Cell Structure - Cells

Question 1

Define the terms eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell.

Answer 1

Eukaryotic: DNA is contained in a nucleus, contains membrane-bound specialised organelles.
Prokaryotic: DNA is ‘free’ in cytoplasm, no organelles e.g. bacteria & archaea.

Question 2

State the relationship between a system and specialised cells.

Answer 2

Specialised cells → tissues that perform specific function → organs made of several tissue types → organ systems

Question 3

Describe the structure and function of the cell-surface membrane.

Answer 3

‘Fluid mosaic’ phospholipid bilayer with extrinsic & intrinsic proteins embedded

● Isolates cytoplasm from extracellular environment.
● Selectively permeable to regulate transport of
substances.
● Involved in cell signalling / cell recognition.

Question 4

Explain the role of cholesterol, glycoproteins & glycolipids in the cell- surface membrane.

Answer 4

Cholesterol: steroid molecule connects
phospholipids & reduces fluidity.

Glycoproteins: cell signalling, cell recognition (antigens) & binding cells together.

Glycolipids: cell signalling & cell recognition.

Question 5

Describe the structure of the nucleus.

Answer 5

● Surrounded by nuclear envelope, a semi-permeable double membrane.
● Nuclear pores allow substances to enter/exit.
● Dense nucleolus made of RNA & proteins assembles ribosomes.

Question 6

Describe the function of the nucleus.

Answer 6

● Contains DNA coiled around chromatin into chromosomes.
● Controls cellular processes: gene expression determines specialisation & site of mRNA transcription, mitosis, semiconservative replication.

Question 7

Describe the structure of a mitochondrion.

Answer 7

● Surrounded by double membrane folded inner membrane forms cristae: site of electron transport chain
● Fluid matrix: contains mitochondrial DNA, respiratory enzymes, lipids, proteins.

Question 8

Describe the structure of a chloroplast.

Answer 8

● Vesicular plastid with double membrane.
● Thylakoids: flattened discs stack to form
grana; contain photosystems with chlorophyll.
● Intergranal lamellae: tubes attach thylakoids
in adjacent grana.
● Stroma: fluid-filled matrix.

Question 9

State the function of mitochondria and chloroplasts.

Answer 9

● Mitochondria: site of aerobic respiration to produce ATP.
● Chloroplasts: site of photosynthesis to convert solar energy to chemical energy.

Question 10

Describe the structure and function of the Golgi apparatus.

Answer 10

Planar stack of membrane-bound, flattened sacs cis face aligns with rER.

Molecules are processed in cisternae
vesicles bud off trans face via exocytosis:

● modifies & packages proteins for export
● synthesises glycoproteins

Question 11

Describe the structure and function of a lysosome.

Answer 11

Sac surrounded by single membrane embedded H+ pump maintains acidic conditions contains digestive hydrolase enzymes glycoprotein coat protects cell interior:

● digests contents of phagosome
● exocytosis of digestive enzymes

Question 12

Describe the structure and function of a ribosome.

Answer 12

Formed of protein & rRNA
free in cytoplasm or attached to ER.

● Site of protein synthesis via translation:

large subunit: joins amino acids
small subunit: contains mRNA binding site

Question 13

Describe the structure and function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

Answer 13

Cisternae: network of tubules & flattened sacs extends from cell membrane through cytoplasm & connects to nuclear envelope:

● Rough ER: many ribosomes attached for protein synthesis & transport.
● Smooth ER: lipid synthesis.

Question 14

Describe the structure of the cell wall.

Answer 14

● Bacteria:
Made of the polysaccharide murein.

● Plants:
Made of cellulose microfibrils
plasmodesmata allow molecules to pass between cells, middle lamella acts as boundary between adjacent cell walls.

Question 15

State the functions of the cell wall.

Answer 15

● Mechanical strength and support.
● Physical barrier against pathogens.
● Part of apoplast pathway (plants) to
enable easy diffusion of water.

Question 16

Describe the structure and function of the cell vacuole in plants.

Answer 16

Surrounded by single membrane: tonoplast contains cell sap: mineral ions, water, enzymes, soluble pigments.

● Controls turgor pressure.
● Absorbs and hydrolyses potentially harmful substances to detoxify cytoplasm.

Question 17

Explain some common cell adaptations.

Answer 17

● Folded membrane or microvilli increase surface area e.g. for diffusion.
● Many mitochondria = large amounts of ATP for active transport.
● Walls one cell thick to reduce distance of diffusion pathway.

Question 18

State the role of plasmids in prokaryotes.

Answer 18

● Small ring of DNA that carries non-essential genes.
● Can be exchanged between bacterial cells via conjugation.

Question 19

State the role of flagella in prokaryotes.

Answer 19

Rotating tail propels (usually unicellular) organism.

Question 20

State the role of the capsule in prokaryotes.

Answer 20

● Prevents desiccation.
● Acts as food reserve.
● Provides mechanical protection against
phagocytosis & external chemicals.
● Sticks cells together.

Question 21

Compare eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.

Answer 21

both have:
● Cell membrane.
● Cytoplasm.
● Ribosomes (don’t count as an
organelle since not membrane-bound).

Question 22

Contrast eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.

Answer 22

Prokaryotic:
small cells & always unicellular
no membrane-bound organelles & no nucleus
circular DNA not associated with proteins
small ribosomes (70S)
binary fission - always asexual reproduction
cellulose cell wall (plants)/ chitin (fungi)
capsule, sometimes plasmids & cytoskeleton

Eukaryotic:
larger cells & often multicellular
always have organelles & nucleus
linear chromosomes associated with histones
larger ribosomes (80S)
mitosis & meiosis - sexual and/or asexual
murein cell walls
no capsule, no plasmids, always cytoskeleton

Question 23

Why are viruses referred to as ‘particles’ instead of cells?

Answer 23

Acellular & non-living: no cytoplasm, cannot self-reproduce, no metabolism.

Question 24

Describe the structure of an enveloped virus.

Answer 24

● Simple virus surrounded by matrix protein.
● Matrix protein surrounded by envelope derived from cell membrane of host cell.
● Attachment proteins on surface.

Question 24

Describe the structure of a viral particle.

Answer 24

● Linear genetic material (DNA or RNA) & viral enzymes e.g. reverse transcriptase.
● Surrounded by capsid (protein coat made of capsomeres).
● No cytoplasm.

Question 25

State the role of the capsid on viral particles.

Answer 25

● Protect nucleic acid from degradation by restriction endonucleases.
● Surface sites enable viral particle to bind to & enter host cells or inject their genetic material.

Question 26

State the role of attachment proteins on viral particles.

Answer 26

Enable viral particle to bind to complementary sites on host cell : entry via endosymbiosis.

Question 27

Outline how a student could prepare a temporary mount of tissue for an optical microscope.

Answer 27

1. Obtain thin section of tissue e.g. using ultratome or by maceration.
2. Place plant tissue in a drop of water.
3. Stain tissue on a slide to make structures visible.
4. Add coverslip using mounted needle at 45° to
   avoid trapping air bubbles.

Question 28

Describe how optical microscopes work.

Answer 28

1. Lenses focus rays of light and magnify the view of a thin slice of specimen.
2. Different structures absorb different amounts and wavelengths of light.
3. Reflected light is transmitted to the observer via the objective lens and eyepiece.

Question 29

Suggest the advantages and limitations of using an optical microscope.

Answer 29

+ colour image
+ can show living structures
+ affordable apparatus
- 2D image
- lower resolution than electron microscopes =
cannot see ultrastructure

Question 30

Describe how a transmission electron microscope (TEM) works.

Answer 30

1. Pass a high energy beam of electrons through thin slice of specimen.
2. More dense structures appear darker since they absorb more electrons.
3. Focus image onto fluorescent screen or
   photographic plate using magnetic lenses.

Question 31

Suggest the advantages and limitations of using a TEM.

Answer 31

+ electrons have shorter wavelength than light = high resolution, so ultrastructure visible
+ high magnification (x 500000)
- 2D image
- requires a vacuum = cannot show living structures
- extensive preparation may introduce artefacts
- no colour image

Question 32

Suggest the advantages and limitations of using an SEM.

Answer 32

+ 3D image
+ electrons have shorter wavelength than light = high
resolution
- requires a vacuum = cannot show living structures
- no colour image
- only shows outer surface

Question 32

Describe how a scanning electron microscope (SEM) works.

Answer 32

1. Focus a beam of electrons onto a specimen’s surface using electromagnetic lenses.
2. Reflected electrons hit a collecting device and are amplified to produce an image on a photographic plate.

Question 33

Define magnification and resolution.

Answer 33

Magnification: factor by which the image is larger than the actual specimen.

Resolution: smallest separation distance at which 2 separate structures can be distinguished from one another.

Question 34

Explain how to use an eyepiece graticule and stage micrometer to measure the size of a structure.

Answer 34

1. Place micrometer on stage to calibrate eyepiece graticule.
2. Line up scales on graticule and micrometer. Count how
   many graticule divisions are in 100μm on the micrometer.
3. Length of 1 eyepiece division = 100μm / number of
   divisions
4. Use calibrated values to calculate actual length of
   structures.

Question 35

State an equation to calculate the actual size of a structure from microscopy.

Answer 35

actual size = image size
/
magnification

Question 36

Outline what happens during cell fractionation and ultracentrifugation.

Answer 36

1. Mince and homogenize tissue to break open cells & release organelles.
2. Filter homogenate to remove debris.
3. Perform differential centrifugation:
   a) Spin homogenate in centrifuge.
   b) The most dense organelles in the mixture form a pellet.
   c) Filter off the supernatant and spin again at a higher speed.

Question 37

State the order of sedimentation of organelles during differential centrifugation.

Answer 37

most dense → least dense

nucleus → mitochondria → lysosomes → RER → plasma membrane → SER → ribosomes

Question 38

Explain why fractionated cells are kept in a cold, buffered, isotonic solution.

Answer 38

cold: slow action of hydrolase enzymes.

buffered: maintain constant pH.

isotonic: prevent osmotic lysis/ shrinking of organelles.