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AQA Biology Paper 1: Combined Science > Topic 1: Cell Biology > Flashcards

Topic 1: Cell Biology Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the two types of cells?

A

● Eukaryotic (plant and animal)

● Prokaryotic (bacteria)

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2
Q

What are the differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?

A

Prokaryotic cells are much smaller than eukaryotic cells.

Eukaryotic cells contain membrane bound-organelles and a nucleus containing genetic material, while prokaryotes do not.

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3
Q

What is the prokaryotic cell wall composed of?

A

Peptidoglycan

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4
Q

How is genetic information stored in a prokaryotic cell?

A

Found free within the cytoplasm as:

● Chromosomal DNA (single large loop of circular DNA)

● Plasmid DNA

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5
Q

What are plasmids?

A

● Small, circular loops of DNA found free in the cytoplasm and separate from the main DNA.

● Carry genes that provide genetic advantages e.g. antibiotic resistance.

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6
Q

What is order of magnitude?

A

A power to the base 10 used to quantify and compare size.

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7
Q

What is a centimetre (cm)?

A

1 x 10-2 metres

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8
Q

What is a millimetre (mm)?

A

1 × 10-3 metres

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9
Q

What is a micrometre (µm)?

A

1 × 10-6 metres

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10
Q

What is a nanometre (nm)?

A

1 x 10-9 metres

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11
Q

What is the difference in order of magnitude between a human hair (length = 100 µm) and the HIV virus (length = 100 nm)?

A

100 µm = 10-4 m

100 nm = 10-7 m

-4-(-7) = -4 + 7 = 3

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12
Q

List the components of both plant and animal cells

(5)

A
  • Nucleus
  • Cytoplasm
  • Cell membrane
  • Mitochondria
  • Ribosomes
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13
Q

List the additional cell components found in plant cells (3)

A
  • Chloroplasts
  • Permanent vacuole
  • Cell wall
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14
Q

Other than storing genetic information, what is the function of the nucleus?

A

Controls cellular activities

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15
Q

Describe the structure of the cytoplasm

A
  • Fluid component of the cell.
  • Contains organelles, enzymes and dissolved ions and nutrients.
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16
Q

What is the function of the cytoplasm?

A

Site of cellular reactions e.g. first stage of respiration.

Transport medium.

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17
Q

What is the function of the cell membrane?

A

Controls the entry and exit of materials into and out of the cell.

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18
Q

What is the function of the mitochondria?

A

Site of later stages of aerobic respiration in which ATP is produced.

Provides energy for the cell

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19
Q

What is the function of the ribosomes?

A

Joins amino acids in a specific order during translation for the synthesis of proteins.

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20
Q

What is the plant cell wall made of?

A

Cellulose

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21
Q

What is the function of the plant cell wall?

A
  • Provides strength.
  • Prevents the cell bursting when water enters by osmosis.
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22
Q

What does the permanent vacuole contain?

A

Cell sap (a solution of salts, sugars and organic acids).

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23
Q

What is the function of the permanent vacuole?

A

Supports the cell, maintaining its turgidity.

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24
Q

What is the function of chloroplasts?

A

Site of photosynthesis

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25
Q

Describe how sperm cells in animals are adapted to their function

A
  • Haploid nucleus contains genetic information.
  • Tail enables movement.
  • Mitochondria provide energy for tail movement.
  • Acrosome contains enzymes that digest the egg cell membrane.
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26
Q

Describe how nerve cells in animals are adapted to their function

A
  • Long axon allows electrical impulses to be transmitted all over the body from the central nervous system.
  • Dendrites from the cell body connect to and receive impulses from other nerve cells, muscles and glands.
  • Myelin sheath insulates the axon and speeds up the transmission of impulses along the nerve cell.
27
Q

Describe how muscle cells are adapted to their function

A
  • Arrangement of protein filaments allows them to slide over each other to produce muscle contraction.
  • Mitochondria to provide energy for muscle contraction.
  • Merged cells in skeletal muscle allow muscle fibre contraction in unison.
28
Q

Describe how root hair cells in plants are adapted to their function

A
  • Large surface area to absorb nutrients and water from surrounding soil.
  • Thin walls that do not restrict water absorption.
29
Q

Describe how xylem cells in plants are adapted to their function

A
  • No upper or lower margins between cells to provide a continuous route for water to flow.
  • Thick, woody side walls strengthen their structure and prevent collapse.
30
Q

Describe how phloem cells in plants are adapted to their function

A
  • Sieve plates let dissolved amino acids and sugars be transported up and down the stem.
  • Companion cells provide energy needed for active transport of substances along the phloem.
31
Q

What is cell differentiation?

A

The process by which cells become specialised.

32
Q

Why is cell differentiation important?

A

Allows production of different tissues and organs that perform various vital functions in the human body.

33
Q

At what point in their life cycle do most animal cells differentiate?

A

Early in their life cycle

34
Q

For how long do plant cells retain the ability to differentiate?

A

Throughout their entire life cycle

35
Q

What is the purpose of cell division in mature animals?

A

Repair and replacement of cells

36
Q

What changes does a cell go through as it differentiates?

A

Becomes specialised through acquisition of different sub-cellular structures to enable a specific function to be performed by the cell.

37
Q

Define magnification

A

The number of times bigger an image appears compared to the size of the real object.

38
Q

Define resolution

A

The smallest distance between two objects that can be distinguished.

39
Q

What nutrients make up a nutrient broth solution?

A

All nutrients required for bacteria to grow including nitrogen for protein synthesis, carbohydrates for energy and other minerals.

40
Q

Describe the preparation of an uncontaminated culture using aseptic technique

A
  1. Use pre-sterilised plastic Petri dishes or sterilise glass Petri dishes and agar gel before using with an autoclave.
  2. Pour the sterile agar gel into the Petri dish and allow time to set.
  3. Sterilise the inoculating loop by passing it through a Bunsen burner flame.
  4. Dip the inoculating loop into the solution of microorganisms and make streaks with the loop on the surface of the agar.
  5. Put the lid on the Petri dish and secure it with tape. Label accordingly then turn and store upside down.
  6. Incubate the culture at 25oC in school laboratories.
41
Q

Why must Petri dishes and culture media before sterilised before use?

A

To kill any bacteria already present.

42
Q

Why must inoculating loops be sterilised by passing them through Bunsen burner flame?

A

To kill any bacteria present on the inoculating loop.

43
Q

Why must the Petri dish lid be secured with adhesive tape and the whole dish stored upside down?

A

Stops bacteria in the air contaminating the culture.

The lid is not fully sealed to prevent the growth of anaerobic bacteria in a lack of oxygen.

Upside down to prevent condensation from forming and dripping down onto the colonies.

44
Q

Why are cultures incubated at 25oC in school laboratories?

A

Harmful pathogens are less likely to to grow at this temperature.

45
Q

What is the formula used to calculate cross-sectional area of a bacterial colony or clear area around a bacterial colony?

A

πr2 = 3.14 r = radius (diameter/2)

46
Q

How is the number of bacteria in a population after a certain time calculated from the mean division time?

A
  1. Calculate the number of times the bacteria will divide in the given time period from the mean division time.
  2. Use the following equation to calculate the number of bacteria:

Number of bacteria in population at end of time period = number of bacteria at the beginning of the time period x 2number of divisions in the time period .

Express the answer in standard form if possible.

47
Q

Calculate the number of bacteria that will be present after 3 hours for a population that divides every 15 mins and has 5 bacterium present now

A

15 minutes = 0.25 hours

3/0.25 hours = 12 divisions

5 x 212 = 20480 or 2.048 x 104

48
Q

What are chromosomes made up of?

A

Chromosomes consist of DNA molecules combined with proteins. They contain genes which provide the instructions for protein synthesis.

49
Q

What is a gene?

A

A section of DNA which codes for a protein.

50
Q

How many chromosomes are found in the nucleus of human body cells?

A

46

51
Q

How many chromosomes are found in the nucleus of gametes?

A

23

52
Q

How are chromosomes arranged in the nucleus of a body cell?

A

Arranged in pairs - 46 chromosomes form 23 pairs.

53
Q

Arranged in pairs - 46 chromosomes form 23 pairs.

A
  1. Replication of DNA and synthesis of organelles
  2. Mitosis
  3. Division of cell
54
Q

Why is mitosis important?

A
  • Produces identical cells which all have the same genetic information.
  • Produces additional cells for growth and repair.
55
Q

Describe the first stage of the cell cycle (Interphase)

A

Longest stage - cells grow and increase in mass, replicate DNA and synthesise more organelles (eg. mitochondria, ribosomes).

56
Q

Describe the second stage of the cell cycle (Mitosis)

A

Each chromosome in a pair is pulled to opposite poles of the cell, then the nucleus divides.

57
Q

Describe the third stage of the cell cycle (Cytokinesis)

A

The cytoplasm and cell membrane divide - two identical daughter cells are produced.

58
Q

What is a stem cell?

A

An unspecialised cell which is capable of differentiating into other cell types and of self-renewal.

59
Q

What is the function of stem cells in embryos?

A

Embryonic stem cells can replicate themselves and differentiate into many other types of cells.

Embryonic stem cells may be able to treat conditions such as paralysis and diabetes by dividing to replace damaged cells.

60
Q

What is the function of stem cells in adult bone marrow?

A

Adult stem cells can differentiate into several cell types to replace dead or damaged tissues. For example, bone marrow stem cells can form many different types of blood cell.

61
Q

What is the function of stem cells in plant meristems?

A

Meristem stem cells retain the ability to differentiate into any type of plant cell throughout their lifespan - they can differentiate into any cell which is required by the plant.

62
Q

What is therapeutic cloning?

A

A cloning method where an embryo is produced with the same genetic makeup as the patient. The stem cells which originate from the embryo will not be rejected by the patient’s immune system, so can be used to treat certain medical conditions.

63
Q

What are the advantages of cloning plants using meristem stem cells?

A
  • Can prevent rare plants from becoming extinct.
  • Can produce large numbers of plants with a favourable characteristic.
  • Can produce identical plants for research.
64
Q

What are issues are associated with the use of stem cells?

A
  • Many embryonic stem cells are sourced from aborted embryos - some people have an ethical/religious objection.
  • Development of stem cell therapies is slow, expensive and difficult.
  • Adult stem cells infected with viruses could transfer infections to patients.
  • If donor stem cells do not have a similar genetic makeup to the patient, an immune response could be triggered.

AQA Biology Paper 1: Combined Science (7 decks)

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