Biological Science Review: Cell and Molecular Biology

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering cell theory, organelles, cellular processes, microbiology, viruses, anatomy and physiology, microscopy, vitamins, photosynthesis, and related topics from the lecture notes.

What is the BASIC unit of life in all living things?

The cell (Cell Theory by Schleiden & Schwann)

Who proposed that all organisms are composed of cells?

Schleiden & Schwann (Cell Theory)

Which organelle is the control center of the cell and contains most of the genes in a eukaryotic cell?

The Nucleus

Which organelle is the site of photosynthesis in plant cells?

Chloroplast

What is the function of ribosomes?

Protein synthesis

Which organelle is the powerhouse of the cell and produces ATP?

Mitochondria

What is the largest organelle in an animal cell?

Nucleus

What is the largest organelle in a plant cell?

Central vacuole

What is the function of the Endomembrane or Cytomembrane system?

To transport and modify proteins and lipids within the cell (includes ER, Golgi, vesicles)

What is the function of Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (Rough ER)?

Rough ER has bound ribosomes and synthesizes proteins.

What is the function of Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (Smooth ER)?

Smooth ER lacks ribosomes and is involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification.

What is the Golgi Apparatus responsible for?

Manufacture, processing, and packaging of certain macromolecules; packaging factory of the cell.

What are Lysosomes known as, and what is their function?

Suicidal bag of the cell; digests bacteria, foreign substances, and worn-out cell parts.

What is the composition of a plant cell wall?

Cellulose fibers embedded in polysaccharides and protein.

What is the composition of a fungal cell wall?

Chitin and glucans.

What is the composition of a bacterial cell wall?

Peptidoglycan.

What is the basic difference between passive and active transport?

Passive transport requires no energy; active transport requires energy (ATP).

Name three forms of passive transport.

Diffusion, Facilitated Diffusion, Osmosis

Name two forms of bulk transport.

Exocytosis and Endocytosis

What are the two types of endocytosis?

Pinocytosis (cell drinking) and Phagocytosis (cell eating)

Which molecules diffuse easily across plasma membranes?

CO2, H2O, and O2

What is Monera?

A kingdom that/includes Archaebacteria and Eubacteria; bacteria reproduce asexually.

What are the three modes of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria?

Transformation, Conjugation, Transduction

What are the five steps of microbiological identification?

Inoculation, Incubation, Isolation, Inspection, Identification

What shapes correspond to coccus, bacillus, spirillum, and Vibrio?

Coccus = spherical; Bacillus = rod-shaped; Spirillum = spiral; Vibrio = comma-shaped

Which group includes algae, protozoa, and slime molds?

Protoctista (Protista)

Which organism is the closest relatives of plants and major oxygen producers?

Algae (photosynthetic protists)

What causes red tide and what organism is responsible?

Dinoflagellates cause red tide; they are a type of algae (Protista)

Which protozoan example causes amoebic dysentery?

Entamoeba histolytica (pseudopodia locomotion)

Do bacteria have cilia?

No; cilia are NOT found in bacteria.

Which parasite causes Gambian sleeping sickness?

Trypanosoma gambiense

What is the main component of fungal cell walls?

Chitin

From what organism was penicillin originally discovered, and who discovered it?

Penicillium notatum; Alexander Fleming.

Are viruses living or nonliving?

Acellular and generally considered nonliving; contain a DNA or RNA genome and a protein coat (capsid) but cannot transform energy independently.

What is the protective protein coat of a virus called?

Capsid

Who coined the term 'virus' and who crystallized TMV?

Martinus Beijerinck coined 'virus'; Wendell Stanley crystallized TMV.

Which brain region is affected in Parkinson's disease due to loss of dopamine-producing cells?

Substantia nigra

What are amyloid plaques and tau tangles associated with?

Alzheimer's disease

What is the main function of the cytoskeleton?

Support, motility, and regulation of cell shape and organization

Name the three components of the cytoskeleton and their primary roles.

Microtubules (spindle fibers), Microfilaments/Actin (cell movement), Intermediate Filaments (cell/ organelle support)

What is a pacemaker in the heart?

A device that sends electrical impulses to maintain rhythmic heartbeats (discovered by Wilson Greatbatch)

What are the main components of blood?

Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma (components of blood)

What is the function of red blood cells (erythrocytes)?

Carry oxygen via hemoglobin; iron is essential; lifespan ~120 days.

What cells produce antibodies?

B-cells (lymphocytes)

What hormone/ion is vital for oxygen transport in blood and drops when iron is deficient?

Hemoglobin in red blood cells requires iron to function; iron deficiency causes anemia.

What is the universal donor and recipient concept in blood typing (conceptual)?

Universal donor: can donate to many; universal recipient: can receive from many; (exact types vary; commonly O negative as donor, AB positive as recipient).

What are the two main stages of photosynthesis?

Light-dependent reactions and Calvin cycle (light-independent reactions)

Where do the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis take place?

Thylakoid membranes (granum) of chloroplasts.

What are the main products of the light-dependent reactions used in the Calvin cycle?

ATP and NADPH (and O2 released from water splitting).

Where does the Calvin cycle occur?

Stroma of the chloroplast.

What gas is fixed during the Calvin cycle?

CO2

What are the main differences between Pasteurization and Sterilization?

Pasteurization kills or inactivates most pathogens (preserves product), Sterilization eliminates all forms of microbial life.

What microscope is best for observing live cells and uses visible light?

Light (Compound) Microscope

Which microscope uses laser beams to scan specimens?

Confocal Microscope

Which microscope uses electron beams and requires dead specimens?

Electron Microscope

What is the term for the wavelike movements that propel contents through the digestive tract?

Peristalsis

What is the role of the hepatocytes’ catalase in the liver?

Catalase breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.

What is the organism most people know as the smallest cell in the human body?

Sperm cell (approximately 5 micrometers)

What is the largest known human cell and its approximate size?

Ovum (egg), about 100 micrometers in diameter

What is the total approximate length of DNA in a single human cell when stretched out?

About 2 meters

What is the energy currency of cells?

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

What is the BASIC unit of life in all living things?

The cell (Cell Theory by Schleiden & Schwann)

Who proposed that all organisms are composed of cells?

Schleiden & Schwann (Cell Theory)

Which organelle is the control center of the cell and contains most of the genes in a eukaryotic cell?

The Nucleus

Which organelle is the site of photosynthesis in plant cells?

Chloroplast

What is the function of ribosomes?

Protein synthesis

Which organelle is the powerhouse of the cell and produces ATP?

Mitochondria

What is the largest organelle in an animal cell?

Nucleus

What is the largest organelle in a plant cell?

Central vacuole

What is the function of the Endomembrane or Cytomembrane system?

To transport and modify proteins and lipids within the cell (includes ER, Golgi, vesicles)

What is the function of Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (Rough ER)?

Rough ER has bound ribosomes and synthesizes proteins.

What is the function of Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (Smooth ER)?

Smooth ER lacks ribosomes and is involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification.

What is the Golgi Apparatus responsible for?

Manufacture, processing, and packaging of certain macromolecules; packaging factory of the cell.

What are Lysosomes known as, and what is their function?

Suicidal bag of the cell; digests bacteria, foreign substances, and worn-out cell parts.

What is the composition of a plant cell wall?

Cellulose fibers embedded in polysaccharides and protein.

What is the composition of a fungal cell wall?

Chitin and glucans.

What is the composition of a bacterial cell wall?

Peptidoglycan.

What is the primary function of a cell wall?

To provide structural support and protection to the cell.

What is the basic difference between passive and active transport?

Passive transport requires no energy; active transport requires energy (ATP).

Describe passive transport.

A type of membrane transport that does not require cellular energy (ATP) to move substances across the cell membrane, relying instead on the concentration gradient.

Describe active transport.

A type of membrane transport that requires cellular energy (ATP) to move substances across the cell membrane, often against their concentration gradient.

Name three forms of passive transport.

Diffusion, Facilitated Diffusion, Osmosis

Name two forms of bulk transport.

Exocytosis and Endocytosis

What are the two types of endocytosis?

Pinocytosis (cell drinking) and Phagocytosis (cell eating)

What is Pinocytosis?

A type of endocytosis also known as 'cell drinking', where the cell takes in fluids and dissolved small molecules by engulfing them in vesicles.

What is Phagocytosis?

A type of endocytosis also known as 'cell eating', where the cell engulfs large particles, such as bacteria or cellular debris.

Which molecules diffuse easily across plasma membranes?

CO2, H2O, and O2

What is Monera?

A kingdom that/includes Archaebacteria and Eubacteria; bacteria reproduce asexually.

What is the typical mode of reproduction for bacteria?

Asexual reproduction.

What are the three modes of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria?

Transformation, Conjugation, Transduction

What are the five steps of microbiological identification?

Inoculation, Incubation, Isolation, Inspection, Identification

What shapes correspond to coccus, bacillus, spirillum, and Vibrio?

Coccus = spherical; Bacillus = rod-shaped; Spirillum = spiral; Vibrio = comma-shaped

Which group includes algae, protozoa, and slime molds?

Protoctista (Protista)

Which organism is the closest relatives of plants and major oxygen producers?

Algae (photosynthetic protists)

What causes red tide and what organism is responsible?

Dinoflagellates cause red tide; they are a type of algae (Protista)

Which protozoan example causes amoebic dysentery?

Entamoeba histolytica (pseudopodia locomotion)

Do bacteria have cilia?

No; cilia are NOT found in bacteria.

Which parasite causes Gambian sleeping sickness?

Trypanosoma gambiense

What is the main component of fungal cell walls?

Chitin

From what organism was penicillin originally discovered, and who discovered it?

Penicillium notatum; Alexander Fleming.