biochem long quiz

• Cells


  The basic unit of life that can perform all activities associated with growth, reproduction, excretion, and nutrition
• Unicellular / Prokaryotes


  Living things made up of one cell (e.g. bacteria, amoeba, paramecium)
• Multicellular / Eukaryotes


  Living things made up of more than one cell (e.g. human, plants, animals)
• Binary fission is the process by which a single-celled organism creates an exact copy of itself. It doesn't require finding a mate like in sexual reproduction and it is a faster way to reproduce than sexual reproduction (e.g. bacteria multiplying)
• Mitosis is cell division that results in two identical daughter cells and is primarily used for growth of an organism (this includes the replication of DNA, chromosomes, and other proteins)
• Basic parts of animal and plant cells

  • Cell/Plasma Membrane
  • Nucleus
  • Cytoplasm
• Cell/Plasma Membrane


  Outer covering of cell which covers the surface of the cell. "Security guard" that controls the kind of substance that enters and exits the cell. It also protects the cell from the outside environment.
• Nucleus


  "Brain of the cell"; it controls all the activities occurring inside the cell. Contains the DNA.
• Parts of the nucleus

  • Nucleolus
  • Nuclear Membrane
  • Chromatin
• Cytoplasm


  A jelly-like substance that can be found inside the cell. Contains the organelles of the cell that are outside the nucleus.
• Components of cytoplasm


  • Cytosol
  • Cytoskeleton
• Components of cytoskeleton


  • Microtubule
  • Microfilaments
  • Intermediate Filaments
• Organelles


  • Ribosomes
  • Rough endoplasmic reticulum
  • Lysosomes
  • Peroxisome
  • Cilia
  • Flagella
  • Microvilli
  • Vacuole
  • Mitochondria
  • Centriole
• Ribosomes


  Protein factories of the cell. They are tiny dust that can be seen in the cell.
• Rough endoplasmic reticulum


  Involves in the production of various proteins in the cell, antibodies, insulin as well as transportation of proteins into the smooth
• Lysosomes


  "Digestive system/Janitor of the cell" - act as waste disposal system of the cell by digesting or breaking down the trash or unneeded materials in the cytoplasm.
• Peroxisome


  Detoxifies harmful molecules and breaks down hydrogen peroxide. Important roles in metabolism, reactive oxygen.
• Cilia


  Move materials over the surface of the cells.
• Flagella


  In humans responsible for movement of spermatozoa.
• Microvilli


  Increase surface area of the plasma membrane for absorption and secretion; modified to form sensory receptors.
• Vacuole


  "Storage rooms of the cells" - main function of this is for storage of food, water, and even waste.
• Mitochondria


  "Powerhouse of the cell"; It releases the energy needed for cell activities. Major site of ATP synthesis when oxygen is available.
• Centriole


  Cylindrical structure which plays an important role in cell division. ONLY FOUND IN ANIMAL CELL.
• Neurotransmitter


  A signaling molecule secreted by a neuron to affect another cell across a synapse. The cell receiving the signal, or target cell, may be another neuron, but could also be a gland or muscle cell.
• Parts of a nerve cell

  • Cell body
  • Axon
  • Axon terminal
• Body functions affected by neurotransmitters

  • Heartbeat and blood pressure
  • Breathing
  • Muscle movements
  • Thoughts, memory, learning and feelings
  • Sleeping, healing and aging
  • Stress response
  • Hormone regulation
  • Digestion, sense of hunger and thirst
  • Senses (response to what you see, hear, feel, touch and taste)
• Classification of neurotransmitters


  • Excitatory
  • Inhibitory
  • Modulatory
• Common neurotransmitters in the body

  • Acetylcholine
  • Serotonin
  • Endorphin
  • Histamine
• Hormone


  A chemical substance that is secreted by specialized epithelial cells, without the benefits of the duct, into extracellular space.
• Body functions affected by hormones

  • Metabolism
  • Reproduction
  • Digestion
  • Blood Circulation
  • Transport of substrates
  • Defense against pathogens
  • Growth
  • Stress Response
  • Behavior
  • Sleep-Wake-Cycle
• Modes of hormone delivery

  • Autocrine
  • Paracrine
  • Endocrine
  • Neuroendocrine
  • Pheromonal
• Endocrine glands and their hormones

  • Pineal gland - melatonin
  • Pituitary gland - FSH, LH, ADH, growth hormone, oxytocin, prolactin
  • Thyroid gland - thyroxine
  • Adrenal glands - adrenaline, cortisol
• Classification of hormones by biochemical structure and synthesis

  • Peptides & Proteins
  • Amino Acid Derivatives
  • Eicosanoids
  • Steroids
• Hormone receptors


  Extracellular (on the cell membrane) - water soluble molecules bind to these receptors. Intracellular (in the cell cytoplasm / nucleus) - fat soluble molecules diffuse into cells and bind to these receptors.
• Methods of hormone antagonism

  • Direct receptor block
  • Indirect receptor block
  • Direct signal block
• Gene


  The basic physical and functional unit of heredity and genetic information
• DNA


  • Contains a phosphate group, a deoxyribose and a nitrogenous base
  • The A of one strand is always paired with a T on the other, and the G of one strand is paired with a C on the other
  • The two strands are held together by hydrogen bonds
• Chargaff's Rule: The amounts of the bases varied among species, but not between individuals of the same species. The amount of A always equalled the amount of T, and the amount of C always equalled the amount of G (AT and G = C)
• DNA Denaturation


  Loss of helical structure of DNA, occurs when the weak hydrogen bonds between the double strands are disrupted and the molecule becomes single stranded
• DNA Renaturation (Annealing)


  The process in which the separated complementary DNA strands can form a double helix