Chapter 3 Flashcards
What are chromosomes?
The structures within living cells that contain the genetic material. Genes are physically located within the structure of chromosomes. Biochemically, chromosomes contain a very long segment of DNA, which is the genetic material, and protein, which are bound to the DNA and provide it with an organized structure.
What is a chromatin?
The association between DNA and proteins that is found within chromosomes.
Bacteria and achaea are referred to as what?
Prokaryotes
What are prokaryotes?
Another name for bacteria and archaea. The term refers to the fact that the chromosomes are not contained within a separate nucleus of the cell.
Prokaryotes usually have a _________ in a region of the cytoplasm called the _________.
Single type of circular chromosome in a region of the cytoplasm called the nucleoid.
What is the nucleoid?
A darkly staining region that contains the genetic material of mitochondria, chloroplasts, or bacteria.
In bacteria, the cytoplasm is enclosed by what?
A plasma membrane that regulates the uptake of nutrients and the excretion of waste products.
What’s outside the plasma membrane in bacteria?
A rigid cell wall that protects the cell from breakage.
Eukaryotic cells exhibit compartmentalization. Define compartmentalization.
Cells have membrane-bound compartments.
What are eukaryotes?
Have a defining feature that their cells contain nuclei bounded by cell membranes. Some simple eukaryotic species are single-clled protists and yeast; more complex multicellular species include fungi, plants and animals.
The compartment of eukaryotic species form what?
Membrane-bound organelles.
What are organelles?
Large specialized structure within a cell, which is often surrounded by a single or double membrane.
Lysosomes play a role in what?
The degradation of macromolecules
The endoplasmic reticulum and golgi body play a role in what?
In protein modification and trafficking.
What is the nucleus?
A membrane-bound organelle in euikaryotic cells where the linear sets of chromosomes are found.
The nucelus is bounded by what?
Two membranes that constitute the nuclear envelope.
Which organelles in eukaryotic cells contain a small amount of their own DNA?
Mitochondrion
Chloroplast
What is the DNA found in other organelles referred to as?
Extranuclear or extrachromosomal DNA
What is the role of mitochondrion?
Functions in ATP synthesis
WHat is the role of the chloroplasts?
In plant and algal cells, which function in photosynthesis.
The DNA found in the organelles such as Mitochondrion and chloroplsats are referred to as what? WHY?
Extranuclear or extrachromosomal DNA To distinguish it from the DNA that is found in the cell nucleus
What is cytogenetics?
The field of genetics that involves the microscopic examination of chromosomes
What is a cytogeneticist?
A scientist who studies chromosomes under the microscope
Observations of eukaryotic species is usually accomplished how? WHy?
Observing the chromosomes as they are found in actively dividing cells.
When the cell is preparing to divide, the chromosomes become more tightly coiled, which shortens them and increases their diameter.