Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

GCSE Biology > Key Concepts in Biology > Flashcards

Key Concepts in Biology Flashcards

(60 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What cells are eukaryotic

A

Animal and plant cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What do eukaryotic cells have

A

Cell membrane, cytoplasm, and a nucleus containing DNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What cells are prokaryotic

A

Bacteria cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What do prokaryotic cells have

A

Cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, single circular strand of DNA and plasmids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are cell structures (e.g., cell wall) examples of

A

organelles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are organelles

A

structures in a cell that have different functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the function of the nucleus (in animal and plant cells)

A

contains DNA coding for a particular protein needed to build new cells (enclosed in a nuclear membrane)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the function of the cytoplasm (in animal and plant cells)

A
  • Liquid substance where chemical reactions occur.
  • Contains enzymes.
  • Organelles are found in it
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the function of the cell membrane (in animal and plant cells)

A

Controls what enters and leaves the cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the function of the mitochondria (in animal and plant cells)

A

Where aerobic respiration reactions occur, providing energy for the cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the function of the ribosomes (in animal and plant cells)

A
  • Where protein synthesis occurs.
  • Found on a structure called the rough endoplasmic reticulum
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the function of the chloroplasts (in a plant cell)

A
  • Where photosynthesis takes place, providing food for the plant.
  • Contains chlorophyll pigment which harvests the light needed for photosynthesis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the function of the permanent vacuole (in a plant cell)

A
  • Contains cell sap
  • Found within the cytoplasm
  • Improves cell’s rigidity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the function of the cell wall (in a plant cell)

A
  • Made from cellulose
  • Provides strength to the cell
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the function of the cell wall (in a bacteria cell)

A

It’s made of a different compound (peptidoglycan)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the function of the chromosomal DNA (in bacteria cells)

A

As bacteria cells have no nucleus, this floats in the cytoplasm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the function of the plasmids (in bacteria cells)

A

Small rings of DNA - code for extra genes to those provided by chromosomal DNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the function of the flagella (in bacteria cells)

A

Long, thin, ‘whip-like’ tails attached to bacteria that allow them to move

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How do cells specialise

A

Through the process of differentiation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is differentiation

A

a process that involves the cell gaining new sub-cellular structures in order for it to be suited to its role

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

When can cells differentiate

A

once, early on

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are stem cells

A

Cells that have the ability to differentiate their whole life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

3 examples of specialised cells in animals

A
  • Sperm cells
  • Egg cells
  • Ciliated epithelial cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is a sperm cell

A

A specialised cell that carries the male’s DNA to the egg cell for successful reproduction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Describe a sperm cell
- Streamlined head and long tail to aid swimming - Many mitochondria (which supply energy to allow the cell to move) - The acrosome has digestive enzymes which break down the outer layers of the egg cell's membrane - Haploid nucleus
26
What is an egg cell
A specialised cell that accepts a single sperm cell and develops into an embryo
27
Describe an egg cell
- Surrounded by a special cell membrane (only accepts one sperm cell) - Lots of mitochondria to provide an energy source for the developing embryo - Large size and cytoplasm to allow quick, repeated division as the embryo grows
28
What is a ciliated epithelial cell
A specialised cell that wafts bacteria to the stomach
29
Describe a ciliated epithelial cell
- Long, hair-like processes called cilia waft bacteria trapped by sticky mucus down to the stomach - The bacteria is then killed by the stomach acid.
30
3 examples of specialised cells in plants
- Root hair cells - Xylem cells - Phloem cells
31
What is a root hair cell
A specialised cell that takes up water (by osmosis) and mineral ions (by active transport) from the soil
32
Describe a root hair cell
- Large surface area (due to root hairs - meaning more water can move in) - Large permanent vacuole (affects speed of movement of water from soil to cell) - Mitochondria provides energy from respiration (for the active transport of mineral ions into the root hair cell)
33
What is a xylem cell
A specialised cell that transports water and mineral ions up the plant from the roots to the shoots
34
Describe a xylem cell
- (upon formation), a chemical called lignin is deposited, which causes the cells to die. (they become hollow and are joined end-to-end to form a continuous tube so water and mineral ions can move through - Lignin is deposited in spirals which helps the cells withstand the pressure from the movement of water
35
What is a phloem cell
A specialised cell that carries the products of photosynthesis to all parts of the plants
36
Describe a phloem cell
- Cell walls form structures called sieve plates when they break down, allowing the movement of substances from cell to cell - Mitochondria supplies the energy the cells need to be alive
37
What can you use to see extremely small structures (such as cells)
A microscope
38
What are the 2 types of microscope
- Light microscope - Electron microscope
39
Describe a light microscope
- 2 lenses - illuminated from underneath - max magnification = 2000x - max resolving power = 200nm - Used to view tissues, cells, and large sub-cellular structures
40
Describe an electron microscope
- Electrons used to form an image (because electrons have a much smaller wavelength than light waves) - 2 types: scanning electron microscope (creates 3D images) + transmission electron microscope (creates 2D images) - Max magnification = 2,000,000x - Max resolving power = 10nm (SEM) - Max resolving power = 0.2nm (TEM)
41
What are transmission electron microscopes used to discover
Viruses - poliovirus, smallpox, ebola
42
What are electron microscopes used for
examining proteins in much greater detail
43
Describe the structure of a bacteria cell
- Flagellum - Slime coat (for protection) - Flexible cell wall (for support) - Cell membrane - Cytoplasm - Chromosonal DNA - Plasmids
44
What are enzymes
Biological catalysts that increase the rate of reactions
45
What do enzymes do in humans
Turn large molecules in our food into smaller subunits they are made of
46
Define 'Synthesis'
Building larger molecules from smaller subunits
47
Give 2 examples of polymers
- Complex carbohydrates - Proteins
48
What are polomers
Made up of many similar small molecules (monomers) joined in a chain
49
Name 4 different enzymes
- Amylase - Catalase - Starch synthase - DNA polymerase
50
Where is amylase found
The saliva and small intestine
51
What reaction does amylase catalyse
Breaking down starch into small sugars - such as maltose
52
Where is catalse found
Most cells - especially liver cells
53
What reaction does catalase catalyse
Breaking down hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen
54
Where is starch synthase found
Plants
55
What reaction does starch synthase catalyse
Synthesis of starch from glucose
56
Where is DNA polymerase found
Nucleus
57
What reaction does DNA polymerase catalyse
Synthesis of DNA from its monomers
58
What are chemical reagents for
To facilitate a reaction
59
What are reducing sugars
All of the smallest sugars
60

GCSE Biology (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions