Cell Basics
A cell is the basic unit of life.
What is a cell wall?
A rigid outer layer of plant cells.
Define mitochondria.
Known as the powerhouse of the cell, this organelle produces energy through cellular respiration.
What is yeast?
A common, single-celled fungi that is used to make bread rise.
What is the cell hierarchy order from smallest to largest?
Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organ system → Organism
What is cytoplasm?
A jelly-like fluid that holds the organelles in cells.
What are chloroplasts?
Green organelles that are found in plant cells that conducts photosynthesis.
Recall two functions of the cell membrane.
1. Separates the cell's internal environment from the outside space
2. Protects the cell
3. Controlling exactly what enters and exit
Is mould a bacteria or fungi?
Mould belongs to the Fungi kingdom.
What is photosynthesis?
A process occurs in chloroplasts and converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
What is a eukaryotic cell?
This type of cell has a membrane-bound nucleus (including plants, animals and fungi).
What is the central vacuole?
A large organelle in plant cells that store water and keep the cell firm.
What makes a plant cell rectangular?
The cell wall: unlike animal cells, plant cells are encased in a tough, rigid outer layer made mostly of cellulose. This sturdy "box" prevents the cell from taking on a spherical shape and physically dictates its defined edges.
Name 2 things that bacteria and fungi have in common.
Both have DNA, a cell wall, a cell membrane, cytoplasm, can be unicellular, can cause disease, microscopic at a cell level.
What is cellular respiration?
A process occurs in mitochondria and releases energy from glucose.
What is a prokaryotic cell?
This type of cell has NO nucleus, its DNA floats freely.
Define autotroph, and give an example.
An organism that makes their own food. E.g. plants
Name tiny dot-like structures that are found throughout the cell and build proteins.
Is penicillin produced by bacteria or fungi?
Penicillin is produced by Penicillium mould, which belongs to the Fungi kingdom. It is an antibiotic that kills certain types of bacteria by breaking down their cell walls.
What is the word equation for photosynthesis?
carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen (using light energy)
What is the nucleus?
This organelle controls all cell activities and contains the cell's DNA.
A scientist looks at two mystery slides. Slide A shows rectangular cells with the nucleus pushed to one side and a large central structure taking up most of the cell. Slide B shows round, irregular cells with the nucleus in the centre and no large internal structure. Which slide is the plant cell and which is the animal cell, and name TWO features that give EACH one away.
Slide A = plant cell (1. cell wall gives rectangular shape, 2. large central vacuole pushes nucleus to the edge, 3. may have chloroplasts).
Slide B = animal cell (4. no cell wall so round/irregular, 5. nucleus in centre, 6. small or no vacuole).
A liver cell works constantly to break down toxins, produce proteins, and release energy. Name THREE organelles you would expect to find in very high numbers in a liver cell and explain WHY.
1. Mitochondria = constant energy needed
2. Ribosomes = high protein production),
3. Endoplasmic reticulum = detoxifies chemicals and lipid production
Why are fungi and bacteria in different domains (taxonomic rank)?
Bacteria have no nucleus — their DNA floats freely (prokaryotes). Fungi have a proper nucleus that contains their DNA (eukaryotes). This is such a big difference that scientists put them in completely different groups called domains. Bacteria is in its own domain, and Fungi are in Eukarya.
Name 3 types of specialised cells.
E.g. muscle cells, nerve cells, red blood cells, white blood cells, skin cells, hair cells, reproductive cells.