Cell Biology, Genetics, Evolution, and Meiosis

Practice flashcards for reviewing key concepts from cell biology, genetics, evolution, and meiosis.

What organelle sorts, packages, and modifies lipids and proteins in the cell?

Golgi apparatus

Which component is NOT shared by all cells?

Nucleus

What are the folds in the inner membrane of mitochondria called?

Cristae

What type of microscope uses light to magnify specimens up to 400×?

Compound light microscope

What structure is composed of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins?

Plasma membrane

What is the key structural difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Membrane-bound organelles

What component of the cytoskeleton is involved in muscle contraction?

Microfilaments (Actin)

What is NOT a function of the Golgi apparatus?

Synthesizing proteins

Which characteristic is found in plant cells but NOT in animal cells?

Cell walls

Which of the following is NOT a component of the cytoskeleton?

Lysosomes

What is the cell wall of plant cells primarily composed of?

Cellulose

What structure increases surface area in the small intestine?

Microvilli

Which cell component detoxifies poisons and synthesizes lipids?

Smooth ER

What does endosymbiosis theory propose about mitochondria?

They originated from independent prokaryotes.

Which structure helps maintain cell shape and anchors organelles?

Cytoskeleton

What happens to hydrogen bonds in water as it freezes?

They form a lattice making ice less dense.

How many covalent bonds can carbon atoms form?

4

What term refers to water molecules being attracted to other surfaces?

Adhesion

What is the octet rule?

Atoms are stable when they have 8 electrons in their outer shell.

Which functional group is present in amino acids?

Carboxyl.

What property of water allows it to dissolve polar molecules and ions?

Solvent property.

What type of bond occurs when electrons are shared?

Covalent bond.

What is an example of a molecule with a double bond?

O₂.

What does the pH scale measure?

Concentration of H⁺ ions.

What are hydrocarbons made of?

Carbon and hydrogen.

What is the role of hydrogen bonds in proteins?

Stabilize secondary and tertiary structure.

What property allows water to move through plant roots?

Capillary action.

Which term refers to a weak attraction from electron density shifts?

Van der Waals interaction.

Which of the following is a basic solution?

pH 9.

Which element has the highest electronegativity in water?

Oxygen.

What defines the primary structure of a protein?

Sequence of amino acids.

What type of bond links two monosaccharides to form a disaccharide?

Glycosidic bond.

Why does 1 amino acid change in hemoglobin matter?

It alters secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure.

Which type of molecule is broken down by amylase?

Carbohydrates.

What is true of RNA?

RNA contains ribose.

What can cause protein denaturation?

Changes in pH or temperature.

What is a function of nucleic acids?

Store and transmit genetic information.

Amino acids differ due to their:

R-group.

Which of the following is NOT a protein function?

Store genetic information.

What are proteins composed of?

Monomers known as amino acids.

Organic molecules contain which essential element?

Carbon.

What are the two main types of nucleic acids?

DNA and RNA.

Where is DNA primarily located in eukaryotic cells?

Nucleus.

What reaction breaks down polymers into monomers?

Hydrolysis.

Saturated fats are typically at room temp.

Solid.

What is an example of a positive response to a stimulus?

A plant bending toward light.

Which of the following is an example of applied science?

Solving immediate problems.

What is NOT included in a peer-review submission?

Personal beliefs of the researcher.

What do all living organisms have in common?

A need for energy.

Which is NOT a property of life?

Supernatural response.

What is true about inductive reasoning?

Uses specific observations to form a general conclusion.

Which organisms use the sun's energy to make food?

Photoautotrophs.

Why is homeostasis important?

It maintains internal conditions.

Which branch of science studies the nervous system?

Neurobiology.

What is the final step of the scientific method?

Conclusion and communication of results.

Which is a multicellular organism?

Plants.

What is the ultimate energy source for most life?

The Sun.

How do polar bears maintain body temperature?

Thick fur and fat.

Single-celled organisms belong to which domains?

Archaea and Bacteria.

Who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?

Charles Darwin.

Organisms with two sets of chromosomes are described as:

Diploid.

What characterizes Anaphase II?

Separation of sister chromatids.

What is a significant difference between meiosis I and II?

Meiosis I involves homologous chromosome separation, while meiosis II involves sister chromatid separation.

Cytokinesis in animal cells occurs via:

Cleavage furrow.

What type of life cycle do most animals have?

Diploid-dominant.

When can nondisjunction occur during meiosis?

Both meiosis I and II.

What does the term 'diploid' refer to?

Cells that have two sets of chromosomes.

What is the result of Telophase I?

Two haploid cells.

In metaphase I, homologous chromosomes are arranged how?

In pairs at the cell equator.

What occurs in germ cells produced by gonads?

Both mitosis and meiosis.

What defines one gene masking another?

Epistasis.

What characteristic makes pea plants ideal for Mendel's studies?

Ability to self-pollinate.

Who first studied inheritance in garden peas before Mendel?

Anton de Bary.

In a pedigree, how are affected individuals represented?

Filled shapes.

What is the expected phenotypic ratio of a dihybrid cross of two heterozygotes?

9:3:3:1.

What does genotype refer to?

The genetic makeup of an organism.

What is true about an autosomal recessive trait?

It requires two copies of the recessive allele to be expressed.

What did Chargaff's rules demonstrate?

% A = % T and % C = % G.

What enzyme maintains the ends of linear chromosomes?

Telomerase.

What is the ultimate source of genetic diversity?

Mutations.

What replication model was supported by Meselson and Stahl?

Semi-conservative.

What causes a frameshift mutation?

Insertion or deletion of bases.

What is the primary function of DNA?

Genetic information storage.

What did Frederick Griffith discover?

The transforming principle.

What is the function of proofreading by DNA polymerase?

To correct errors in nucleotide incorporation.

What happens to amino acids during peptide bond formation?

They lose water molecules.

What is the role of ribosomes?

Read mRNA and assemble amino acids into proteins.

What happens to introns during RNA processing?

They are spliced out.

What is a consequence of a frameshift mutation?

It can create a nonfunctional protein or terminate protein synthesis.

What process removes introns from pre-mRNA?

Splicing.

What is the function of peptidyl transferase?

It forms peptide bonds between amino acids.

What type of RNA carries genetic code?

mRNA.

In prokaryotes, what occurs concurrently with transcription?

Translation.

What happens during the elongation phase of translation?

Ribosome movement.

What are two methods of terminating transcription?

Rho-dependent and Rho-independent.

What occurs during the initiation phase of DNA replication?

The DNA helix unwinds and the replication fork is formed.

How is DNA packed in eukaryotes?

Wrapped around histones to form nucleosomes.

What material was isolated by Miescher?

Nuclein.

What is a silent mutation?

A mutation that does not change the amino acid sequence.

What are major and minor grooves?

Binding sites for DNA binding proteins.