Cell Types and Structure

• What are the basic building blocks of life?

  Cells
• What is the smallest unit of life that can replicate independently?

  A cell
• How do bacteria reproduce when they divide?

  They produce a whole new organism
• What does multicellular mean in relation to animals and plants?

  They contain many cells
• How many types of cells does an adult human contain?

  Over 40 trillion cells
• What are the main subcellular structures found in both animal and plant cells?

  • Cell membrane
  • Nucleus
  • Cytoplasm
  • Mitochondria
  • Ribosomes
• What is the function of the cell membrane?

  Controls substances passing in and out
• What is cytoplasm compared to?

  Water filling a water balloon
• What does the nucleus contain?

  Genetic material or DNA
• What is the role of mitochondria in cells?

  Provide energy through aerobic respiration
• What do ribosomes do?

  Site of protein synthesis
• What additional structures do plant cells have compared to animal cells?

  • Rigid cell wall made of cellulose
  • Permanent vacuole containing cell sap
  • Chloroplasts for photosynthesis
• What is the function of the cell wall in plant cells?

  Provides support and structure
• What is contained in the permanent vacuole?

  Cell sap (sugars, salts, water)
• What is the process of photosynthesis?

  Plants use sunlight to make sugars
• What green substance do chloroplasts contain?

  Chlorophyll
• What do bacterial cells lack compared to eukaryotic cells?

  No mitochondria or chloroplasts
• What is the genetic material in bacterial cells?

  A single circular strand of DNA
• What are plasmids in bacteria?

  Small rings of DNA with extra genes
• What are flagella in bacteria?

  Thread-like structures for movement
• How do flagella help bacteria?

  They propel the bacteria along
• Compare the structures of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.

  Eukaryotic cells:

  • Have a nucleus
  • Are multicellular (e.g., plants, animals)
  • Contain organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts

  
  

  Prokaryotic cells:

  • Lack a nucleus
  • Are unicellular (e.g., bacteria)
  • Have a circular strand of DNA