MCAS Cell Biology Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts related to cell membranes, transport mechanisms, cell division, and genetic reproduction.

What is the structure of the cell membrane composed of?

The cell membrane is made up of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins.

What is passive transport?

Passive transport is the movement of substances across a cell membrane without using the cell's energy.

What is osmosis?

Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

Define hypotonic solution.

A hypotonic solution has a lower osmotic pressure compared to another solution, leading to a net movement of water into cells.

What is facilitated transport?

Facilitated transport is a type of passive transport where specific substances are moved through proteins down their concentration gradient.

Explain the sodium-potassium pump.

The sodium-potassium pump actively transports sodium ions out of a cell and potassium ions into the cell against their concentration gradients, using ATP for energy.

What are the stages of mitosis?

The stages of mitosis are prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis.

What is meiosis?

Meiosis is a form of cell division that results in four haploid daughter cells, each with one copy of each chromosome, forming gametes.

What is a gamete?

A gamete is a haploid reproductive cell, such as a sperm or egg, that can fuse with another haploid cell to form a zygote.

What does diploid mean?

Diploid refers to a cell having two sets of chromosomes, typically seen in somatic (body) cells.

How does meiosis contribute to genetic diversity?

Meiosis increases genetic diversity by producing gametes with different combinations of chromosomes from each parent, which leads to varied offspring.