SB2a - When a regular human body cell divides, what is this process called, and how does it occur?
Mitosis
- Prophase
- The nucleus starts to break up and spindle fibres appear.
- Metaphase
- The chromosomes are lined up on the spindle fibre across the middle of the cell
- Anaphase
- The chromosome copies are separated and moved to either side of the cell
- Telophase
- A membrane forms around each set of chromosomes to from a nuclei
- Cytokeniesis
- Cell surface membrane forms separating the two cells (Implants, a cell wall is also formed)
- Interphase
- Copies of the chromosomes are formed in the nucleus
- The cycle repeats
SB2a - What are the products of mitosis called?
Daughter Cells
SB2a - What type of organisms do not require mitosis to occur?
Unicellular organisms
SB2a - How many types of chromosones are in a human cell and what is it called when these are alone or paired up?
- 23 types of chromosomes.
- When they are paired up to have 46 chromosomes this is a diploid cell and a haploid cell only has 23 chromosomes.
- Gametes are haploid cells while all other cells in a human are diploid.
SB2a - How are tumors formed?
- When cells mutate, they can become cancer cells.
- This means that they will divide even when they don't require to divide.
SB2a - Why does asexual reproduction require mitosis?
- As asexual reproduction only needs one parent, the offspring will have the same DNA as the parent.
- As the offspring are clones and their chromosomes are identical, their cells are formed by mitosis.
SB2b - Define growth.
The increase in size as a result of an increase in size of or numbers (due to cell division) of cells.
SB2b - How is the growth of a baby monitored and how does this work?
Using a percentile growth curve:
- This graph has many lines showing you how a babies conditions compare to the average.
- The healthiest position would be at 50% as half of the population is above or below you.
- Being above 98% or below 2% is reason for concern as only 2% of the population is above or below you.
SB2b - What is cell differentiaiton?
When a less specialised cell is changed to become a specialised one.
SB2b - How are red blood cells specialised for their purpose?
- Biconcave shape means more surface area for oxygen diffusion.
- No nucleus means more space for red haemoglobin molecules and carry more oxygen
SB2c - What are the meristems?
- A group of cells near the end of each shoot that allow plants to continue growing throughout their lives.
- They divide rapidly and the cells are elongated and differentiated.
SB2c - How are root hair cells specialised for their function?
- Root hair cells have hair to increase their surface area to allow them to absorb water more effectively.
- They also don't contain chloroplasts (as they are underground and can't photosynthesise)
SB2c - How are xylem cells specialised for their function?
- They have thick walls containing lignin.
- This causes the cells to die
- As the cells die, the end walls connecting them break away, meaning the cells form a long tube
- Along with the fact that they have no internal structure at all (nucleus, chloroplasts etc.) this makes it easier to transport water and minerals.
SB2c - What are the zones of differentiation elongation and cell division?
- D: Where cells are specialised
- E: Where cells are elongated (vertically extended)
- CD: Where rapid mitosis occurs (Meristems)
SB2d - What is an embryonic stem cell?
A cell in an early stage embryo that is not specialised and can differentiate to form any type of specialised cell.
SB2d - Where can adult stem cells be found and how are they different to embryonic stem cells?
Adult stem cells can be found in most tissues including bone marrow but can only differentiate to cells in the tissue around them .
SB2d - How can stem cells be used to treat lukemia?
- A patient's bone marrow is destroyed using radiation
- Adult stem cells are inserted into the patient
- The stem cells will differentiate specialise and divide to form new blood cells and bone marrow
SB2d - What are the problems with using stem cells in medicine?
- If stem cells continue to divide, it can cause a cancerous tumour to form
- Stem cells of one person can be rejected by the immune system of another
SB2d - Why don't plants have adult stem cells?
Their cells remain able to differentiate freely throughout their lives.
SB2e - What type of cells is the brain mostly made up of?
Neurones
SB2e - What are the three major structures of the brain, and what are each of their functions?
- Cerebral cortex: Main functions and control such as memories language etc.
- Cerebellum: Controls balance and movement
- Medulla oblongata: Controls heart and breathing rate
SB2e - How did Phineas Gage's accident prove what the cerebral coretex is used for?
- Phineas gage had a metal rod stuck inside his brain
- It was through his cerebral cortex
- He was still able to walk, but his personality changed
- This shows that this part of the cerebral cortex controls emotions and personality but not movement or breathing/heart rate
SB2e - Why may musicians have larger/more developed cerebellums?
So can develop and have more control over their fine movements and timing coordination
SB2e - The medulla oblongata controls reflexes. What does this mean about its connections?
It connects the brain to the rest of the CNS
SB2f - During brain surgery, what may be don to investigate roles of the brain?
Probing with electricity (electrodes) means that doctors can control the activity of different parts of the brain
SB2f - How does a CT scan work?
- A CT scan involves an x-ray beam moving in a circle around the head.
- It produces images that are slices of the brain.
- Computers can layer and build these up to produce an image
SB2f - How does a PET scan work?
- Radioactive glucose is injected into the body.
- More active cells take in more glucose.
- The PET scan scans for where the most radioactivity is coming from showing the levels of activity in the brain.
SB2f - Why is spinal cord damage so dangerous?
- Damage to the spinal cord can sever the connection between your brain and the rest of your body.
- This can loose to the loss of control of limbs such as quadripalegia.
SB2f - Why does chemotherapy not always work for brain tumors?
- Chemotherapy involves sending chemical substances through blood to actively kill tumours
- The brain has a natural filter called the blood-brain barrier which blocks out foreign substances in the brain
- Additionally, chemotherapy can harm healthy cells
SB2g - What makes up the nervous system?
- The CNS (Central nervous system):
- The brain
- The spinal cord
- Nerves
- The brain
- The spinal cord
