Cell and Molecular Biology Review

Flashcards for reviewing key concepts in cell and molecular biology, including chemical properties, macromolecules, cell structure and function, and membrane transport.

What elements make up 95% of the body weight of living things?

Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Sulfur

Describe one biological application of isotope technology.

Aging fossils, learning about trophic interactions, medical diagnosis and treatment

What type of bonding involves the transfer of electrons?

Ionic bonding

What type of bonding involves the sharing of electrons?

Covalent bonding

What property of water is responsible for surface tension?

Cohesion

What phenomenon allows water to be drawn up a tube or vessel?

Capillary action

Why does water change temperature more slowly than air?

Heat is absorbed when hydrogen bonds break and released when they form.

Why is it important that frozen water is less dense than liquid water for aquatic organisms?

It allows them to survive in cold environments.

Define hydrophilic.

Molecules that attract water

Define hydrophobic.

Molecules that repel water

What is the function of buffers in living things?

Maintain an internal pH balance

What are the four categories of organic macromolecules?

Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids

What is the ratio of Carbons, Hydrogens, and Oxygens in carbohydrates?

1:2:1

Give examples of monosaccharides.

Glucose, fructose

Give examples of disaccharides.

Sucrose, lactose

Give examples of polysaccharides.

Starch, cellulose, glycogen, chitin, peptidoglycan

Where can chitin be found in the marine environment?

Arthropod shells, gastropod radulas, cephalopod beaks and pens

What are some biotech applications of chitin?

Substitute for plastic film and foam, wound dressing, delivery of medicines

What molecules make up Lipids?

Hydrocarbon chains, non-polar

What molecules make up Fats?

glycerol and saturated or unsaturated fatty acid chains

What is contained in Phospholipids?

glycerol and always two saturated/unsaturated fatty acid chains + phosphate group

Name the functions of Proteins.

Support, Enzymes/Metabolism, Transport, Regulation, Defense, Motion

What is a polypeptide?

Many amino acids

What does it mean when a protein is denatured?

When a protein loses its shape

What is the function of chaperonin proteins?

Can be “up-regulated” in times of stress

What is the primary function of nucleic acids?

As the genetic molecules DNA, RNA

Name the nitrogenous bases.

Cytosine, guanine, adenine, thymine/uracil

List some differences between icefishes and other vertebrates.

No red blood cells, no hemoglobin, antifreeze proteins

What is the function of antifreeze proteins (AFPs)?

Inhibit ice crystal growth

What are the three parts of the cell theory?

All organisms are composed of cells, cells are the basic unit of structure and function, cells are self-reproducing and come from pre-existing cells

What are the two categories of cells?

Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic

What domains does the Prokaryotic cell include?

Domain Archae and Domain Bacteria

What groups does the Eukaryotic cell include?

Protists, Fungus, Plants, Animals

What function(s) do Eukaryotic cell walls perform?

For stability, protection, and support

What is the function of the Extracellular matrix?

For stability, protection and support, communication

Name the components of the Cell/Plasma membrane.

Phospholipids, Proteins (integral, peripheral), Carbohydrate chains (glycoproteins, glycolipids)

What does the Endosymbiotic Theory explain?

Origin of eukaryotic cells

Name the four groups cells can be organized into.

Manufacturing, Breakdown/storage of molecules, Energy processing, Structure/movement/shape

What is the function of the nucleus?

Enclosed by a membrane, contains DNA/RNA and directs all protein synthesis

What is the function of the ribosomes?

Carry out protein synthesis

What is the function of the rough ER?

Modifies proteins, creates new membrane, facilitates movement of compounds to the cell membrane

What is the function of the smooth ER?

Helps enzymes in their creation of lipids and carbohydrates

What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?

Modifies products of the ER, creates carbohydrates

What is the function of the lysosomes?

Contains digestive enzymes, breaks down food, foreign and non-foreign cellular components. Only in animal cells.

What function do vacuoles/vesicles perform?

Can contain digestive enzymes, storage of protective chemicals, waste, water

What is the function of the Peroxisome?

Break down of fatty acids, detoxification

What is the function of Mitochondria?

Carry out cellular respiration (use of carbohydrate to create cellular energy)

What is the function of Chloroplasts?

Carry out photosynthesis (use of light energy to create carbohydrate)

What is the function of Cytoskeleton?

Protein matrix that extends through the cytoplasm of a cell, allows cell motility by working with motor proteins

What is the function of Cilia/flagella?

Movement, attachment

What factors does movement across the cell membrane depend upon?

Concentration, charge, size, temperature

What are the two types of passive transport?

Diffusion and facilitated diffusion

What is the function of Aquaporins?

Channel proteins that facilitate the movement of water

What is Osmosis?

Facilitated Passive transport of water (down a concentration gradient)

What does active transport require?

Energy input (*ATP)

What does the sodium/potassium pump maintain?

The electrochemical gradient and to osmoregulate

What is membrane-assisted transport?

How molecules that are too big to pass directly through the membrane or through a protein get across

What are the 3 types of endocytosis?

Phagocytosis, Pinocytosis, Receptor-mediated endocytosis