1. An Overview of Cells and Cell Research

Question 1

ATP.

Answer 1

adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP)

Question 2

A molecule that has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions.

Answer 2

amphipathic

Question 3

One of two major groups of prokaryotes; many species of of this group live in extreme conditions similar to those prevalent on primitive Earth.

Answer 3

archaebacteria

Question 4

A bacterial virus.

Answer 4

bacteriophage

Question 5

A nematode used as a simple multicellular model for development.

Answer 5

Caenorhabditis elegans

Question 6

An undifferentiated mass of plant cells in culture.

Answer 6

callus

Question 7

Cells that can proliferate indefinitely in culture.

Answer 7

cell line

Question 8

A rigid, porous structure forming an external layer that provides structural support to bacteria, fungi, and plant cells.

Answer 8

cell wall

Question 9

A plastid that contains carotenoids.

Answer 9

chromoplast

Question 10

A form of microscopy in which fluorescence microscopy is combined with electronic image analysis to obtain images with increased contrast and detail.

Answer 10

confocal microscopy

Question 11

The largest and most complex prokaryotes in which photosynthesis is believed to have evolved.

Answer 11

cyanobacteria

Question 12

A network of protein filaments that extends throughout the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. It provides the structural framework of the cell and is responsible for cell movements.

Answer 12

cytoskeleton

Question 13

A method of separating particles by centrifugation through a gradient of a dense substance, such as sucrose or cesium chloride.

Answer 13

density-gradient centrifugation

Question 14

A method used to separate the components of cells on the basis of their size and density.

Answer 14

differential centrifugation

Question 15

A type of microscopy in which variations in density or thickness between parts of the cell are converted to differences in contrast in the final image.

Answer 15

differential interference-contrast microscopy

Question 16

A species of fruit fly commonly used for studies of animal genetics and development.

Answer 16

Drosophila melanogaster

Question 17

A method used to generate three-dimensional images by computer analysis of multiple two-dimensional images obtained by electron microscopy.

Answer 17

electron tomography

Question 18

A stem cell cultured from an early embryo.

Answer 18

embryonic stem cell

Question 19

An extensive network of membrane-enclosed tubules and sacs involved in protein sorting and processing as well as in lipid synthesis.

Answer 19

endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

Question 20

A symbiotic relationship in which one cell resides within a larger cell.

Answer 20

endosymbiosis

Question 21

A type of cell that forms sheets (epithelial tissue) that cover the surface of the body and line internal organs.

Answer 21

epithelial cell

Question 22

The separation of particles on the basis of density by centrifugation to equilibrium in a gradient of a dense substance.

Answer 22

equilibrium centrifugation

Question 23

A red blood cell.

Answer 23

erythrocyte

Question 24

A species of bacteria that has been extensively used as a model system for molecular biology.

Answer 24

Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Question 25

One of two major groups of prokaryotes, including most common species of bacteria.

Answer 25

eubacteria

Question 26

A cell that has a nuclear envelope, cytoplasmic organelles, and linear chromosomes.

Answer 26

eukaryotic cell

Question 27

A cell type found in connective tissue.

Answer 27

fibroblast

Question 28

Type of microscopy in which molecules are detected based on the emission of flourescent light.

Answer 28

fluorescence microscopy

Question 29

A method used to study the movement of proteins within living cells.

Answer 29

fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP)

Question 30

A method used to study protein interactions within living cells.

Answer 30

fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)

Question 31

Method of electron microscopy in which specimens are frozen in liquid nitrogen and then fractured to split the lipid bilayer, revealing the interior faces of cell membranes.

Answer 31

freeze fracture

Question 32

A functional unit of inheritance, corresponding to a segment of DNA that encodes a polpeptide or RNA molecule

Answer 32

gene

Question 33

The anaerobic breakdown of glucose.

Answer 33

glycolysis

Question 34

A cytoplasmic organelle involved in the processing and sorting of proteins and lipids. In plant cells, it is also the site of the synthesis of cell wall polysaccharides.

Answer 34

Golgi apparatus

Question 35

A type of blood cell involved in inflammatory reactions.

Answer 35

granulocyte

Question 36

A protein from jellyfish that is commonly used as a marker for fluorescence microscopy.

Answer 36

green fluorescent protein (GFP)

Question 37

Not soluble in water.

Answer 37

hydrophobic

Question 38

Soluble in water.

Answer 38

hydrophilic

Question 39

A blood cell that functions in the immune response. B __________ produce antibodies and T __________ are responsible for cell mediated immunity.

Answer 39

lymphocyte

Question 40

A cytoplasmic organelle containing enzymes that break down biological polymers.

Answer 40

lysosome

Question 41

A type of white blood cell specialized for phagocytosis.

Answer 41

macrophage

Question 42

An electron microscopic technique in which the surface of a specimen is coated with a thin layer of evaporated metal.

Answer 42

metal shadowing

Question 43

Cytoplasmic organelles responsible for synthesis of most of the ATP in eukaryotic cells by oxidative phosphorylation.

Answer 43

mitochondria

Question 44

A type of blood cell involved in inflammatory reactions.

Answer 44

monocyte

Question 45

A form of fluorescence microscopy in which the specimen is illuminated with a wavelength of light such that excitation of the fluorescent dye requires the simultaneous absorption of two or more photons.

Answer 45

multi-photon excitation microscopy

Question 46

A nerve cell specialized to receive and transmit signals throughout the body.

Answer 46

neuron

Question 47

The most prominent organelle of eukaryotic cells; contains the genetic material.

Answer 47

nucleus

Question 48

The use of molecular oxygen as an electron acceptor in the breakdown of organic molecules.

Answer 48

oxidative metabolism

Question 49

A cytoplasmic organelle specialized for carrying out oxidative reactions.

Answer 49

peroxisome

Question 50

A type of microscopy in which variations in density or thickness between parts of the cell are converted to differences in contrast in the final image.

Answer 50

phase-contrast microscopy

Question 51

One of a family of molecules that are the principal components of cell membranes, consisting of two hydrocarbon chains (usually fatty acids) joined to a polar head group containing phosphate.

Answer 51

phospholipid

Question 52

The process by which cells harness energy from sunlight and synthesize glucose from CO2 and water.

Answer 52

photosynthesis

Question 53

A phospholipid bilayer with associated proteins that surrounds the cell.

Answer 53

plasma membrane

Question 54

The initial cell culture established from a tissue.

Answer 54

primary culture

Question 55

A cell lacking a nuclear envelope and cytoplasmic organelles (bacteria).

Answer 55

prokaryotic cell

Question 56

The ability of a microscope to distinguish objects separated by small distances.

Answer 56

resolution

Question 57

A virus that replicates by making a DNA copy of its RNA genome by reverse transcription.

Answer 57

retrovirus

Question 58

A particle composed of RNA and proteins that is the site of protein synthesis.

Answer 58

ribosome

Question 59

An early stage of evolution based on self-replicating RNA molecules.

Answer 59

RNA world

Question 60

A frequently studied budding yeast.

Answer 60

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Question 61

The synthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA template.

Answer 61

transcription

Question 62

The synthesis of a polypeptide chain from an mRNA template.

Answer 62

translation

Question 63

A centrifuge that rotates samples at high speeds

Answer 63

ultracentrifuge

Question 64

A large membrane-enclosed sac in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. In plant cells, these organelles function to store nutrients and waste products, to degrade macromolecules, and to maintain turgor pressure.

Answer 64

vacuole

Question 65

The separation of particles based on their rates of sedimentation.

Answer 65

velocity centrifugation

Question 66

The simplest unicellular eukaryotes. These organisms are important models for studies of eukaryotic cells.

Answer 66

yeast

Question 67

An African clawed frog used as a model system for developmental biology.

Answer 67

Xenopus laevis

Question 68

A species of small fish used for genetic studies of vertebrate development.

Answer 68

zebrafish

Question 69

A small flowering plant used as a model for plant molecular biology and development.

Answer 69

Arabidopsis thaliana