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Biology (IGCSE) > Unit 1: Characteristics of life > Flashcards

Unit 1: Characteristics of life Flashcards

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1
Q

Define movement

A

An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place.

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2
Q

Define Respiration

A

The chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism

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3
Q

Define sensitivity

A

The ability to detect or
sense stimuli in the internal or external
environment and to make appropriate
responses

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4
Q

Define growth

A

A permanent increase in size or dry mass by an increase in cell size, or cell number, or both.

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5
Q

Reproduction

A

The process which makes more of the same kind of organism

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6
Q

Define excretion

A

The removal from organisms of toxic materials, the waste products of metabolism (chemical reactions in cells including respiration), and substances in excess of requirements

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7
Q

Define Nutrition

A

The taking in of materials for energy, growth and development; plants usually need light, CO2, water and ions; animals usually need organic compounds, and ions, and usually need water

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8
Q

What is the acronym for all 7 characteristics of living organisms?

A

MRS GREN: Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition

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9
Q

Rank the following items in how well they magnify things/how well you are able to see a cell under these:
Hand lens, Human eye, Electron microscope, Light Microscope

A
  1. Electron microscope (uses a beam of electrons instead of light - used to see the tiny things inside of the cell)
  2. Light microscope (shines beam of light onto object - uses glass lens to magnify)
  3. Hand lens
  4. Human eye
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10
Q
  1. Which microscope do the IGCSE mainly use
  2. A ________ is the name of a picture which is took using a microscope
  3. A ________ is the name of a picture which is took using a light microscope
  4. A ________ is the name of a picture which is took using a electron microscope
A
  1. Light microscope
  2. Micrograph
  3. Photomicrograph
  4. Electron microgrpah
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11
Q
  1. What is the difference in the size of animal and plant cells?
  2. What is the difference between plant and animal cells in terms of cell walls?
  3. What is the difference between plant and animal cells in terms of vacuoles?
A
  1. Animal cells: <0.05 mm, Plant cells <=0.1 mm
  2. Animal cell: No cell wall, no definite shape
    Plant cell: Has cell walls made of cellulose, very rigid
    structure.
  3. Animal cell: If any vacualoes present, they are very
    small and temporary
    Plant cell: Usually has a large central vacuole which
    is permanent
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12
Q

Label all the letters on this diagram:

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1ghMWuyb2WknSmCvZl5OCg77D9Y-0wZKM

A 
A: Cytoplasm
B: Nucleus (this is what makes both plant and animal cells eukaryotic)
C:  Cell membrane
D: Cellulose cell wall
E: Mitochondria
F: Permanent vacuole
G: Chloroplast
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13
Q
  1. Mitochondria are visible with a ___ microscope but they are not very detailed/clear
  2. Ribosomes can only be seen with an ______ microscope
A
  1. Light

2. Electron

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14
Q

How is the structure of the cytoplasm related to the function of plant and animal cells?

A

It is 70% water. It is a jelly like substance which holds nutrients (especially proteins), salts, and organelles. Many chemical reactions (metabolism) takes place here. It suspends the components of the cell and holds them in place to prevent damage to them. In animal cells this also holds granules of glycogen.

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15
Q

How is the nucleus related to the function of plant and animal cells?

A

Contains genetic material, including DNA, which controls the cell’s activities. These are inherited from the organism’s parents. The DNA is stored in chromosomes. Chromosomes are very long but thin so they cannot easily be seen, even when using the electron microscope. However when the cell is dividing they become short and thick and can be seen with a good light microscope.

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16
Q

How is the structure of the cell membrane related to the function of plant and animal cells?

A

It is a very thin layer of protein and fat. It is partially permeable, thus it controls what goes in and out of the cell.

17
Q

How are mitochondria related to the function of plant and animal cells?

A

Organelles that contain the enzymes for respiration, and where most energy from respiration is released.

18
Q

How are ribosomes related to the function of plant and animal cells?

A

Tiny organelles where protein synthesis occurs (links amino acids to form the proteins)

19
Q

You cannot see _____(organelle)____, or ____(organelle)______ under a light microscope, but you can see them under an electron microscope.

A
  1. Ribosome

2. Mitochondria

20
Q

How do chloroplasts relate to the function of plant cells?

A

Organelle which contains the grain pigment chlorophyll, which absorbs light energy for photosynthesis - it also has the enzymes needed for photosynthesis. Chloroplasts often contain startch grains, which have been created by phtosynthesis.

21
Q

How do cell walls relate to the function of plant cells?

A

Made of cellulose - this polysaccharide is made of fibres crisscrossing over one another to form very good protection/covering to the cell. It prevents the cell from bursting when it absorbs too much water (turgid). Because of the large spaces between fibres, even large molecules can pass through. So it is fully permeable.

22
Q

How does the permanent vacuole relate to the function of the plant cell?

A

A vacuole is a space in a cell, surrounded by a membrane and containing a solution. In plant cells, the permanent vacuole stores sap to help keep the cell turgid by pressing outwards. The temporary vacuoles in animal cells are known as vesicles, these are much smaller membrane-bound spaces, which may contain nutrients or water.

23
Q

How are sperm cells specialised for their function?

Refer to this for better pics (page 4): https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zxm3jty/revision/4

A

Function: Reproduction

  • The head contains genetic material for fertilisation in a haploid nucleus.
  • The tail enables the sperm to swim
  • The middle piece is packed with mitochondria to provide the energy needed to swim
24
Q

How are red blood cells specialised for their function?

A

Function: Transport oxygen

  • Contains haemoglobin which binds to oxygen and transports it around the body
  • No nucleus in the cell to maximise space for haemoglobin to carry oxygen
  • Biconcave shape in order to increase surface area for diffusion
  • Small and flexible to squeeze through capillaries
  • Smooth surface to smoothly slide through capillaries
25
Q
  1. What are all the animal cells you need to know about

2. What are all the plant cells you need to know about

A

Animal cells:

  • red blood cells
  • sperm cells
  • egg cells
  • ciliated epithelial cells

Plant cell:

  • Root hair cell
  • Palisade mesophyll cells
26
Q

How are root hair cells specialised for their function?

A

Function: Absorption

  • Large vacuole to lower the water potential by concentrating cell sap with solutes
  • Long, elongated shape, and thus maximise absorption of water and mineral ions from the soil
  • Thin permeable cell wall for shorter distance for the diffusion of water and active transport of mineral ions, thus allowing faster absorption
  • No chloroplasts to make space for vacuole (also it won’t receive sunlight)
27
Q

How is the structure of the ciliated epithelial cells related to its function?

A

Function: movement of mucus in the trachea and bronchi

Tiny hairs called cilia that sweep mucus and dust along the trachea and bronchi, prevents lung damage.

28
Q

How are egg cells specialised for their function?

A

Function: Reproduction (providing female genetic material)

  • cytoplasm contains nutrients for the growth of the early embryo
  • The haploid nucleus contains the genetic material for fertilisation
  • The cell membrane changes after fertilisation by a single sperm so that no other sperms can enter
29
Q
  1. 10^? is a um (micrometre)
  2. 10^? is a millimetre?
  3. So a micrometre is x/xxxx of a millimetre
A
  1. 10^-6
  2. 10^-3
  3. 1/1000
30
Q

What is the magnification equation triangle?

A

A x M

I: Image size (mm) = Actual Size x Magnification
A: Actual Size = Image Size / Magnification
M: Magnification = Image Size / Actual Size

31
Q

Define Diffusion

A

The net movement of particles from a region of their higher concentration to a region of their lower concentration down a concentration gradient, as a result of their random movement.

32
Q

Define Osmosis

A

The net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential (dilute solution) to a region of lower water potential (concentrated solution) through a partially permeable membrane.

33
Q

Define dynamic equilibrium

A

When molecules in a container start randomly moving in all directions until eventually, they are evenly spaced amongst other molecules, thus reaching dynamic equilibrium.

34
Q
  1. Hypertonic means ___
  2. Hypotonic means ___
  3. Isotonic means _____
A
  1. Less water; concentrated sugar
  2. More water; dilute solution
  3. contain equal concentrations of impermeable solutes on either side of the membrane and so the cell neither swells nor shrinks.
35
Q

A plant cell is normally _____ because of ____________ ______ applies by the vacuole on the cell walls. This makes the plant rigid and stands upright. This is when the cell is in a Hypotonic solution. When a plant is ______ it is said to have lost its _______ _______ because it is in an isotonic solution. When a plant is _________ it has lost its ________ _______ and it has _______ because it is in a hypertonic solution.

reference this image: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1ilI_J0yPHlfOpivMymr5KLzVTFSd_Hrn

A
  1. turgid
  2. turgor pressure
  3. flaccid
  4. turgor pressure
  5. plasmolysed
  6. turgor pressure
  7. shrunken
36
Q

An animal cell is normal in a _______ solution. In a hypotonic solution it goes through _________ and becomes ______. In a hypertonic solution it _______.

reference this image: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1ilI_J0yPHlfOpivMymr5KLzVTFSd_Hrn

A
  1. isotonic
  2. lysis
  3. lysed
  4. shrivels
37
Q

How many times can a good light-microscope magnify? and an electron microscope?

A

light microscope: up to about 1500 times

electron microscope: up to about 10 million times

38
Q

When you calculate magnifications e.g. image size:40 mm, real size 8mm, so you divide 40 by 8, should you write the units (mm) with the final magnification?

A

NO. Magnification has no units. But that doesn’t mean that whatever is on the denominator and numerator must not have the same units - coz they do need same units (millimeters is usually preferred)

39
Q

What is a animal cell that has shriveled a lot in a concentrated solution called (opposite of lysis)

A

crenate(d)

Biology (IGCSE) (6 decks)

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