Lecture 2 (Basics of Cell Biology) Flashcards
What is a cell?
It is the simplest collection of matter that is alive
What are the three domains of life?
Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya
What is the typical plant/animal cell diameter?
10 - 100 micrometers
What is the typical bacteria cell Diameter?
1-5 micrometers
Why are cells this small?
This is because to increase the Surface Area/ Volume ratio.
Why are larger sized cells vunerable?
Due to the reduced SA/V ratio, it limits exchange with the surrounding environment, thus harder to keep the cell alive.
What does resolution mean under a microscope?
The clarity of the image.
What does contrast do under a microscope?
It highlights the differences between dark and light areas.
What is an endosymbiont?
a cell living within another cell
What parts of the structures of Mitochondria and Chloroplasts are consistent with the endosymbiotic theory?
- Mitochondria and Chloroplasts have two membrane surrounding them.
- Both organelles also contain ribosomes as well as circular DNA molecules.
- The grow and reproduce within the cells.
The process of the Endosymbiotic Theory
An early ancestor of eukaryotic cells engulfs an oxygen using prokaryotic cell. Eventually, the cell forms a relationship with the hosts cell. For chloroplasts, there was an engulfing of a photosynthetic prokaryote.
What are the three components that make up a cell nucleus?
Nuclear Envelope (outside layer)
Nucleolus (the very inside)
Chromatin (occupies the middle area)
Function of Ribosomes
Protein synthesis
Structure of Endoplasmic Reticulum
Network of membrane bounded tubules.
Function of Smooth ER
Ca2+ storage
Synthesis of lipids
metabolism fo carbohydrates
