Biology Flashcards
(94 cards)
Unit 2 - Cells & Control
- Cell Division
- Stem cells
- Brain and Eye function
- The nervous system
What is mitosis and what is it used for?
- Mitosis is the the stage of the cell cycle when the cell divides.
- Is used for cell growth or repair
- Is used in asexual reproduction in some organisms
What are the stages of the cell cycle that are part of mitosis?
Prophase –> Metaphase –> Anaphase –> Telophase
What happens during cytokinesis?
The cytoplasm and cell membrane divide to form two separate cells.
A normal human body cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes.
How many would be in each new human cell formed by mitosis?
Each cell will have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).
Name the two methods plants use to grow.
- Cell division
- Cell elongation
Why is cell differentiation important and how does it differ between plants and animals?
- Cell differentiation allows for cells to become specialised for a specific function, which allows multicellular organisms to work more efficiently.
- The ability to differentiate is lost in most animal cells as the organism ages but plant cells never lose this ability.
What are growth charts used for?
- To assess a child’s growth overtime, so any problems can be highlighted.
Describe how cancer can develop from changes in a cell?
If there is a change in any of the genes that control cell division, the cell may start dividing uncontrollably. This can result in a mass of abnormal cells called a tumour which can develop into cancer if it invades and destroys surrounding cells.
Describe how cancer can develop from changes in a cell?
If there is a change in any of the genes that control cell division, the cell may start dividing uncontrollably. This can result in a mass of abnormal cells called a tumour which can develop into cancer if it invades and destroys surrounding cells.
What is an embryonic stem cell?
An undifferentiated cell found in early human beings which has the potential to divide and produce any kind of cell at all.
Where can stem cells be found in:
a.) Adult humans
b.) Plants
What do they do?
a. ) Bone marrow - used to replace damaged cells such as blood or skin cells
b. ) Meristem tissue - where growth occurs
Describe two potential risks of using stem cells in medicine.
- If donor stem cells are contaminated w/ a virus, the virus could be passed onto the recipient.
- If cells divide too quickly inside a patient, a tumour may develop.
- If transplanted cells aren’t grown w/ the patient’s own stem cells, their body might reject them.
Describe one example of how adult stem cells can be used to cure a disease.
e.g Sickle cell anaemia can sometimes be cured w/ a bone marrow transplant. The bone marrow contains adult stem cells which produce new healthy blood cells.
Suggest how embryonic stem cells could potentially be used to treat a patient after a heart attack.
- Embryonic stem cells could be made to develop into heart muscle cells.
- These could repair the damaged tissue or replace the damaged cells after a heart attack.
What is the cerebellum responsible for?
- Muscle coordination
- Balance
What does the medulla oblongata control?
Unconscious activities, e.g breathing and heart rate.
Describe the structure and function of the cerebral hemispheres.
- The cerebral hemispheres are the two halves of the cerebellum.
- The right hemisphere controls the muscles on the left side of the body and vice versa.
- Different parts are responsible for different things, including movement, intelligence, language, memory and vision.
Describe how a PET scanner can be used to study Alzheimer’s.
- PET scanners use radioactive materials to show which parts of the brain are active when the person is inside the scanner.
- Scans can be used to show if areas of the brain are unusually inactive or active when compared to the activity of a normal brain.
Why is it hard to repair damage to the nervous system?
Neurones in the CNS don’t readily prepare themselves and scientists haven’t yet developed a way to repair nervous tissue in the CNS.
A doctor is assessing whether to remove a brain tumour from a patient. Suggest two possible problems w/ this brain treatment.
E.g
- The tumour might be growing in a part of the brain that cannot be reached via surgery.
- Brain surgery could result in permanent damage to the brain.
True or False?
Muscles and glands are examples of receptors.
False.
They are effectors.
In humans, what does the CNS (central nervous system) consist of?
The brain and spinal cord.
Which type of neurone carries impulses from the CNS to effectors?
Motor neurone.