topic one Flashcards
rules of cell theory
Living organisms are composed of cells (one or more) – that is, cells are the building blocks of organisms.
Cells are the smallest units of life – that is, a cell is the basic unit capable of carrying out all the functions of a living organism.
Cells come from pre-existing cells (omni cellulae e cellula) – that is, cells do not show spontaneous generation.
Striated muscle tissue is composed of repeated units called
sarcomeres
what sort of pattern do muscle cells show
striated/stripy
how large is the avergae muscle fibre cell
30mm long (very large)
what idea do musle cells challenge
the idea that the cell has one nucleus, as the muscle cell is multinucleated.
how large is acetabularia
0.5 to 10cm
what are the three parts of acetbaularia
the rhizoid (small roots), the stalk and a top umbrella made of branches that may fuse into a cap
what notions does acetbabularia challenge
that they must be simple in structure and small in size.
what are aseptate fungal hyphae
long threads (hyphae) with many nuclei. They have no dividing cell walls, called septa (singular: septum). The result of this is shared cytoplasm and multiple nuclei (singular: nucleus).
what idea do aspetate fungal hyphae challenge
the idea that a cell is a single unit as the fungal hyphae have many nuclei, are very large and possess a continuous, shared cytoplasm.
typical size of an animal cell
10 to 20 micrometers in diameter
calculating magnification
magnification = size of drawing / actual size
1000nm in micrometers
1 micrometer
1000 micrometers in mm
1 mm
how to convert 1mm into micrometers
multiply by 1000
how to convert 1micrometer to nm
multiply by 1000
what are the functions of life
metabolism
response
growth
reproduction
excretion
homeostasis
nutrition
define metabolism
The regular set of life-supporting chemical reactions that takes place within the cells of living organisms.
define growth
an increase in size or shape that occurs over a period of time
define response
A reaction by the living organism to changes in the external environment.
define homeostasis
The maintenance of a constant internal environment by regulating internal cell conditions.
define nutrition
The intake of nutrients, which may take different forms in different organisms. Nutrition in plants involves making organic molecules (during photosynthesis), while nutrition in animals and fungi involves the absorption of organic matter.
define reproduction
The production of offspring, either sexually or asexually, to pass on genetic information to the next generation.
define excretion
The removal of waste products of metabolism and other unimportant materials from an organism.
exemplar unicellular organism: paramecium
usually less than 0.25mm insize
heterotrophs
have cilia to help them move
exemplar unicellular organism: chlamydomonas
10 to 30 µm in diameter
cell wall
chloroplaswt
eyespot
2x flagella
autotrophs
what is a heterotroph
A heterotroph is an organism that feeds by taking in organic substances (usually other living things).
what is an autotroph
An autotroph is an organism that can produce its own food from inorganic sources.
how is the contractile vacuole used
to regulate itnernal water concentration
how does a SA:V ratio impact growth
As a cell grows, its volume increases by the power of 3 (cubed), whereas the surface area increases by the power of 2 (squared). Therefore, its surface area to volume ratio decreases.
is it better to have a small or large SA:V ratio
small
do small organisms have a small or large SA:V ratio
large
asa cell increases in size what happens to its SA:V
it decreases
why did organisms grow larger
no longer limited by size of one cell
what is differentiation
a process in which unspecialised cells develop into cells with a more distinct structure and function
what are/ what is the benefit of emergent properties
a complex system possesses properties that its constituent parts do not have – the whole is more than the sum of its parts.
genome define
refers to the complete set of genes, chromosomes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
what is the process of cellular differentiation
When an unspecialised stem cell changes and carries out a specific function in the body, the process is called cellular differentiation. Cells differentiate to form different cell types due to the expression of different genes.
How do cells differentiate in multicellular organisms?
They express some of their genes some of the time, but not others.
define a stem cell
an undifferentiated cell of a multicellular organism that can form more cells of the same type indefinitely, and from which certain other kinds of cells arise by differentiation.
totipotent stem cells
Can differentiate into any type of cell including placental cells.
Can give rise to a complete organism.
pluripotent stem cells
Can differentiate into all body cells, but cannot give rise to a whole organism.
multipotent stem cells
Can differentiate into a few closely related types of body cell.
unipotent stem cells
Can only differentiate into their associated cell type. For example, liver stem cells can only make liver cells.
pathway of different stem cells, sysstems and embryo
potential new uses for stem cells
parkinsons
new transpolant organs
treatment of leukemia
describe Stargardts disease
an inherited form of juvenile macular degeneration (affects a small area near the centre of the retina) that causes progressive loss of central vision. It is caused by a recessive genetic mutation in gene ABCA4, which causes an active transport protein on photoreceptor cells to malfunction. This ultimately causes the photoreceptor cells to degenerate.
treatment for stargardts
Patients are given retinal cells derived from human embryonic stem cells, which are injected into the retina.
treatment for leukemia
Treatment in this case involves harvesting hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are multipotent stem cells. HSCs can be taken from bone marrow, peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood. The HSCs may come from either the patient or from a suitable donor. The patient then undergoes chemotherapy and radiotherapy to get rid of the diseased white blood cells. The next step involves transplanting HSCs back into the bone marrow, where they differentiate to form new healthy white blood cells.
pros for embryonic stem cells
Cells may be used in cell therapy (replacing bad cells with good ones) to eliminate serious diseases or disabilities in the human population.
Transplants can be easily obtained without requiring the death of another human or inflicting any kind of pressure on normal body functioning which happens when someone donates an organ.
The stem cells are harvested from the embryo at an early stage when the embryo has not yet developed a nervous system and thus it is not likely to feel any pain.
how are embryos created to produce stem cells that correspond to those of the patients
removal of nucleus from donor egg cell
nuclear transfer of host DNA from somatic cells
4 cell stage
morula
blastocyst
prokaryotes
simple unicellular organisms with no internal compartmentalisation, no nucleus and no membrane bound organelles.
where do metabolic proccesses occur
cytoplasm
function of cell wall
Encloses the cell, protecting it and helping to maintain its shape; prevents the cell from bursting in hypotonic (dilute) media.
function of plasma membrane
Surrounds the cell, controlling the movement of substances in and out of the cell.
function of cytoplasm
Medium that fills the cell and is the site of all metabolic reactions.
function of pili
Protein filaments on the cell wall that help in cell adhesion and in transferring of DNA between two cells.
function of flagella
Much longer than pili, these are responsible for the locomotion of the organism. Their whip-like movement propels the cell along.
function of 70S ribosomes
Are the sites of protein synthesis.
function of nucleoid region
Controls all the activities of the cell, as well as the reproduction of the organism.
function of plasmids
Small circles of DNA that carry a few genes; often these genes give the cell antibiotic resistance and are used in creating genetically modified bacteria.
are 80S ribosomes or 70S ribosomes smaller
70S ribosomes are smaller. they refer to the sedimentation rate of rna subunits
what are the steps of binary fission
The chromosome is replicated semi-conservatively, beginning at the point of origin (shown in red in Figure 2).
Beginning with the point of origin, the two copies of DNA move to opposite ends of the cell.
The cell elongates (grows longer).
The plasma membrane grows inward and pinches off to form two separate, genetically identical cells.
eukaryotes
genetic material isolated from cytoplasm via nucleus
one of three domains (bacteria, archae and eukaryote) and four kingdoms (protocista, fungi, plantae and animalia)
Compartmentalisation refers to
the formation of compartments within the cell by membrane-bound organelles.
advantages of compartemntalisation
Greater efficiency of metabolism as enzymes and substrates are enclosed, and therefore much more concentrated, in the particular organelles responsible for specific functions.
Internal conditions such as pH can be differentiated in a cell to maintain the optimal conditions for different enzymes.
Isolation of toxic or damaging substances away from the cytoplasm, such as the storage of hydrolytic enzymes in lysosomes.
Flexibility of changing the numbers and position of organelles within the cell based on the cell’s requirements.
function of plasma membrane
Controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell.
function of cytoplasm
Fills the cell and holds all organelles. It also contains enzymes that catalyse various reactions (such as glycolysis) occurring within the cytoplasm.
function of mitochondria
A site of cellular respiration in which ATP is generated.
function of 80S ribosomes
The sites of protein synthesis. Free ribosomes produce proteins used inside the cell itself.
function of nucleus
Controls all the activities of the cell, as well as the reproduction of unicellular organisms.
function of nucleolus
Part of the nucleus which is involved in the production of ribosomes.
function of s.e.r
Responsible for producing and storing lipids, including steroids.
function of r.e.r.
Transports the protein produced by the ribosomes on its surface to the Golgi apparatus. These proteins are usually for use outside of the cell.
function of golgi apparatus
Processes and packages proteins, which are ultimately released in Golgi vesicles.
function of vesicle
A small sac that transports and releases substances produced by the cell by fusing with the cell membrane.
function of lysosymes
Contain hydrolytic enzymes and play important roles in the destruction of microbes engulfed by white blood cells, as well as in the destruction of old cellular organelles.
function of centrioles
Play an important role in the process of nuclear division by helping to establish the microtubules.
function of vacuole
Helps in the osmotic balance of the cell and in the storage of substances. It may also have hydrolytic functions similar to lysosomes.
function of cell wall
Protects the cell, maintains its shape and prevents it from bursting in hypotonic media.