Cell Theory & Organelles
What are the three principles of cell theory?
All living things are made of cells; cells are the basic unit of life; all cells come from pre-existing cells.
What does semi-permeable mean?
Only certain substances can pass through the membrane.
What are the two main purposes of mitosis?
Growth and repair (and asexual reproduction for some organisms).
What does CHON stand for?
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen.
What is the Law of Conservation of Matter?
Matter cannot be created or destroyed.
Name any three characteristics of life.
Growth, reproduction, metabolism, homeostasis, response to stimuli, cells, DNA, evolution (any three).
What is one major difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
Prokaryotes have no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles; eukaryotes do.
Homeostasis means keeping a stable internal environment. Give one example in a cell.
Keeping water balance; regulating ion levels; maintaining pH.
What is the final result of mitosis?
Two genetically identical diploid daughter cells.
What is the difference between monomers and polymers?
Monomers = building blocks; polymers = chains of monomers.
In the equation
__ CH₄ + __ O₂ → __ CO₂ + __ H₂O,
what is the correct balanced formula?
1 CH₄ + 2 O₂ → 1 CO₂ + 2 H₂O
According to cell theory—are viruses living?
No, they are not made of cells and cannot reproduce without a host.
Name two structures found only in plant cells.
Chloroplasts, large central vacuole, cell wall (any two).
Diffusion, osmosis, and facilitated diffusion are all what kind of transport?
passive transport
Name all phases of interphase in order.
G₁ → S → G₂.
Which macromolecule has long-term energy storage?
Lipids.
What happens to the number of atoms in a chemical reaction?
They stay the same; they are rearranged.
How does a virus infect a cell?
It attaches to the surface, injects its genetic material, and hijacks the cell’s machinery.
Which organelle packages, modifies, and ships proteins?
golgi apparatus
In which type of solution (hypotonic, isotonic, hypertonic) does a cell shrink?
Hypertonic
What is the difference between benign and malignant tumors?
Benign does not spread; malignant invades other tissues (cancerous).
What form of energy does food have and where is it stored?
Chemical energy, stored in bonds.
Name the four macromolecules.
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids.
What is biodiversity?
The variety of living organisms in an ecosystem.
A cell cannot break down old organelles and wastes. Which organelle is failing and what is the consequence?
The lysosome; waste builds up → cell damage or death.
Name one active and one passive transport method and give a substance each moves.
Active: molecular pump (ions like Na⁺, K⁺), endocytosis (bacteria), exocytosis (hormones)
Passive: diffusion (O₂), osmosis (water), facilitated diffusion (glucose)
If a checkpoint fails during the cell cycle, what can happen?
Damaged DNA divides → cancer, uncontrolled cell growth, mutations.
Do elements change into new elements during a chemical reaction?
No. They rearrange into new compounds, but atoms are conserved.
Explain in one sentence how we get energy from food.
Food molecules are broken down and their chemical bonds release ATP energy during cellular respiration.
Name one major threat that contributed to CA Condor endangerment.
Lead poisoning, habitat loss, hunting, low reproduction rate (any one).