schwann cell
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Biological molecule found in myelin sheath
phospholipids
Myelin also contains cholesterol, so similar to cell surface membrane.
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Released by axon terminals
neurotransmitters
e.g. acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Process at nodes of ranvier
saltatory conduction
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Stages of an action potential
- Resting potential,
- (Threshold potential),
- Depolarisation,
- Repolarisation,
- Hyperpolarisation,
- Re-establish resting potential.
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Resting potential in mV
-70mV
This means inside of axon is LESS positive than outside
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Channel proteins found in axon cell surface membrane
Voltage-gated sodium ion channels
Voltage-gated potassium ion channels
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Explain how a resting potential is maintained across the axon membrane in a neurone (3 marks).
1. Sodium ions actively transported OUT and potassium ions IN;
2. LESS permeable to sodium ions as voltage-gated channels closed OR membrane MORE permeable to potassium ions;
3. Higher concentration of potassium ions inside AND higher concentration of sodium ions outside the axon
Nerve impulses (AO1)
The sodium potassium ion pump establishes an ________________ gradient.
electrochemical gradient
i.e., higher sodium ion concentration outside the axon, lower inside.
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Threshold potential in mV
-55mV
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Channel open at -55mV
Voltaged-gated sodium ion channels
Nerve impulses (AO1)
The all-or-nothing principle
An action potential is only generated/produced when threshold stimulus is reached (-55mv)
OR
An action potential is not generated/produced until/unless threshold stimules is reached (-55mv);
If stimulus reached, voltage-gated sodium ion channels open
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Sodium and potassium ions can only cross the axon membrane through channel proteins. Explain why (2 marks).
1. Cannot pass through phospholipid bilayer (via simple diffusion)
2. because they are NOT lipid soluble
OR because they are charged;
Nerve impulses (AO2)
A scientist investigated the effect of inhibitors on neurones. She added a respiratory inhibitor to a neurone. The resting potential of the neurone changed from –70 mV to 0 mV.
Explain why (3 marks).
1. No/less ATP produced;
2. No/less active transport
OR fewer sodium ions moved out.
OR Sodium/potassium pump inhibited;
3. Electrochemical gradient not maintained
OR same concentration of sodium and potassium ions either side of axon membrane
Nerve impulses (AO1)
C
Nerve impulses (AO2)
1. Voltage-gated sodium ion channels open, so sodium diffuses in;
2. Makes inside of more positive OR leads to depolarisation / reaches threshold;
3. More channels open;
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Sodium ions diffusing into the axon via open voltage-gated channels leads to___________________.
depolarisation
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Why does the graph increase from -55mV to +40mV?
1. Voltage-gated sodium ion channels are open
2. Sodium ions diffuse into the axon via faciliated diffusion (DOWN an electrochemical gradient)
3. Inside of the axon MORE positive
Nerve impulses (AO1)
What happens at +40mV?
Voltage-gated sodium ion channels CLOSE
AND
Voltage-gated potassium ion channels OPEN
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Why does the graph decrease after +40mV during repolarisation?
1. Voltage-gated potassium ion channels are open (& voltage-gated sodium ion channels are closed).
2. Potassium ions rapidly diffuse OUT of the axon via faciliated diffusion (DOWN an electrochemical gradient)
3. Inside of the axon LESS positive
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Hyperpolarisation in mV
-90mV
Nerve impulses (AO1)
What causes hyperpolarisation?
1. Voltage-gated potassium ion channels stay open;
2. Potassium ions diffuse out of axon;
3. Inside of axon becomes even LESS positive (decreasing from -70mV to -90mV).
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Channels closed at -90mV
Voltage-gated potassium ion channels (close at -90mV)
Voltage-gated sodium ion channels (already closed during repolarisation)
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Explain how the resting potential is re-established (2 marks).
1. Sodium potassium pump uses energy from ATP hydrolysis;
2. Sodium ions actively transported OUT and potassium ions IN.
Both ions move AGAINST their concentraton gradient from low to high.
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Explain why the speed of transmission of impulses is faster along a myelinated axon than along a non-myelinated axon (3 marks).
1. Myelination provides insulation;
2. In myelinated axon saltatory conduction occurs
OR In myelinated axon depolarisation only occurs at nodes of Ranvier;
3. In non-myelinated axon, depolarisation occurs along whole length of axon;
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Refractory period
1. Time during which a new action potential cannot be generated;
2. It lasts from the threshold potential until the resting potential has been re-established;
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Importance of the refractory period
1. Action potentials occur in one direction
2. Each impulse / action potential is discrete
3. Number of action potential is limited
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Factors affecting speed of impulse conductance along an axon
Myelination
Temperature
Axon diameter
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Explain how myelination affects conductance of an impulse
Insulates axon;
Depolarisation only occurs at nodes of Ranvier;
Leads to salatory conduction (action potential ‘jumps’ between nodes of Ranvier);
Impulse / action potential moves FASTER along axon;
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Explain how increasing temperature affects conductance of an impulse
More kinetic energy;
Faster rate of diffusion of sodium and potassium ions DOWN electronchemical gradient;
Faster rate of diffusion of sodium ions within axon;
Impulse / action potential moves FASTER along axon;
Nerve impulses (AO1)
Explain how increasing axon diameter affects conductance of an impulse
1. Larger surface area so more cell-surface membrane for voltage-gated sodium/potassium ion channel proteins;
2. Less resistance to flow ions within the axon;
Nerve impulses (AO2)
Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which parts of the myelin sheaths surrounding neurones are destroyed.
Explain how this results in slower responses to stimuli (2 marks).
1. Less / no saltatory conduction / action potential / impulse unable to ‘jump’ from node to node;
2. More depolarisation over length of membranes;
Nerve impulses (AO1)
D
B
C
Receptors (AO1)
Receptor to detect change in pressure
Pacinian corpuscle
Receptors (AO1)
P = capsule/lamella(e)
Q = Axon (membrane) / (sensory) neurone
R = Schwann cell(s) / Myelin sheath
Receptors (AO1)
Channel proteins in Pacinian corpuscle
Stretch-mediated sodium ion channel proteins
Receptors (AO1)
Describe how stimulation of a Pacinian corpuscle produces a generator potential (3 marks).
1. Increased pressure deforms/changes membrane/lamella(e)
2. This opens the stretch-mediated sodium ion channels (in the membrane);
OR (Increased pressure) deforms/changes sodium ion channels;
3. Sodium ion channels open;
4. Sodium ions diffuse in;
5. Depolarisation (leading to generator potential);
Accept inside becomes positive
Receptors (AO1)
TRUE or FALSE:
The generator potential must exceed the threshold stimulus to trigger an action potential in the sensory neuron
TRUE
Receptors (AO1)
[1] pressure leads to more stretch-mediated sodium [2] channels opening. This leads to [3] and makes it more likely the generator potential produced exceeds the [4] stimulus for an action potential.
This is an example of the [5] principle.
[1] Increased
[2] ion
[3] depolarisation
[4] threshold
[5] all or nothing
Receptors (AO1)
TRUE or FALSE:
A new generator potential in the axon of the Pacinian corpuscle can be produced during the refractory period.
FALSE
The resting potential inside the axon must be re-established
Receptors (AO1)
Example of photoreceptors
Rods & cones
Receptors (AO1)
Photoreceptors location
Macula
(middle of retina)
Receptors (AO1)
Cone location
Fovea
(the centre of the macula)
Receptors (AO1)
Rod location
Edges of the macula
(not present in the fovea)
Receptors (AO1)
Rods and cones convert [1] energy into electrical energy in the form of [2].
[1] light
[2] action potentials / nerve impulses
Receptors (AO1)
Sensivity of rods
High sensivity to low light intensity
Receptors (AO1)
In rods, light breaks down the pigment [1] and this leads to the release of [2]. This leads to a [3] potential in the [4] neurone.
[1] rhodopsin
[2] neurotransmitter
[3] generator
[4] bipolar
Receptors (AO1)
Retinal convergence
Several rod cells connected to a single bipolar neurone
Receptors (AO1)
Spatial summation
Release of neurotransmitter from one rod cell leads to generator potential below threshold stimulus in the bipolar neurone
Neurotransmitter released from several/additional rods cells connected to same bipolar neurone helps exceed the threhold and trigger an action potential
Receptors (AO1)
Photoreceptor with low visual acuity
Rods
Receptors (AO1)
Acuity
How clear / detailed the image is
Receptors (AO1)
Photoreceptor with high visual acuity
cones
Receptors (AO1)
Types of cone cells
3 cone cells specific to different wavelengths of light: red, blue & green.
Receptors (AO1)
Sensivity of cones
Low sensitivity to low light intensity
Receptors (AO1)
In cones, high intensity light breaks down the pigment [1] and this leads to the release of [2]. This leads to a [3] potential in the [4] neurone.
[1] iodopsin
[2] neurotransmitter
[3] generator
[4] bipolar
Receptors (AO1)
Each [1] cell is connected to a single [2] neurone. This sends [3] impulses to the visual cortex via the optic nerve.
[1] cone
[2] bipolar
[3] separate
Receptors (AO2)
The fovea of the eye of an eagle has a high density of cones. An eagle focuses the image of its prey onto the fovea.
Explain how the fovea enables an eagle to see its prey in detail.
Do not refer to colour vision in your answer (3 marks).
1. Each cone cell is connected to a single bipolar neurone
OR no retinal convergence;
2. Cones send separate (sets of) impulses to brain / optic nerve;
3. Produces high visual acuity;
Receptors (AO2)
The retina of an owl has a high density of rod cells.
Explain how this enables an owl to hunt its prey at night.
Do not refer to rhodopsin in your answer (3 marks).
1. High sensitivity to low light intensity
2. Retinal converage OR several rods connected to a single bipolar neurone;
3. Enough neurotransmitter released to reach/overcome threshold
OR spatial summation to reach/overcome threshold;
Receptors (AO2)
no photoreceptor cells at Y
OR no rods and cones;
Control of heart rate (AO1)
Cardiac muscle is ____________
myogenic
Control of heart rate (AO1)
Define myogenic
Contraction is initiated from within the muscle itself;
due to the action of the sinoatrial node (SAN)
(which acts as a ‘pacemaker’)
Control of heart rate (AO1)
Nodes required for initiation and coordination of a heartbeat / cardiac cycle.
Sinoatrial node (SAN)
Atrioventricular node (AVN)
Note: you only need to recall ‘SAN’ and ‘AVN’