Chapter 11 Flashcards
Why do cells have to be small?
As cells grow, it will start to place too many demands on the DNA
The volume of the cell will grow too fast relative to the cell’s surface area, making the material exchange insufficient
What is a cell’s volume?
The substance in the cell
What is a cell’s surface area?
The membrane surrounding the cell
What is the surface area to volume ratio?
The amount of surface area the cell has relative to its volume
When does the surface area to volume ratio become a problem?
When the volume increases faster than the surface area
Does the surface area to volume ratio increase or decrease with growth?
Decrease (smaller ratio = larger cell)
Why is a smaller surface area to volume ratio bad?
There’s less area for materials to enter and exit the cell from, making it harder for the cell to absorb nutrients and expel waste products
Why do cells divide? (4) Some reasons may very due to different types of cell division
Keep cells small
Repair and replace old/damaged cells
Make sex cells (meiosis)
Organism growth (multicellular organisms)
Define meiosis
Sexual reproduction and cell cycle/division
Define mitosis
Asexual reproduction and cell cycle/division
How does sexual reproduction differ from asexual reproduction? Are offspring like or unlike (why)?
S - Two separate parent cells fuse, forming unlike offspring with some genetic info from each parent
A - One parent cell splits itself in two, forming genetically identical offspring
What is the advantage of sexual reproduction?
Genetic diversity can be beneficial in a changing environment due to different features and adaptations
What are the disadvantages of sexual reproduction? (3)
Fewer offspring are produced, so growth as a population takes more time
Need to find a mate to reproduce
Offspring may be less well adapted to current conditions
What are the advantages of asexual reproduction? (3)
Many offspring can be produced in a short period of time
No need to find a mate
Genetically identical offspring thrive in stable environments
What is the disadvantage of asexual reproduction?
If conditions change, offspring will not be well adapted
What are chromosomes made up of?
DNA and protein
What do chromosomes do?
Pass genetic info from one generation to the next
How many chromosomes are in a human body cell?
46
What is a sister chromatid?
Two identically replicated chromatids that are joined together at the centromere, forming a chromosome
What is the process of turning DNA into chromosomes? (3)
- DNA starts to coil, condensing into chromatin
- Chromatin coils tighter until you can no longer see the coils, condensing into a chromosome
- The chromosome replicates itself and connects with its copy, forming sister chromatids
When does chromatin turn into chromosomes?
Mitosis
What type of DNA do eukaryotic cells have? What shape does it take?
Linear
Coils and x-shapes
What type of DNA do prokaryotic cells have? What shape does it take?
Circular
Loop
What process do prokaryotic cells go through to divide?
Binary fission