Cell Survival
This fluid makes up about 66% of total body water.
Intracellular Fluid
These amphipathic molecules form the basic structure of the plasma membrane
Phospholipids
Ribosomes stud this organelle to produce glycoproteins.
Rough ER
This double-membrane organelle contains its own DNA and ribosomes.
Mitochondrion
These cytoskeletal filaments are made of tubulin and act as intracellular “tracks.”
Microtubules
A cell that cannot eliminate its waste will likely accumulate this type of byproduct, disrupting homeostasis.
Metabolic waste products
A mutation prevents integral proteins from embedding in the lipid bilayer. Which transport process would fail first?
Facilitated diffusion or active transport
A patient with liver failure shows impaired detoxification of alcohol. Which organelle is dysfunctional?
Smooth ER
A mutation damages the cristae. Which process is directly impaired?
ATP production/cellular respiration
If dynein proteins were inhibited, these structures would lose motility.
Cilia and Flagella
A nurse explains that chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells. Which core cell survival function is being disrupted?
Protein synthesis
If cholesterol were completely removed from the plasma membrane, the cell would most likely experience this problem.
Membrane fluidity and stability
If the Golgi apparatus mis-sorts proteins, the cell may fail at this critical process involving exocytosis.
What is secretion or transport of proteins to their destinations?
A patient’s white blood cells can’t form ribosomes. Which nuclear structure is defective?
Nucleolus
A cancer drug prevents actin polymerization. Which cytoskeletal element is targeted?
Microfilaments
A patient is dehydrated. Fluid shifts into the extracellular space. Which compartment loses the most water?
Intracellular fluid compartment
A virus disguises itself as a glycoprotein. Which specific plasma membrane role is being hijacked?
Cell recognition and communication
Lysosomes carry out this process when digesting the cell’s own worn-out parts.
Autophagy
The nuclear lamina breaks down prematurely. Which cellular function is most directly affected?
Structural support and chromosome organization in the nucleus
Intermediate filaments differ from microtubules and microfilaments mainly because they serve this role.
Tensile Strength and Structural Stability
A research drug destroys a cell’s ability to respond to its neighbors. Which plasma membrane function is lost?
Information reception/binding & adhesion
True or False: The plasma membrane allows all polar molecules to pass freely due to hydrophilic heads.
False. Polar molecules often require transport proteins.
A genetic defect prevents ubiquitin-tagging of proteins. Which disposal system is disrupted?
Proteasome pathway
True or False: Chromatin is tightly packed DNA visible during interphase.
False. Chromatin is loosely packed; chromosomes form when DNA is tightly condensed.
A vesicle cannot move along its track toward the plasma membrane. Which key protein is likely missing?
Motor Proteins