Lecture 2 - Review of Basic Chemistry/Cell Bio/Biochem

Question 1

4 properties of water

Answer 1

1. Great solvent
2. Used as a reactant
3. High heat capacity
4. Provides lubrication and surface tension

Question 2

Why is carbon important

Answer 2

1. Carbon with hydrogen is a component of every organic compound
2. It provides covalently bonded structural backbones
3. Can interact with functional groups with different properties

Question 3

Differentiation

Answer 3

The process of cells produced by cell division to specialize for different functions

Question 4

Cell cycle. What phase do cells spend most of their time in?

Answer 4

The balance in a cell between cell division and performing normal physiological functions. It is tightly regulated by genes and other cell biological factors. Most cells spend their time in interphase

Question 5

What happens if cell cycle regulation is distrupted?

Answer 5

Abnormal cell division can occur, leading to tumours that can develop into cancers

Question 6

Are all tumours cancer?

Answer 6

No - once the tumour breaks through the tissue layer, or if it spreads through the blood/lymphatic system, it becomes cancer

Question 7

Function of the plasma membrane

Answer 7

Separates the cytoplasm inside the cell from the chemically distinct extracellular fluid. The plasma membrane is selectively permeable

Question 8

Free diffusion

Answer 8

No protein assistance required

Question 9

Passive transport

Answer 9

Allows substances to move according to their concentration (or electrochemical) gradients

Question 10

Primary active transport

Answer 10

Pumping proteins directly uses ATP

Question 11

Secondary active transport

Answer 11

Uses a gradient of one molecule (which was created using ATP) to move another molecule

Ex. Using Na+ ion to move a glucose molecule with it into the cytoplasm

Question 12

Vesicular transport

Answer 12

Form of active transport that can move large molecules/many molecules at the same time. Very energy intensive

Question 13

Intercellular fluid (ICF) vs. Extracellular fluid (ECF) ion composition

Answer 13

ICF:
Na+: 12
K+: 139
Cl-: 4
Large anions: 140
Ca2+: <0.0002

ECF:
Na+: 145
K+: 4
Cl-: 120
Large anions: 0
Ca2+: 1.8

Question 14

Osmosis

Answer 14

Movement of water to equalize osmolarity (the amount of molecules/ions dissolved in water) on each side of a barrier. This causes changes in volume

Question 15

Hypertonic

Answer 15

The external solution has a higher solute concentration, causing water to rush out of the cell

Question 16

Hypotonic

Answer 16

The internal solution has a higher solute concentration, causing water to rush into the cell

Question 17

Isotonic

Answer 17

The internal and external solute concentration are equal, therefore, osmolarity is equal on both sides