Introduction to cell biology

Question 1

What are the most abundant atoms in the universe?

Answer 1

• Hydrogen
• Helium

Question 2

When did the atoms of the universe form?

Answer 2

About 13.7 billion years ago

Question 3

What occured when the atoms formed?

Answer 3

• creation of light
• Especially red and infrared light

Question 4

Where in our current universe is now the place where the light that surrounds us was originally formed?

Answer 4

46 billion light years away

Question 5

How many of the elements on the periodic table of the elements occur naturally?

Answer 5

94

Question 6

What is a chemical reaction?

Answer 6

Modification of a molecule (most often: change of position of electrons in the molecule)

Question 7

Why do living entities use chemical reactions/regulate chemical reactions?

Answer 7

• grow
• accomplish tasks
• manipulate the environment

Question 8

What are salts?

Answer 8

Ions held together by ionic bonds

Question 9

Why do ionic bonds break up in water?

Answer 9

Being neutralized by a lot of small charges (i.e. by water) is more stable than being neutralized by an ionic bond

Question 10

What are the elements that compose cells?

Answer 10

• carbon
• hydrogen
• nitrogen
• ozygen
• others (phosophorus and sulfur)

Question 11

What is the most abundant element in cells?

Answer 11

Hydrogen

Question 12

Are lipids hydrophobic or hydrophiliac?

Answer 12

hydrophobic because of the length of the chain, which makes it very stable

Question 13

What are the different molecules formed by CHNOPS elements in the cell?

Answer 13

• water
• sugar
• lipids
• neucleic acids
• amino acids

Question 14

What percentage of the cell mass is made up of sugars?

Answer 14

15%

Question 15

What percentage of the cell mass is made up of lipids?

Answer 15

10%

Question 16

What percentage of the cell mass is made up of nucleic acids?

Answer 16

15%

Question 17

What percentage of the cell mass is made up of amino acids?

Answer 17

50%

Question 18

What is a ribozyme?

Answer 18

Strand of RNA that can catalyze a chemical reaction.

Question 19

What is an enzyme?

Answer 19

A protein that can catalyze chemical reactions

Question 20

What is tRNA?

Answer 20

Small strands of RNA that hold amino acids who can be strung together easily to make new proteins.

Question 21

What is a ribosome (from an anatomical point of view)?

Answer 21

Strands of RNA and amino acids

Question 22

What is the function of a ribosome?

Answer 22

• creation of protein by linking the amino acids held by tRNA molecules
• TRANSLATION of RNA into protein

Question 23

What is the mechanism of RNA translation?

Answer 23

1) the small unit grabs to a long strand of RNA
2) the large subunit identifies tRNA molecules that complement the RNA strand
3) the ribosome removes the corresponding amino acid from the tRNA
4) the ribosome links the new amino acid to the previous amino acid
5) the ribosome takes a step and goes on to the next codon

Question 24

What are the advantages of DNA?

Answer 24

• more stable and durable than RNA (better for info storage)

Question 25

What is DNA transcription?

Answer 25

Sections of DNA are transcribed into strands of RNA so that they can be translated by RNA.

Question 26

What is RNA translation?

Answer 26

The info from RNA strands are translated into chains of amino acids

Question 27

What is the difference between transcription and translation?

Answer 27

Transcription: nucleotide --> nucleotide Translation: nucleotide --> amino acid

Question 28

What is a phospholipid?

Answer 28

Strand of fat with a phosphate cap

Question 29

What structure do phospholipids tend to form? What does it look like?

Answer 29

- form bilayer sheets - two layers of phospholipids, with the phosphate outside and the lipid inside

Question 30

What do phospholipids form when shaken?

Answer 30

micelles, which often reform as liposomes

Question 31

How did the first cells form?

Answer 31

Liposomes were forming an busting erratically, then chains of protein entered the bilayer, stabilizing it.

Question 32

What does the prokaryotic cell contain?

Answer 32

- loose strands of DNA - loose strands of RNA - Ribosomes

Question 32

What is the structure of a prokaryotic cell?

Answer 32

- Cell membrane - Cytoplasm - No organells with a wall inside

Question 33

What type of molecule serves as enzymes, form receptors, serve as messengers and form the cytoskeletton?

Answer 33

Proteins

Question 34

What are the differences between a prokaryotic cell and a eukaryotic cell?

Answer 34

- The eukaryotic cell has a mitochondria - the eukaryotic cell has a nucleus

Question 35

What is the function of a mitochondria?

Answer 35

Creates ATP by digesting sugar molecules

Question 36

What is the use of ATP

Answer 36

- source of energy - allows protein to act/conduct their purpose

Question 37

What is the function of the nucleus?

Answer 37

imprisons the long strands of DNA (protection)

Question 38

How do molecules get energy from ATP?

Answer 38

The momentum that comes from cutting off the third phosphate group

Question 39

What are called the compacted strands of DNA inside a nucleus?

Answer 39

chromosomes

Question 40

What do we call the entirety of the DNA in a cell?

Answer 40

Genome

Question 41

What are the sections of the genome that code for a specific protein and later get transcribed and translated?

Answer 41

Genes

Question 42

How does DNA communicate information to the rest of the cell?

Answer 42

1) translates a segment of DNA (gene) into RNA 2) RNA exits the nucleus 3) RNA is translated by ribosomes

Question 43

What are called all the different versions of a protein that are made from a single gene?

Answer 43

isoforms

Question 44

Where is the nucleus located?

Answer 44

In the soma

Question 45

What are the components of the Soma?

Answer 45

- Cytoplasm - Cell membrane - Microtubules - Mitochondria

Question 46

What structure defines the boundaries of the cell? What is it composed of?

Answer 46

The membrane is composed of phospholipids

Question 47

What is the cytoplasm?

Answer 47

- inside the membrane - water filled with salt, sugar, nucleic acids, amino acids

Question 48

What structures allow for rapid transport of material throughout the neuron?

Answer 48

Microtubules

Question 49

What person advanced the field of neuroscience the most?

Answer 49

Darwin

Question 50

What is the dominantly used species in neuroscience research?

Answer 50

Rodents

Question 51

What is the particularity of the human brain compared to other species?

Answer 51

Neoteny (prolongation of maturation: the brain continues to form new links between neurons/neurons and neurons/cells, other types of brains cells that protect and support neurons continue to replicate, neurons grow bigger)

Question 52

What is the original weight of a human brain? The final wieght?

Answer 52

.35 kg 1.4 kg

Question 53

What are the functions of RNA?

Answer 53

- Storage for genetic information, protein-building instructions - Can be ‘read’ or translated by ribosomes to make amino acids

Question 54

What type of information does DNA contain relating to proteins?

Answer 54

- how to create them - when to create them - how much of each type to create

Question 55

What structure allows the eukaryotic cell to create a lot more protein that the prokaryotic cell?

Answer 55

Mitochondria (produces basically unlimited energy)

Question 56

What molecule is responsible for the transcription of DNA?

Answer 56

mRNA (messenger RNA)

Question 57

What part of the brain processes the left visual field?

Answer 57

Right hemisphere

Question 58

What part of the brain processes the right visual field?

Answer 58

Left hemisphere