Section 2- Cells Flashcards
What is a Eukaryote?
These are (mostly) multicellular organisms made up of eukaryotic cells like animals, plants, fungi, and protists.
What is a Prokaryote?
These are single-celled organisms made up of prokaryotic cells like bacteria.
What are eukaryotic cells?
These cells are more complex, contain membrane-bound organelles and have DNA in the form of chromosomes within a nucleus.
What is in an animal cell?
- Nucleus
- nucleolus
- smooth endoplasmic reticulum
- rough endoplasmic reticulum
- Golgi apparatus
- golgi vessels
- Ribosomes
- Lyosomes
- Mitochondria
State the relationship between a system and specialised cells.
Specialised cells make up tissues that perform a specific function. These tissues then form organs, and these organs that carry out a specific function are organ systems.
Describe the structure of the cell-surface membranes.
The structure is a ‘Fluid mosaic’ phospholipid bilayer with extrinsic and intrinsic proteins embedded.
Describe the Function of the cell-surface membrane.
- isolates cytoplasm from the extracellular environment
- selectively permeable to regulate the transport of substances
- involved in cell signalling/cell recognition.
Explain the role of cholesterol, glycoproteins and glycolipids in the cell surface membrane.
Cholesterol: steroid molecule connects phospholipids and reduces fluidity.
Glycoproteins: cell signalling, cell recognition and binding cells together,
Glycolipids: cell signalling and cell recognition.
Describe the structure of the nucleus.
- Surrounded by a nuclear envelope, a semi-permeable double membrane
- Nuclear pores allow substances to enter/ exit.
- Dense nucleolus made of RNA and proteins assembles ribosomes.
Describe the function of the nucleus.
- Contains DNA coiled around chromatin into chromosomes
- Controls cellular processes: Gene expression determines specialisation and site of mRNA transcription, mitosis, and semiconservative replication.
Describe the structure of a mitochondrion.
- Surrounded by a double membrane. The Folded inner membrane forms cristae which is the site of the electron transport chain.
- Fluid matrix: contains mitochondrial DNA, respiratory enzymes, lipids, and proteins.
Describe the structure of a chloroplast.
- Vesicular plastid with double membrane
- Thylakoids: flattened disks stacked to form grana; contain photosystems with chlorophyll.
3: Intergrana Lamellae: tubes attach thylakoids in adjacent grana.
Stroma: fluid-filled matrix.
State the function of mitochondria
Site of aerobic respiration to produce ATP
State the function of chloroplasts
Site of photosynthesis to convert solar energy to chemical energy.
Describe the structure of the Golgi apparatus.
- The planar stack of membrane-bound, flattened sac’s cis face aligns with the respiratory exchange ratio.
- Molecules are processed in cisternae vesicles bud off trans face via exocytosis.
Describe the function of the Golgi apparatus.
- modifies and packages proteins for export.
- synthesised glycoproteins
Describe the structure of a lysosome.
- Sac surrounded by a single membrane
- The embedded H+ pump maintains acidic conditions.
- Contains digestive hydrolase enzymes
- Glycoprotein coat protects cell interior.
Describe the Function of a lysosome
- Digest contents of phagosome
- exocytosis of digestive enzymes.
Describe the structure of a ribosome.
- Formed of protein and rRNA
- pree in cytoplasm or attached to Endoplasmic reticulum
Describe the function of a ribosome.
- site of protein synthesis via translation
- A large subunit joins amino acids
- small subunit contains mRNA binding site.
Describe the structure and function of the endoplasmic reticulum.
- Cisternae: a network of tubules and flattened sacs that extends from the cell membrane through the cytoplasm and connects to the nuclear envelope
- Rough ER: many ribosomes attached for protein synthesis and transport.
- Smooth ER: Lipid synthesis
Describe the structure of the cell wall.
- Bacteria: made of the polysaccharide murein
- Plants: Made of cellulose microfibrils. plasmodesmata allow molecules to pass between cells, middle lamella acts as a boundary between adjacent cell walls.
State the functions of the cell wall
- mechanical strength and support
- Physical barrier against pathogens
- Part of apoplast pathway (plants) to enable easy diffusion of water
Describe the structure and function of the cell vacuole in plants.
- Surrounded by a single membrane: the tonoplast
- contains cell sap: mineral ions, water, enzymes, and soluble pigments.
- Controls turgor pressure
- Absorbs and hydrolysis potentially harmful substances to detoxify cytoplasm
Explain some common cell adaptations.
- Folded membrane or microvilli increase surface e.g. for diffusion.
- Many mitochondria = large amounts of ATP for active transport.
- Walls one cell thick to reduce the distance of diffusion pathway.
State the role of plasmids in prokaryotes.
- Small ring of DNA that carries non-essential genes.
- Can be exchanged between bacterial cells via conjugation
State the role of flagella in prokaryotes.
Rotating cells (usually unicellular) organism
State the role of the capsule in prokaryotes
!. Prevents desiccation
2. Acts as a food reserve.
3. Provides mechanical protection against phagocytosis and external chemicals.
4. sticks cells together