Cell Biology and Genetics Final Study Guide

How to use the scientific method. Include the process, and use of proper controls and control group.

1. Observation: identify the phenomenon, ask why

2. Hypothesis: best educated guess

3. Experiment: use proper controls and collect data + analyze

4. Conclusion: is the experiment supported or refuted

Proper Controls:
Independent Variable: The variable that stays the same throughout the whole experiment, the thing that you are testing.

Dependent Variable: The variable that changes and is receiving the “treatment”, the thing that you are measuring.

Control Group: The group that gets the placebo treatment.

What are Covalent, Ionic, and Hydrogen Bonds? Where are H-bonds involved?

Covalent: Sharing of electrons, solid bond

Ionic: Complete transfer, attraction, not solid

Hydrogen: H that is attached to N or O. Weak but important for secondary function.

Strong + Strong or weak + weak = nonpolar

Strong + Weak = polar

*remember CHaPS!

What are some polar, hydrophobic, hydrophilic nature of molecules?

If something is polar, it is hydrophilic.

If something is non polar, it is hydrophobic.

If something is amphipathic, then parts of the molecule are polar while other parts are non polar. eg. phospholipids, proteins.

What are some key concepts form acid base chemistry?

ph = -log of concentration

add more acid = increase of H+ = decrease pH

add more base = increase of OH = increase pH

acids: negatively charged

basic: positively charged

buffer: maintains a pH and doesn’t change.

What are some of the functional groups that we should know?

Amino: NH2

Carboxyl: C=O

Hydroxyl: OH

Sulfhydryl: SH

What are the functions of macromolecules?

1. Nucleic Acids: (plays a role in ribosomal DNA, genetic information.\)

Involved in DNA/RNA. Put together by phosphodiester bonds.

OH: RNA

H: DNA

2. Monosaccharides: (plays a role in the cell wall. eg. chitin, peptidoglycan, cellulose, etc. also plays a role in cell recognition/markers)

Building blocks of carbohydrates. Put together by a glycosidic linkage

OH facing up: Beta

OH facing down: Alpha

Monosaccharides: Glucose

Disaccharides: Lactose

Polysaccharides: Cellulose, glycogen, etc.

3. Lipids

Steroids (ring structure plays a role in signaling), phospholipids (plays a role in the membrane), and fats (long term energy storage)

Unsaturated: presence of double bond which creates a kink in the molecule and makes it less fluid.

Saturated: no double bonds, no kinks, can pack tightly together.

4. Polypeptides: Metabolism, signaling, transport, movement, defense, etc. (plays a role in enzymes)

Primary: Amino acid sequence bonded together by peptide bonds

Secondary: Hydrogen and bonds, alpha helix and beta sheets

Tertiary: Involves H bonds, VandarWaals, Ionic Bond, Disulfide bond

Quaternary: 2 or more polypeptides, structure determines function

What are the differences between prokaryotes, eukaryotes, bacterial cells, animal cells, and plant cells?

Prokaryotes: No Nucleus, no membrane bound organelles. Instead they have a nuceloid.

Eukaryotes: Presence of a Nucleus. plants, fungi, protists, animal cells

They both have ribosomes, cell membrane, and genetic material.

Bacterial Cells: Usually prokaryotic cells, has fewer organelles

Animal Cells: Usually eukaryotic cells, contains centrioles

Plant Cells: Contains a vacuole, cell wall, chloroplast

What are these organelles functions, what happens at these organelles, what are they made of?

Nucleus: Contains genetic information
Nuclear Pores: Allow selective transport. Out: RNA, In: DNA polymerase, transcription factors, etc.
Ribosomes (bound v.s. free) Responsible for protein synthesis. Free: Determine whether a protein goes to the vacuole, lysosome, on membrane, or outside of membrane.

Rough ER: Location for certain types of proteins

Smooth ER: Lipid synthesis

Golgi: Packing center of proteins that are made in the rough ER>

Lysosomes: Recycling center
Peroxisomes: Detox center

Mitochondria: Has it’s own DNA, only in animal cells, site of cellular respiration, double membrane. Also responsible for mitochondrial disease- only inherited from mother.
Chloroplasts: Has it’s own DNA, only in plants, site of photosynthesis
Vacuoles: Only in plant cells, storage center
Centrosome: Only in animal cells, made up of ribosomal RNA + proteins. It is responsible for organizing microtubules and forming mitotic spindles.

What are microfilaments, intermediate filaments, microtubules?

Microfilaments: 1. muscle movement, cell crawling

Intermediate Filaments: structural holds cell shape

Microtubules: eg. kinesin (tracks), mitotic spindles

What are the different types of transport?

Passive Diffusion: doesn’t require a channel. hydrophobic and small molecules can go through.

Facilitated Diffusion: requires a channel

Active Diffusion: requires ATP, goes against concentration gradient.

Peptide Hormones require a channel to pass through.

Lipid Hormones can just pass through on it’s own.