The Cell Level Flashcards
What is the smallest structural and functional unit of a living organism?
the cell
What is the cell doctrine?
1.all living things consist of one or more cells, 2. each cell can live independently of the rest, 3. cells can arise only from other cells
What are the two types of cells?
prokaryotic, eukayoitc
What is a eukaryote cell?
animal or plant cell
What is a prokaryote cell?
bacterium
On average how many cells is the adult body made of?
about 37.2 trillion
How many different cells types can cells be classified into?
200
What are the types of human cells?
reproductive cells (gametes) and somatic cells (all other body cells)
What are the parts of a cell?
plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus
What are the basic characteristics of the plasma membrane?
flexible outer surface, selective barrier, plays key role in communication among cells and their enviroment
What is the cytoplasm? What does it consist of?
includes all cellular contents, except the nucleus. Consists of cytosol and organelles
What is the largest organelle?
nucleus
What does the nucleus contain?
contains the chromosomes (that house the DNA molecules with the genes)
What is the fluid mosaic model?
continually moving sea of fluid lipids with a mosaic of many different proteins, some proteins float freely as icebergs and others are anchored at a specific locations
What is the most important property of the plasma membrane?
its selective permeability
What is the selective permeability of the plasma membrane?
lipid soluble substances pass, barrier for polar substances, some membrane proteins allow polar substances to pass and move in
The plasma membrane is a ______________ structure composed of _______________ molecules
The plasma membrane is a LIPID-BILAYER structure composed of AMPHIPATHIC molecules
What is an amphipathic molecule?
one that have one water-soluble end and another lipid soluble end
Which are the amphipathic lipids of the plasma membrane?
phospholipids (75%), cholesterol (20%), glycolipids (5%)
What amphipathic lipid of the plasma membrane appears only on the extracellular side of the membrane?
glycolipids
What is the arrangement of proteins in the plasma membrane?
- integral proteins - many are glycoproteins and extend through the bilayer (Transmembrane) and they are anchored, 2. peripheral protein are attached to the polar heads, and are attached to the integral proteins at the inner or outer surface
What is the ‘glyco’ portion of glycoproteins in the membrane?
oligosaccharides (sugar) and protrudes into the extracellular fluid
True or false: the ‘sugar’ portion of the glycolipids in the membrane protrudes into the intracellular fluid
false: protrudes into the extracellular fluid
What is the glycocalyx of the plasma membrane?
the sugar portions of both the glycoproteins and glycolipids form an extensive sugary coat in the outside of the membrane which is called the glycocalyx
True or false: the pattern of sugars in the glycocalyx is the same on each cell
False: the pattern of sugars int he glycocalyx is unique to the cell, the molecular signature of the cell
What are the functions of the glycocalyx?
cells can recognize each other, WBC can recognize a foreign glycocalyx, enables cells to adhere to one another, protects cells against digestive enzymes, attracts a film of fluid to the surface of many cells making cell slippery which helps RBC circulating within narrow capillaries and protects the cells from the airways and GI tract from drying out
What are the membrane integral proteins?
ion channels, carrier (transporter) protein, receptor protein, enzyme protein, linker protein, and cell identity protein markers
What are ion channels?
pores for one specific ion
What are carrier proteins?
move one polar substance or ion across plasma membrane
What is a receptor protein? Give an example.
serves as a recognition site, binds to one specific molecule (ligand) ie. insulin
What is an enzyme protein?
catalyzes reaction at the membrane or inside the cell
What are linker proteins?
anchor membrane proteins of neighbouring cells