SB2 - Cells & control Flashcards
What are organisms made up of many cells called?
Multicellular organisms
What do multicellular organisms need in order to grow?
New cells
When do cells divide?
- When an organism grows
- When an organism becomes damaged & needs new cells for repair
- When organisms reproduce asexually
What is the cell cycle?
The events that lead to cell division & DNA replication
What is Mitosis?
A type of cell division which produces daughter cells identical to the parent
What are the phases of the cell cycle?
- Interphase
- Mitosis
- Cytokinesis
What is interphase
- The cell grows, organelles (such as ribosome and
mitochondria) grow and increase in number - The synthesis of proteins occurs
- DNA is replicated (forming the characteristic ‘X’ shape) and energy stores are increased
What are the substages of mitosis?
- Prophase
- Metaphase
- Anaphase
- Telophase
- Cytokinesis
What is Prophase?
The nucleus starts to break down and spindle fibres appear
What is Metaphase?
The chromosomes are lined up in the spindle fibres across the middle of the cell
What is Anaphase?
The chromosome copies are separated and moved to either end of the cell on the spindle fibres
What is Telophase?
A membrane forms around each set of chromosomes to form nuclei
What is Cytokinesis?
Two identical daughter cells form when the cytoplasm and cell membranes divide
How many daughter cells does mitosis produce?
2 genetically identical diploid cells
Where is a diploid number of chromosomes found in the body?
Body cells (46)
Where is a haploid number of chromosomes found in the body?
Gametes (23)
What is a gene?
A short section of DNA that codes for a protein and as a result controls a characteristic- therefore each chromosome carries many genes
How does cancer occur?
As a result of small changes in cells, that lead to uncontrolled cell division
What is a tumour?
The group of cells that results from this uncontrolled division
How does growth occur in animals?
Via cell division and differentiation
What is differentiation?
The process by which a less specialised cell becomes more specialised for a particular function
How does growth occur in plants?
Via cell division, differentiation and elongation
How can plant cells grow in a specific direction?
By absorbing water into their vacuoles
—> Controlled by auxins
At what time can plants differentiate?
Many types of cells retain the ability to differentiate throughout life
What are the types of stem cells?
- Embryonic
- Adult
- Meristem
What can embryonic stem cells differentiate into?
Any type of body cell
When do embryonic stem cells form?
When an egg and sperm cell fuse to form a zygote
How can scientists clone embryonic stem cells?
By culturing them
What can Adult stem cells differentiate into?
Many types of cells (including blood cells)
What can meristem cells differentiate into?
Any type of plant, and have this ability throughout the life of the plant
Where are meristem cells found?
Root shoot and tips
What is therapeutic cloning?
Involves an embryo being produced with the same genes as the patient.
Describe how therapeutic cloning works
The embryo produced could then be harvested to obtain the embryonic stem cells
—> Could be grown into any cells the patient needed
What is an advantage of therapeutic cloning?
They would not be rejected as they would have the exact same genetic make-up as the individual
What are the benefits with the use of stem cells in medicine?
- Can be used to replace damaged or diseased body parts
- Research into the process of differentiation
- Unwanted embryos from fertility clinics
could be used
What are the problems with the use of stem cells in medicine?
- People may have religious or ethical objections
- If growing cells are contaminated w/ virus - can pass onto individual
- Don’t completely understand the process of differentiation
- People may have religious or ethical objections
- Removal of stem cells = destruction of the embryo
Why may people have religious or ethical objections when using embryonic stem cells?
As it is seen as interference with
the natural process of reproduction
Why might not understanding the process of differentiation be a problem when using embryonic stem cells?
It is hard to control stem cells to form the cells we desire
What makes up our CNS?
- The brain
- Spinal cord
What is the CNS responsible for?
Controlling consciousness, movements thoughts and emotions, among other things
Where is the cerebral hemispheres located?
On the left & right hand sides
What are the functions of the cerebral hemispheres?
- Consciousness
- Memory
- Intelligence
- Visual & sensory processing