Cell Structure Flashcards

1
Q

Function of cell surface membrane

A

Regulates the movement of substances into and out of the cell. Has receptor molecules allowing response to chemicals like hormones

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2
Q

Function of cell wall

A

Supports plant cells

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3
Q

Description of cell surface membrane

A

The membrane found on the surface of animal cells and just inside the cell wall of plant cells and prokaryotic cells. Its made mainly of lipids and protein

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4
Q

Description of cell wall

A

A rigid structure that surrounds plant cells. Its made mainly of the carbohydrate cellulose

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5
Q

Nucleus description

A

A large organelle surrounded by a nuclear envelope (double membrane) containing many pores. The nucleus contains chromatin (made from DNA and proteins) and a structure called the nucleolus

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6
Q

Function of a nucleus

A

It controls the cell’s activities (controlling transcription of DNA). DNA contains instructions to make proteins. The pores allow substances to move between the nucleus and cytoplasm. The nucleolus makes ribosomes

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7
Q

Description of a lysosome

A

Round organelle surrounded by a membrane, with no clear internal structure

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8
Q

Functions of a lysosome

A

Contains digestive enzymes which are kept separate from the cytoplasm by the surrounding membrane

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9
Q

Description of a ribosome

A

A very small organelle that either floats free in the cytoplasm or is attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. It is made from proteins not RNA and not surrounded by a membrane

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9
Q

Function of a ribosome

A

Site of protein synthesis

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10
Q

Description of the rough endoplasmic reticulum

A

A system of membranes enclosing a fluid-filled space. The surface is covered with ribosomes.

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11
Q

Function of rough endoplasmic reticulum

A

Folds and processes proteins that have been made at the ribosomes

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12
Q

Description of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum

A

A system of membranes enclosing a fluid-filled space. The surface is not covered with ribosomes.

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13
Q

Function of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum

A

Synthesizes and processes lipids

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14
Q

Description of a vesicle

A

A small fluid-filled sac in the cytoplasm, surrounded by a membrane

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15
Q

Function of a vesicle

A

Transports substances in and out of the cell and between organelles. Some are formed by the Golgi apparatus or the endoplasmic reticulum, while others are formed at the cell surface

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16
Q

Description of the Golgi Apparatus

A

A group of fluid-filled membrane-bound, flattened sacs. Vesicles are often seen at the edges of the sacs

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17
Q

Functions of the Golgi Apparatus

A

It processes and packages new lipids and proteins. It also makes new lysosomes

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18
Q

Description of mitochondrion

A

Oval shaped with double membrane. The inner one is folded forming cristae. Inside in the matrix containing enzymes for respiration

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19
Q

Function of a mitochondrion

A

The site of aerobic respiration where ATP is produced. Found in large numbers in cells that are very active and require lots of energy

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20
Q

Description of a chloroplast

A

Small, flattened structure found in plant cells. Surrounded by double membrane and has membranes inside called thylakoid membranes. These are stacked up in some parts of the chloroplast to form grana. Grana are linked together by lamellae = thin, flat pieces of thylakoid membrane.

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21
Q

Function of a chloroplast

A

The site where photosynthesis takes place. Some parts of photosynthesis happen in the grana, and other parts happen in the stroma (a thick fluid found in chloroplasts)

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22
Q

Description of a centriole

A

Small, hollow cylinders, made of microtubules (tiny protein cylinders). Found in animal cells, but only some plant cells

23
Q

Function of a centriole

A

Involved in the separation of chromosomes during cell division

24
Q

Description of Cilia

A

Small, hair-like structures found on the surface membrane of some animal cells. In cross-section, they have an outer membrane and a ring of nine pairs of protein microtubules inside, with two microtubules in the middle. Known as the 9+2 formation

25
Q

Function of cilia

A

The microtubules allow cilia to move used by the cell to move substances along the cell surface

26
Q

Description of Flagellum

A

Like cilia but longer as they stick out from the cell surface and surrounded by the plasma membrane. Inside like cilia there is a 9+2 formation of microtubules

27
Q

Stages of how organelles are involved in protein production

A

1) Proteins are made at the ribosomes

2) The ribosomes on RER make proteins that are excreted or attached to the cell membrane. The free ribosomes in the cytoplasm make proteins that stay

3) New proteins produced at the RER are folded and processed (eg sugar chains are added) in the RER

4) They are transported in vesicles from the ER to the Golgi apparatus

5) At the Golgi apparatus, the proteins may undergo further processing (eg sugar chains are trimmed or more are added)

6) The proteins enter more vesicles to be transported around the cell

28
Q

What is the cytoskeleton

A

Network of protein threads arranged as microfilaments and microtubules

29
Q

Four main functions of the cytoskeleton

A
  • Support the cell’s organelles keeping them in position
  • Strengthen the cell maintaining shape
  • Responsible for the movement of materials within the cell e.g. chromosomes in cell division
  • The proteins can cause movement such as cilia and flagella
30
Q

Features of a prokaryotic cell

A
  • Extremely small
  • DNA is circular
  • No nucleus
  • Cell wall made of a polysaccharide
  • Few and no membrane bound organelles
  • Flagella made from flagellin in a helix
  • Small ribosomes
31
Q

Features of a eukaryotic cell

A
  • Larger cell
  • DNA is linear
  • Nucleus present
  • No cell wall (animals), cell wall made from cellulose (plants) or chitin (fungi)
  • Many organelles
  • Flagella made of microtubule proteins arranged in 9+2 formation
32
Q

Example of a prokaryote

A

E. coli (bacterium)

33
Q

Example of a eukaryote

A

Human liver cell

34
Q

What is it like to look at a prokaryote under a microscope

A

Cannot see their internal structures under a normal microscope (need electron)

35
Q

Magnification =

A

Image size / object size

36
Q

Four types of microscopes

A

Light, Laser Scanning confocal, Transmission Electron, Scanning Electron

37
Q

Features of a light microscope

A
  • Use light
  • Lower resolution (0.2 micrometers)
  • Maximum useful magnification is around x 1500
38
Q

Features of a laser scanning confocal

A
  • Use intense beams of light (lasers)
  • Specimen is tagged in dye causing it to give off light which produces a 3D image
  • Pinhole means any out of focus light is blocked to give a clearer image
  • Can look at objects at different depths in thick specimens
39
Q

Features of transmission electron microscopes

A
  • Use electromagnets to focus a beam of electrons that is transmitted through the specimen
  • Denser parts absorb more electrons and therefore look darker
  • Produces as high resolution image to look at range of organelles
40
Q

Features of scanning electron microscopes

A
  • A beam of electrons is scanned across the specimen knocking off electrons form the specimen
  • These gather in the cathode ray tube forming an image
  • Show the surface and can be 3D but lower resolution than TEM’s
41
Q

Light microscope maximum resolution

A

0.2 micrometers

42
Q

TEM maximum resolution

A

0.0002 micrometers

43
Q

SEM maximum resolution

A

0.002 micrometers

44
Q

TEM maximum magnification

A

Can be more than x 1 000 000

45
Q

SEM maximum magnification

A

Usually less than x 500 000

46
Q

Light microscope maximum magnification

A

x 1500

47
Q

Why do you stain samples

A

To allows you to see certain organelles more clearly - light will show up clear if no organelles present

48
Q

What would you use to stain cell cytoplasm’s

A

Eosin

49
Q

What would you use to stain DNA

A

Methylene blue

50
Q

How would you stain for an electron microscope

A

Objects are dipped in a heavy solution of metals and the metal ions scatter the electrons creating a contrast as some parts show up darker than others

51
Q

How to prepare a dry mount slide

A
  • Take a thin slice of the specimen
  • Use tweezers to pick up the specimen and place on the middle of the clean slide
  • Place a cover slip on top
52
Q

How to prepare a wet mount slide

A
  • Pipette a small drop of water onto the slide
  • Using tweezers place the specimen on top
  • Lower cover slip avoiding air bubbles
  • Add a drop of stain to the edge of the cover slip and a paper towel at the other end.
53
Q

How to use a light microscope

A
  • Clip the slide with specimen onto the stage
  • Select lowest-powered objective lens
  • Use coarse adjustment know bringing the stage up to the objective lens
  • Look down eyepiece and adjust with coarse and fine adjustment knob till clear
  • Can swap to larger magnification
54
Q

What is an eyepiece graticule

A

Fitted onto the eyepiece like a transparent ruler with numbers but no units

55
Q

What is a stage micrometer

A

Placed on the stage and is a microscope slide with an accurate scale used to work out the value of the divisions of the eyepiece graticule at a magnification

56
Q
A