Topic 1: Cell Biology Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the principles of cell theory?

A
  1. All living things are composed of cells or cell parts
  2. The cell is the smallest unit of life
  3. Cells only arise from pre-existing cells
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2
Q

How is striated muscle an exception to cell theory?

A

+ Formed by division of pre-existing cells
+ Have their own genetic material
- Large in length (>300mm)
- Multiple nuclei

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3
Q

What makes something an exception to cell theory?

A

They do not conform to the standard notion of what constitutes a cell

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4
Q

How is giant algae an exception to cell theory?

A

+ One nucleus in rhizoid, containing genes
+ Photosynthesis to feed themselves
- Grow large in length (100mm)
- Complex form: bottom rhizoid, long stalk, top umbrella

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5
Q

What are the functions of life?

A

Functions within unicellular organisms that are integral to survival

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6
Q

List the functions of life?

A
Metabolism
Reproduction 
Sensitivity 
Homeostasis 
Excretion 
Nutrition 
Growth
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7
Q

Describe Metabolism

A

Essential chemical reactions

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8
Q

Describe reproduction

A

Production of offspring through asexual or sexual reproduction

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9
Q

Describe sensitivity

A

Responsiveness to internal and external stimuli

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10
Q

Describe Excretion

A

Removal of waste products

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11
Q

Describe nutrition

A

Exchange of materials and gases with the environment

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12
Q

Describe Growth

A

Moving and changing of shape or size

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13
Q

What is the rate of metabolism a function of?

A

mass/ volume

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14
Q

What is the rate of material exchange a function of?

A

surface area

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15
Q

What are emergent properties?

A

A number of simple entities that operate in an environment.

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16
Q

How is magnification calculated?

A

magnification= image size/ actual size

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17
Q

How is actual size calculated?

A

actual size= image size/ magnification

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18
Q

Describe what a multicellular organism is?

A

Organisms composed of multiple cells, which are to varying degrees integrated and independent

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19
Q

Provide an example of emergent properties

A

cells grouped together to form tissues

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20
Q

Why is surface area to volume ratio important?

A
  • Cells require diffusion for getting substances in and out of the cells
  • When cells have a lower surface area to volume ratio, diffusion is less efficient due to the membrane area not being sufficient enough to more reactants and molecules to reach the cell’s needs
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21
Q

What SA:V ratio does a small cell/ object have?

A

large SA:V ratio

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22
Q

What SA:V ratio does a large cell/ object have?

A

small SA:V ratio

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23
Q

What increases SA:V ratio?

A
  • Projections or folds

- Cell division

24
Q

What are the characteristics of stem cells?

A
  • Self renewal: continuously divide and replicate

- Potency: differentiate into specialised cell types

25
Q

What is a totipotent stem cell?

A

Can form any cell type, as well as extra embryonic tissue (Placental)
Example: Zygote

26
Q

What is a pluripotent stem cell?

A

Can form any cell type

Example: Embryonic stem cells

27
Q

What is a multipotent stem cell?

A

Can differentiate into a number of of closely related cell types
Example: haematopoeitic stem cells

28
Q

What is a unipotent stem cell?

A

Can not differentiate, but are capable of self renewal

Example: Progenitor cells, muscle stem cells

29
Q

What is Stargardt’s Disease?

A
  • An inherited form of juvenile macular degeneration that causes progressive vision loss to the point of blindness
  • Caused by gene mutations that impairs energy transport in retinal photoreceptor cells, causing them to degenerate
30
Q

What is Parkinson’s disease?

A
  • A degenerative disorder of the central nervous system caused by the death of dopamine secreting cells in the midbrain
  • Individuals with Parkinson’s disease typically exhibit tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement and postural instability
31
Q

What is dopamine?

A
  • Dopamine is neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting signals involved in the production of smooth, purposeful movements
32
Q

How is Parkinson’s disease treated with stem cells?

A

Treated by replacing dead nerve cells with living, dopamine producing ones

33
Q

How is Stargardt’s Disease treated with stem cells ?

A

Treated by replacing dead cells in the retina with functioning ones derived from stem cells

34
Q

What is Leukemia ?

A

A cancer of the body’s blood forming tissues, including bone marrow and the lymphatic system

35
Q

How is Leukemia treated with stem cells?

A

Bone marrow transplants for cancer patients who are immunocompromised as a result of chemotherapy

36
Q

What is diabetes?

A

A metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar

37
Q

How can stem cells be used to treat diabetes?

A

Replace non-functioning islet cells with those capable of producing insulin in type 1 diabetes

38
Q

How can stem cells be used to treat burn victims?

A

Graft new skin cells to replace damaged tissue

39
Q

What is paraplegia?

A

A form of paralysis that effects mostly the movement of the lower body

40
Q

How can stem cells be used to treat paraplegia?

A

Repair damage caused by spinal injuries to enable paralysed victims to regain movement

41
Q

Define tissue

A

A group of cells that specialise in the same way to form the same function

42
Q

What are the benefits of cell specialisation in a multi-cellular organism?

A
  • More efficient in their role

- Specialised metabolism and structure

43
Q

Define differentiation

A

Development of specialised structures and functions in cells

44
Q

What is gene expression?

A

the synthesis of a functional gene product, often protein, but also rRNA , tRNA, and snRNA

45
Q

What are stem cells?

A

a relatively undifferentiated cell that can give rise to other types of and retains the ability to divide

46
Q

What is the importance of the plasma membrane?

A

allows movement in and out of cells

47
Q

Advantages of being a multicellular organism

A

It allows division of labour - different groups of cells (tissues) become specialised for different functions by the process of differentiation. An example of a differentiated cells would be heart muscle tissue.

48
Q

How does Paramecium carry out nutrition vs. how Chlamydomonas does?

A
  • Paramecium feeds on smaller organisms by ingesting and digesting them in vesicles (endocytosis).
  • Chlamydomonas produces its own food by photosynthesis using a chloroplast that occupies much of the cell.
49
Q

How does Paramecium carry out growth vs. how Chlamydomonas does?

A
  • Paramecium has increased in size and dry mass by accumulating organic matter and minerals from its food.
  • Chlamydomonas increases in size and dry mass by photosynthesis and absorption of minerals.
50
Q

How does Paramecium carry out response vs. how Chlamydomonas does?

A
  • Paramecium reacts to stimuli (e.g. reverses its direction of movement when it touches a solid object).
  • Chlamydomonas reacts to stimuli (e.g. senses where the brightest light is with its eyespot and swims towards it).
51
Q

How does Paramecium carry out excretion vs. how Chlamydomonas does?

A
  • Paramecium expels waste products of metabolism (e.g. Carbon dioxide from respiration diffuses out of the cell).
  • Chlamydomonas expels waste products of metabolism (e.g. oxygen from photosynthesis diffuses out of the cell).
52
Q

How does Paramecium carry out metabolism vs. how Chlamydomonas does?

A
  • Paramecium expels waste products of metabolism (e.g. Carbon dioxide from respiration diffuses out of the cell).
  • Chlamydomonas expels waste products of metabolism (e.g. oxygen from photosynthesis diffuses out of the cell).
    How does Paramecium carry out metabolism vs. how Chlamydomonas does?
    They both produce enzymes that catalyze many different chemical reactions in the cytoplasm.
53
Q

How does Paramecium carry out metabolism vs. how Chlamydomonas does?

A

They both keep internal conditions within limits (e.g. expel excess water using contractile vacuoles).

54
Q

How does Paramecium carry out reproduction vs. how Chlamydomonas does?

A

Both reproduce asexually using mitosis or sexually using meiosis and gametes

55
Q

What is a colony?

A

Some unicellular organisms live together in colonies. Each colony consists of a ball made of a protein gel, with 500 or more identical cells attached to its surface. Daughter colonies form inside them. Although the cells are cooperating, they are not fused to form a single cell mass and so are not a single organism.

56
Q

What are cooperative groups?

A

The cells in multicellular organisms can be regarded as cooperative groups, without any cells in the group acting as a leader.