Biotechnology Lecture Notes – Q1 (Question & Answer Flashcards)

Question-and-answer flashcards covering key concepts from the Biotechnology lecture notes.

What is the definition of biotechnology?

The use of living organisms, cells, or biological systems to develop products and technologies for human use.

Name three application areas of biotechnology.

Agriculture (GM crops, pest-resistant plants); Medicine (vaccines, insulin production); Industry (fermentation, biofuels).

Why do biotech processes begin at the cellular and molecular level?

Because all biotech processes begin at the cellular and molecular level.

What is the plant cell wall made of?

Cellulose.

What is the site of photosynthesis in plant cells?

Chloroplasts (they contain chlorophyll).

What is the function of the Large Central Vacuole?

Stores water, nutrients, and maintains turgor pressure.

Do animal cells have a cell wall?

No—animal cells have only a plasma membrane.

What is the role of centrioles?

Important in cell division (mitosis).

Do prokaryotes have a true nucleus?

No; their DNA is in the nucleoid region.

What are plasmids?

Small circular DNA that often carries antibiotic resistance genes.

What is the bacterial cell wall made of?

Peptidoglycan.

Do prokaryotes have membrane-bound organelles?

No.

What is the function of the nucleus?

Control center; contains DNA; directs cell activities.

How is mitochondria best described?

Double-membrane organelle that produces ATP through cellular respiration; the cell's powerhouse.

What is the function of ribosomes?

Protein synthesis.

What is the rough endoplasmic reticulum?

ER with ribosomes; modifies and transports proteins.

What is the smooth endoplasmic reticulum?

ER without ribosomes; lipid synthesis and detoxifies chemicals.

What is the Golgi apparatus responsible for?

Packaging, modifying, and distributing proteins.

What are lysosomes?

Membrane sacs with enzymes that digest waste and old organelles (common in animals, rare in plants).

What does the chloroplast do?

Contains chlorophyll and carries out photosynthesis in plants.

What is a vacuole?

Storage sacs; stores water, food, and waste; large in plants, small in animals.

What is the function of the cell membrane?

Semi-permeable barrier; regulates entry and exit of materials; present in all cells.

Which cells have cell walls?

Plants and bacteria have cell walls; animal cells do not.

What is cytoplasm?

Gel-like fluid that holds organelles in place.

Which organelle is the energy factory of the cell?

Mitochondria.

Which organelle is the protein factory found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

Ribosomes.

Which organelle acts as the solar panel for plants?

Chloroplasts.

Which organelle is often described as the brain of the cell?

Nucleus.

Which cell structure functions as armor in plants and bacteria?

Cell wall.

What is passive transport?

Movement of substances from high to low concentration without ATP.

What is diffusion?

Movement of small molecules directly across the cell membrane from high to low concentration.

What is osmosis?

Movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane.

What happens in a hypotonic solution?

Water enters the cell; plant cells become turgid; animal cells may swell or burst.

What happens in a hypertonic solution?

Water leaves the cell; plant cells plasmolyze; animal cells shrink.

What is an isotonic solution?

Water moves equally in both directions; cell size remains constant.

What is facilitated diffusion?

Diffusion that uses transport proteins to move molecules across the membrane without energy.

What is active transport?

Movement of molecules from low to high concentration, requiring energy (ATP).

What is an example of a protein pump in active transport?

The Sodium-Potassium Pump in nerve cells.

What are endocytosis and exocytosis?

Endocytosis is entering the cell (phagocytosis and pinocytosis); exocytosis is exiting the cell via vesicles fusing with the membrane.

What is mitosis and its purpose?

Growth, repair, and asexual reproduction; produces two identical daughter cells.

List the stages of mitosis in order.

Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase; Interphase is preparation (not part of mitosis); cytokinesis follows.

What is meiosis?

Sexual reproduction; produces four non-identical haploid daughter cells; two divisions (Meiosis I and II).

Where does crossing over occur and why is it important?

Prophase I of meiosis; it increases genetic diversity.

Where does crossing over occur and why is it important?

Prophase I of meiosis; it increases genetic diversity.

What does haploid mean?

A cell with one set of chromosomes (n).

How many divisions occur in meiosis and how many daughter cells result?

Two divisions (Meiosis I and II) producing four haploid daughter cells.