Plant Cells

Question 1

Describe the features of a monocot, give examples

Answer 1

1 cotyldeon
Single central vein
Veins run parallel
Petals in multiples of 3
Vascular bundles throughout leaf
e.g. grasses, grains, wheat, rice

Question 2

Describe features of a dicot, give examples

Answer 2

2 cotyldons
Petals in multiples of 4 or 5
Reticulated veins
Vascular bundles arranged in a ring
e.g. legumes, apples, pears, nuts

Question 3

Which is bigger, animal or plant cells?

Answer 3

Plant cells are 10X bigger than animal cells

Question 4

What are plastids? Give examples

Answer 4

Plastids = membrane bound organelles
Chloroplast
Chromoplast
Amyloplast

Question 5

Describe the plant cell membrane

Answer 5

Plant cells have no cholesterol in membrane - have phytosterols instead

Question 6

What is the effect of phytosterols on the human body?

Answer 6

Phytosterols inhibit the absorption of animal cholesterol in the body

Question 7

Describe the LDS of photosynthesis

Answer 7

LDS occurs in the thylakoid membrane

O2, NADPH and ATP produced

Question 8

Describe the LIS of photosynthesis

Answer 8

occurs in stroma
Calvin cycle is used to fix carbon
RuBisCo enzyme required
Glyceraldehyde 3 Phospate (GP) is the product - used to synthesise amino acids, fatty acids and glucose

Question 9

Describe chlorophyll

Answer 9

Chlorophyll is found in the photosystems

Contains magnesium

Question 10

Describe cytochromes

Answer 10

Used in photosynthesis and respiration

Contains haem iron

Question 11

Describe C3 photosynthesis

Answer 11

C3 Photo:
Used by all plants
Produces GP
Only occurs at high concentrations of CO2
Only photosynthesis that wheat, potato and rice can use

Question 12

Describe C4 photosynthesis

Answer 12

C4 Photo:
Only some plants can use it
Mainly used by tropical plants
More efficient
RuBisco and PEP carboxylase are needed
Fixes twice the amount of carbon per cycle than C3
Can operate at lower CO2 conc.

Question 13

Describe the components of the cell wall

Answer 13

Cellulose embedded in a matrix of glycans (made up of hemicelluloses and pectins)

Question 14

Describe where cell wall biosynthesis occurs

Answer 14

Plasma membrane synthesizes cellulose - contains cellular synthase enzymes
Golgi apperatus synthesizes matrix glycans

Question 15

What is the function of matrix glycans?

Answer 15

Matrix glycans prevents cellulose from collapsing when interacting

Question 16

How many directions do plant cells grow in?

Answer 16

Plant cells grow in 1 direction, even though turgor pressure is generated all round. The wall in the direction of growth is loosened

Question 17

What vitamins do plants not contain?

Answer 17

Plants do not contain vitamin B12 or D