The Building Blocks of Life Flashcards
What are cells?
They’re the basic building block of life
How big are human cells?
20-30 microns
What are 2 instruments you can use to see microorganisms?
A light microscope and an electron microscope
What are the disadvantages of a light microscope?
They must be thin enough to let light through it
What are the advantages and disadvantages of an electron microscope?
Advantages: They can magnify up to 1 million times
Disadvantages: They’re big and expensive
What are the 4 basic parts of a cell?
- The nucleus
- Cell membrane
- Mitochondria
- Cytoplasm
What are the 3 parts of a plant cell which animal cells don’t have?
- A cell wall
- Vacuole
- Chloroplasts
What is a nucleus?
The part of a cell that contains the genes
What is a cell membrane?
It’s the outer layer of the cell and controls what gets in and out.
What is a cytoplasm?
The part of a cell that holds the inside of the cell together. Its jelly like.
What is the mitochondria?
Where respiration takes place. Provide energy for the cell.
What is a cell wall?
The tough outer layer which gives the plant cell its shape and strength.
What is a vacuole?
A membrane lined space in the middle of the cytoplasm. Keeps the cell firm and supports the plant.
What is chloroplasts
Packets of green colour that capture light energy. Roots dont have these.
What are specialised cells?
They are cells adapted to a specific function in an organism.
What is the purpose of a red blood cell?
To carry oxygen around you’re body.
What are the specialised adaptation in a red blood cell?
- They’re filled with Haemoglobin which carries oxygen
- They’re small and flexible to pass through tiny blood vessels.
- Don’t have a nucleus to make space for more haemoglobin
- Are biconcave which allows them to pick up a lot of oxygen.
What is the purpose of a neurone?
To carry electrical messages around your body
What are the specialised adaptations of a neurone?
- They’re long, to carry messages around the body
- Have branches to connect them to other neurones
- Have insulation so electrical messages travel faster
What is the purpose of a ciliated cell?
They move things (e.g bacteria) in certain parts of your body (e.g nose) by beating them with hairs.
What are the specialised adaptations of a ciliated cell?
- They have cilia (hair-like things) to move stuff
- They have lots of mitochondria to supply the energy needed for movement.
What is a palisade cell?
They are cells that are specialised at making food using photosynthesis. They’re green and often found on the top layer of leaves.
What are the specialised adaptations of a palisade cell?
- They’re only found on the top parts of a leaf to get as much sunlight as possible
- They’re brick shaped to pack as tightly together as possible
- Have a lot of chloroplasts which contain chlorophyll which traps light for photosynthesis
What are root hair cells?
They’re specialised to capture water from the soil.
