Comprehensive Study Guide: BIOL 1406

Cell Theory Principle 1

All living organisms are composed of one or more cells.

Cell Theory Principle 2

The cell is the basic unit of life.

Cell Theory Principle 3

All cells arise from pre-existing cells.

Diffusion Constraints

Cells rely on diffusion to transport nutrients and waste.

Surface Area-to-Volume Ratio

Smaller cells have a higher efficiency due to a better surface area-to-volume ratio.

Prokaryotes

Cells without a nucleus; DNA is in a nucleoid region, no membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryotes

Cells with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, including plants and animals.

Shapes of Prokaryotic Cells

Coccus (spherical), Bacillus (rod), Spiral.

Fluid Mosaic Model

Describes the structure of biological membranes with a phospholipid bilayer and embedded proteins.

Passive Transport

Movement of substances across the membrane without energy; includes simple diffusion and facilitated diffusion.

Active Transport

Movement of substances against their concentration gradient, requiring energy (ATP).

Types of Carbohydrates

Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, and Polysaccharides.

Enzyme Function

Enzymes lower the activation energy of reactions and bind substrates at the active site.

Feedback Inhibition

A process where the final product inhibits an early enzyme to prevent overproduction.

Glycolysis

The stage of cellular respiration that occurs in the cytoplasm, converting glucose into pyruvate.

ATP Production in Cellular Respiration

Aerobic respiration produces approximately 36 ATP, while anaerobic produces lactic acid or ethanol.

Gibbs Free Energy (ΔG)

The change in energy between products and reactants; indicates spontaneity of a reaction.

Redox Reactions

Reactions involving the transfer of electrons; LEO (Lose Electrons = Oxidation) and GER (Gain Electrons = Reduction).

pH Scale

A measurement of acidity or basicity; ranges from 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic).

Buffer

A substance that stabilizes pH in biological systems, such as the blood bicarbonate system.

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars, the most basic form of carbohydrates; examples include glucose and fructose.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed from two monosaccharides; examples include sucrose and lactose.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates made of long chains of monosaccharides; examples include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

Amino Acids

Building blocks of proteins; there are 20 different amino acids that combine to form proteins.

Peptide Bond

The bond formed between two amino acids, linking them together in a protein chain.

Phospholipids

Molecules that form the cell membrane; consist of hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails.

Steroids

Lipids characterized by a four-ring structure; includes cholesterol and hormones.

Facilitated Diffusion

A type of passive transport that uses specific proteins to help move substances across a membrane.

Osmosis

The passive transport of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to high solute concentration.

Endocytosis

A bulk transport process where the cell engulfs material to bring it into the cell.

Exocytosis

The process of expelling materials from the cell via vesicles that fuse with the plasma membrane.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, such as plants, animals, fungi, and protists.

Prokaryotic Cells

Cells that do not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, primarily represented by bacteria and archaea.

Nucleus

A membrane-bound organelle found in eukaryotic cells that contains the cell's genetic material.

Cell Wall

A rigid outer layer found in prokaryotic cells, made of peptidoglycan in bacteria and unique lipids in archaea, and in plant eukaryotic cells made of cellulose.

Size Comparison

Eukaryotic cells are generally larger (10-100 μm) compared to prokaryotic cells, which are smaller (typically 0.1-5 μm).

Organelles

Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles (e.g., mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum), while prokaryotic cells do not.

Shapes of Prokaryotic Cells

Common shapes include Coccus (spherical), Bacillus (rod), and Spiral forms.

Cellular Complexity

Eukaryotic cells are more complex with multiple functions performed by organelles, whereas prokaryotic cells are simpler.