Cell Theory & Basics
What is the smallest unit of life that can perform all the functions of a living organism?
A cell
Which organelle contains the cell’s genetic material and controls cell activities?
Nucleus
Where do most chemical reactions that release energy occur in a cell?
The mitochondria
List the levels of organization from smallest to largest.
Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organ System → Organism
All organisms are made up of cells, however not all organisms are made up of many cells. Organisms can be _______cellular and ________cellular.
Unicellular and Multicellular
Which two structures are found in plant cells but not animal cells?
Cell Wall and Chloroplast
What organelle is responsible for photosynthesis in plant cells?
Chloroplast
What resources listed in the study guide do living things need to survive? Name two.
Examples: water and nutrients (also space and air/gases)
Write the three main ideas of cell theory.
(1) All living things are made of cells; (2) Cells are the smallest working units of life; (3) Cells come from pre-existing cells
What is the function of the ribosome?
To make protiens
Define homeostasis.
Homeostasis is the ability of an organism to maintain stable internal conditions despite changes in its environment.
According to the materials, what effect can limited resources have on organisms in an ecosystem?
Limited resources result in competition, which can reduce population size and affect survival rates.
True or False: Cells can be created from nonliving materials. If false, correct the statement.
False. Correction: Cells come from pre-existing cells.
Name the organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for transport, and briefly state its role.
Golgi bodies (Golgi apparatus): they modify, sort, and package proteins for transport.
Explain how ribosomes and Golgi bodies work together to help the cell produce and ship a protein (2–3 sentences).
Ribosomes synthesize proteins by assembling amino acids. The newly made proteins travel to the Golgi bodies, which modify, sort, and package them for transport within or out of the cell.
Give a one-sentence explanation of adaptation through evolution
Adaptation through evolution is when populations change over generations as inherited traits that improve survival or reproduction become more common.
Explain in one sentence how the cell theory supports the idea that all organisms are related at a basic level.
Because all living things are composed of cells and cells share basic structures and functions, organisms share a common cellular basis.
Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in one clear sentence focusing on a key structural difference.
Prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus, while eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus.
Describe, in one or two sentences, how photosynthesis and cellular respiration are related in the flow of energy for organisms.
Photosynthesis captures light energy to make sugars in chloroplasts; cellular respiration in mitochondria breaks down those sugars to release usable energy for the cell. The products of one process serve as inputs for the other.
Using the study guide, explain how changes in resource availability could lead to changes in population size (2–3 sentences).
If resources become limited, individuals must compete for food, water, and space. Fewer individuals will survive and reproduce, causing population size to decrease; over generations, traits that help survive the competition may become more common.