Topic 2 Cells - Course Overview Flashcards
What is the nucleus? What components make up the nucleus and what do they do?
The nucleus contains the genetic material of the cell and controls the cells activities.
The nucleus contains :
Nuclear envelope: double membrane that surrounds the nucleus the outer membrane is continuous onto the endoplasmic reticulum it controls the entry of material and contains the reactions taking place within the nucleus.
Nuclear pores: allow the passage of large molecules such as Menger RNA out of the nucleus.
Nucleoplasm: granular jelly like material that makes up the bulk of the nucleus.
Chromosomes: consist of protein bound linear DNA
Nucleolus: small spherical region that manufactures ribosomal RNA.
What is the function of the mitochondrion and what makes up the mitochondria?
The mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration they are responsible for the production of ATP.
They contain:
A double membrane: this controls the entry and exit of material the inner of the two membranes is folded to form extensions known as cristae.
Cristae: extensions of the inner membrane which provide a large surface area for the attachment of enzymes and other proteins involved in respiration.
Matrix: contains proteins, lipids, ribosomes and DNA.
What is the chloroplast and what parts does it contain?
The chloroplast is for carrying out photosynthesis.
They contain:
Chloroplast envelope: a double plasma membrane it is selective and what it allows to enter and leave the chloroplast.
Grana: stacks of up to 100 disc-like structure called thylakoids. Within the thylakoids is the photosynthetic pigment called chlorophyll. The grana are where the first stage of photosynthesis happens.
Stroma: fluid filled matrix where the second stage of photosynthesis takes place
What are three ways in which the chloroplasts are adapted to their function?
The granal membranes provide a large surface area for the attachment of chlorophyll, electron carriers and enzymes.
The fluid of the stroma possesses all the enzymes needed to make sugars in the second stage of photosynthesis.
Chloroplasts contain both DNA and ribosomes so they can quickly and easily manufacture some of the proteins needed for photosynthesis.
What is the function of the endoplasmic reticulum and what are the components that make it up?
Made of sheets like membranes it is continuous without a nuclear membrane
It consists of:
Rough endoplasmic reticulum: it has ribosomes present on the outer surface and it provides a large surface area for the synthesis of proteins and glycoproteins and it provides a pathway for the transport of materials, especially proteins.
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum: lacks ribosomes on its surface and is often more tubular in appearance it synthesises stores and transport lipids and carbohydrates.
What is the structure and function of the Golgi apparatus?
It consists of a stack of membranes that make up flattened sacks/cristernae. With small vehicles, the functions of the Goggi is to: add carbohydrates to proteins to form glycoproteins.
Produce secretary enzymes such as those secreted by the pancreas
Secrete carbohydrates
Transport modify and store lipids
Form lysosomes
What are the functions of the lysosomes?
Hydrolysis material ingested by phagocytic cells
Release enzymes to the outside of the cell (excytosis) in order to destroy material around the cell.
Digest worn out organelles
Completely breakdown cells after they have died
What is the function of a ribosome?
A ribosome is a small cytoplasm granule found in all cells.
80s I found in new chaotic cells
70s are found in prokaryotic cells
They are the site of protein synthesis.
What are the features and functions of the cell wall?
They consist of a number of polysaccharide such as cellulose.
There is a thin layer called the middle lamella which marks the boundary between adjacent cell walls and cement adjacent cells together
The functions of the cell wall are:
To provide mechanical strength in order to prevent the cell bursting under the pressure created by the osmotic entry of water.
To give mechanical strength to the plant as a whole.
To allow water to pass along it and so contribute the movement of water through the plant.
What is a vacuole and what are its functions?
A fluid filled sack bounded by a single membrane there within mature plant cells.
The functions of the vacuole are:
Support herbaceous plants by making cells turgid
The sugars and amino acids act as a temporary food store
The pigments may colour petals and attract pollinating insects
What is meant by turgid?
A cell that has been filled to the capacity with water by osmosis.
How can you relate cell ultra structure to its function?
Each organelle has its own function. It is possible to deduce with reasonable accuracy the role of the cell by looking at the number and size of the organelles for example as mitochondria produce ATP. It follows that cells with many mitochondria are going to need a high rate of energy and therefore a high rate of metabolism.
What is meant by cell specialisation?
Each cell has to perform a basic function however no cell can provide the best conditions for all functions therefore the cells are specialised in different ways to perform a particular role.
What is an example of cell specialisation?
The first group of cells in an embryo or initially identical as the mature each cell takes on its own characteristics.
How does a cell specialise if all the cells have the same genes?
Every cell contains the genes needed for it to develop into any one of the many different cells in an organism, but only some of these jeans are expressed.
What is a tissue?
A collection of cells that perform the same specific function.
What are two examples of a tissue?
Epithelial tissues - found in animals and consist of sheets of cells they line the surfaces of organs and have a highly protective function.
Xylem - these are curtain plants and are made up of a number of similar cells. They used to transport water and mineral irons throughout the plant and to give mechanicals support.
What is an organ?
An organ is a combination of tissues that are coordinated to perform a variety of functions, although they often have one predominant major function.
What is an example and plant example of an organ?
The stomach and a leaf.
What is an organ system?
Organs work together as a single unit.
What is an organ system?
Organs work together as a single unit.
What are three examples of organ systems?
The digestive system – digest and processes food.
The respiratory system – used for breathing and gas exchange
The circulatory system – pumps and circulate blood.
There are two main types of cells. What are they?
Eukaryotic cells – larger and have a nucleus bounded by nuclear membranes.
Prokaryotic cells – smaller and have known nucleus or nuclear envelope.
What is the structure of a bacterial cell?
Cell wall
Capsule
Cell surface membrane
Circular DNA
Plasmid
What is the function of the cell wall in a prokaryotic cell?
Physical barrier that excludes certain substances and protects against mechanical damage and osmotic lysis.
What is the function of the capsule in a prokaryotic cell?
Protect bacteria from other cells and helps groups of bacteria to stick together for further protection.
What does a cell surface membrane do for a prokaryotic cell?
Acts as a differentially permeable layer which controls the entry and exit of chemicals.
What is the function of circular DNA in a prokaryotic cell?
Possesses the genetic information for the replication of bacterial cells.
What is the function of plasmids in prokaryotic cells?
Possesses jeans that may aid the survival of bacteria in adverse conditions.
What are the seven differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
- Prokaryotic cells have no true nucleus whereas eukaryotic cells have a distinct nucleus with a nuclear envelope.
- prokaryotic cells DNA is not associated with protein whereas in eukaryotic cells DNA is associated with proteins called histones.
- Prokaryotic cell cells have no membrane bounded organelles whereas eukaryotic cells do have membrane bounded organelles.
- Prokaryotic cells have smaller ribosomes. 70s and 80s
- Prokaryotic cell wall is made up of murein whereas chaotic cell wall is made up of cellulose.
- Some DNA in prokaryotic cells maybe in the form of circular strands called plasma whereas in eukaryotic cells there are no plasma and DNA is linear.
- Prokaryotic cells may have a capsule whereas eukaryotic cells won’t.
What is a virus?
Viruses are acellular nonliving particles smarter than bacteria they contain nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA as genetic material they can only multiply inside living host cells.
What is the structure of the human immunodeficiency virus?
Genetic material
Attachment proteins
Capsid
Lipid envelope
Matrix
Reverse transcriptase
What is mitosis?
Mitosis is a type of cell division which produces two identical daughter cells that have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell and each other.
What is meiosis?
A type of cell division which produces for unique daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell.
What is the structure of a chromosome?
Chromatid and centromere.
What happens during interphase of mitosis?
This is a long period of cell division. It is the replication of DNA. The two copies of DNA replication remain joined at a place called the centromere.
What happens during prophase?
The chromosomes first become visible as long threads which later shorten and become thicker. The centrioles move to the opposite polls of the cell from this spindle fibres develop. The nuclear envelope breaks down and the nucleus disappears leaving the chromosome three in the side of plasma of the cell. The chromosomes are drawn to the equator of the cell.
What happens during the metaphase of mitosis?
Each chromatids are joined by the centromere and they are identical copy’s of DNA from the parent cell, the chromatids arrange the themselves along the equator.
What happens in anaphase of mitosis?
Centromeres divide into two and spindle fibres pull chromatids apart. Chromatid move to opposite poles of the cell.
What happens during telophase and cytokinesis?
What is cell division called in a prokaryotic cell?
Binary fission
What is the process of binary fission?
The circular DNA molecule replicates and both copies attach to the cell membrane.
The plasmids also replicate.
The cell membrane begins to grown between the two DNA molecules and begins to pinch inward, diving. The cytoplasm into two.
A new cell wall forms diving the original cell into two daughter cells.
How do viruses replicate?
They are non-living so cannot undergo cell division. Instead they replicate by catching their host cel with the attachment proteins on their surface. They then inject their nuclei’s acid into the host cell.
How do viruses replicate?
They are non-living so cannot undergo cell division. Instead they replicate by catching their host cel with the attachment proteins on their surface. They then inject their nuclei’s acid into the host cell.
What is the cell cycle?
When the cells do not have the ability to divide so they undergo a regular cycle of division separated by periods of cell growth.
What are the three stages of the cell cycle and explain them?
- Interphase -which occupies most of the cell cycle and is sometimes known as the resting phase because no division takes place.
- Nuclear division - when the nucleus divides either into two or four.
- division of the Coplas – the process by which the cytoplasm divides to produce two new cells
What is cancer?
Cancer is a group of diseases caused by an uncontrolled growth disorder of cells. It is the result of damage to the genes that regulate mitosis and the cell cycle.
What is a tumour?
A group of abnormal cells that constantly expands in size. A tumour becomes cancerous if it changes from benign to malignant.
What is the difference between benign and malignant tumours?
Benign tumours grow slowly and I’m more compact less likely to be life-threatening.
Malignant tumours grow rapidly and are less compact and more likely to be life-threatening.
What does the treatment of cancer often involve?
Killing dividing cells by blocking a part of the cell cycle.
How do drugs used to treat cancer distrupt the cell cycle?
-Preventing DNA from replicating.
-Inhibiting the metaphase stages of mitosis by interfering with spindle information.
What is the problem with drugs to treat cancer?
They can disrupt the normal bodily cells. Some cells are more susceptible to damage than others.