Cells

What are 3 the basic parts of a cell?

Cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus.

What is the function of the nucleus?

The nucleus houses DNA and controls cell activities.

What is the primary function of the cell membrane?

To protect the cell and regulate what enters and exits.

What are organelles?

Specialized structures within a cell that perform distinct functions.

What is the function of mitochondria?

To produce energy through cellular respiration.

What role do ribosomes play in a cell?

To synthesize proteins.

Describe osmosis.

The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

What is active transport?

The movement of substances against their concentration gradient, requiring energy.

How does facilitated diffusion differ from simple diffusion?

Facilitated diffusion uses transport proteins to help substances cross the membrane, while simple diffusion does not.

Describe the function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

The ER is involved in the synthesis of proteins (rough ER) and lipids (smooth ER), and it also plays a role in transporting materials within the cell.

What is the role of the Golgi apparatus?

To modify, package, and distribute proteins and lipids produced in the ER.

Explain the process of endocytosis.

Endocytosis is the process by which cells engulf substances outside their membrane, forming a vesicle to bring the substance into the cell.

What is the function of lysosomes?

To digest waste materials and cellular debris.

Describe how exocytosis works. What is its function?

Exocytosis is the process by which materials are expelled from the cell using vesicles that fuse with the cell membrane, releasing their contents outside.

Explain the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane.

The fluid mosaic model describes the cell membrane as a flexible layer made of lipid molecules with embedded proteins that move freely.

What is the difference between osmosis and diffusion?

Osmosis specifically refers to the movement of water, while diffusion refers to the movement of solutes.