A-LEVEL BIOLOGY

Subdecks (7)

Cards (344)

  • What is the structure of the cell membrane?
    Phospholipid bilayer
  • How do phospholipids arrange themselves in the cell membrane?
    With hydrophobic tails pointed inward and polar heads facing outward
  • What is the function of the cell surface membrane?
    To control which molecules enter or leave the cells
  • Who originally described the nucleus?
    Robert Brown
  • What is the primary function of the nucleus?
    To control cell functions and cell division
  • What are the components of the nucleus?
    Nuclear envelope, nuclear pore, chromatin, nucleolus
  • What is chromatin composed of?
    DNA and histone proteins
  • What is the function of the nucleolus?
    Synthesis of ribosomes and storage of ribosomal RNA
  • What is the structure of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER)?
    Layers of flattened tubes of membranes
  • What is the function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum?
    To make and transport proteins
  • How does the rough endoplasmic reticulum interact with the Golgi apparatus?
    Proteins synthesized in the RER are packaged in vesicles that form the cis face of the Golgi apparatus
  • What are the functions of the Golgi apparatus?
    Modifying proteins, assembling glycoproteins, modifying lipids, and forming lysosomes
  • What is the composition of ribosomes?
    Approximately 60% rRNA and 40% protein
  • What is the primary role of ribosomes?
    To translate the message on mRNA into a protein sequence
  • What is the role of lysosomes in the cell?
    To break down old or unneeded parts of the cell into simple compounds
  • What do lysosomes contain?
    Hydrolytic enzymes, proteases, nucleases
  • How are lysosomes produced?
    By budding off the trans face of the Golgi apparatus
  • What is the function of the cytoskeleton?
    To provide shape to the cell and enable movement of organelles
  • What are the components of the cytoskeleton?
    Microtubules, microfilaments, and intermediate filaments
  • How does the cytoskeleton contribute to cell motility?
    By enabling the transport of materials within the cell
  • How do vacuoles differ in animal and plant cells?
    Vacuoles are small in animal cells and large in plant cells
  • What is the function of the vacuole in plant cells?
    To maintain turgor pressure
  • What is the primary function of mitochondria?
    To produce energy through aerobic respiration
  • What do mitochondria use to produce ATP?
    Oxygen to break down sugars
  • What unique features do mitochondria possess?
    They contain their own DNA and ribosomes
  • What is the cytoplasm?
    The part of the cell enclosed by the cell membrane, excluding the nucleus
  • What is the cytosol?
    The watery part of the cytoplasm
  • Where do most metabolic reactions take place in prokaryotes?
    In the cytosol
  • Where do many metabolic reactions take place in eukaryotes?
    In the cytosol and within organelles
  • Proteins are important components of biological membranes that perform various functions such as transporting substances across the membrane or acting as receptors for signalling molecules.
  • Glycolipids are found on cell surfaces and can be used as markers by immune cells.
  • Cholesterol is embedded into membranes to stabilise them, prevent leakage and increase rigidity.