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General Biology: A Tour of the Cell

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Terms in this set (20)

  • What are the two major categories of cells?
    Prokaryotic cells (smaller, simpler, no nucleus) and eukaryotic cells (larger, complex, nucleus enclosed by membrane).
  • What is the function of the plasma membrane?
    The plasma membrane separates the living cell from its nonliving surroundings and is composed mainly of phospholipids and proteins.
  • Describe the fluid mosaic model of the membrane.
    Membrane phospholipids and proteins can drift about in the plane of the membrane, creating a fluid mosaic structure.
  • What is the role of the extracellular matrix in animal cells?
    The extracellular matrix helps protect and support cells and facilitates interactions between neighboring cells in tissues.
  • What is the nucleus and what does it contain?
    The nucleus is the cell's manager, containing chromatin, the nucleolus, and is surrounded by a double membrane called the nuclear envelope.
  • How does DNA control the cell?
    DNA transfers coded information into RNA, which is then used to make proteins.
  • What are the two types of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and their functions?
    Rough ER has ribosomes and produces membrane proteins and new membrane; Smooth ER lacks ribosomes and produces lipids including steroids.
  • What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?
    The Golgi apparatus refines, stores, and distributes chemical products of the cell, working closely with the ER.
  • What are lysosomes and their function?
    Lysosomes are membrane-enclosed sacs containing digestive enzymes that break down macromolecules.
  • What are vacuoles and their types?
    Vacuoles are membranous sacs; types include contractile vacuoles in protists and central vacuoles in plants.
  • What are peroxisomes and their role?
    Peroxisomes are metabolic compartments that produce hydrogen peroxide and convert it to water, breaking down molecules using oxygen.
  • What is the function of chloroplasts?
    Chloroplasts are the sites of photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy in plant cells.
  • What is the role of mitochondria?
    Mitochondria are the sites of cellular respiration, producing ATP from food molecules.
  • What unique feature do mitochondria and chloroplasts share?
    They contain their own DNA, supporting the theory they evolved from free-living prokaryotes.
  • What is the cytoskeleton and its functions?
    The cytoskeleton is a network of fibers providing mechanical support, maintaining cell shape, and enabling cell movement.
  • How do cilia and flagella differ in movement?
    Flagella move in a whiplike motion to propel cells; cilia move in a coordinated back-and-forth motion.
  • What are intercellular junctions?
    Structures that connect cells, facilitating communication and adhesion between neighboring cells.
  • What is the significance of ribosomes in the cell?
    Ribosomes synthesize proteins by translating mRNA into polypeptide chains.
  • What is the role of the nucleolus?
    The nucleolus is the site within the nucleus where ribosomal RNA is synthesized and ribosome assembly begins.
  • How do prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells differ in organelle presence?
    Prokaryotic cells lack most organelles and have DNA concentrated in a nucleoid region; eukaryotic cells have many membrane-bound organelles.