Plant Cells

• What are the basic considerations of a cell?

  Reproduction, response to stimuli, metabolism, movement, complexity of organization, and adaptation to the environment
• What is protoplasm composed of?

  A complex mixture of inorganic and organic compounds
• What are the physical properties of protoplasm?


  It can be either a true solid or a true liquid, is heavier and denser than water
• What are the chemical properties of protoplasm?

  It consists of inorganic and organic compound components
• What is a prokaryote?

  A cell that does not have a membrane-bound nucleus and has genetic information in a circular loop called a plasmid
• What distinguishes eukaryotes from prokaryotes?

  Eukaryotes have a membrane-bound nucleus that houses DNA
• What are the five kingdoms of life?

  1. Monera
  2. Protista
  3. Fungi
  4. Plantae
  5. Animalia
• What are the three kinds of cell membranes?

  Ectoplasm, vacuolar membrane, and nuclear membrane
• What is the function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER)?


  It manufactures membranes and secretory proteins
• What is the function of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER)?


  It functions in carbohydrate and lipid synthesis
• What is the Golgi complex composed of?

  Flat sacs known as cisternae
• What is the role of chloroplasts in plant cells?

  They are involved in photosynthesis
• What is the function of the nucleus in a cell?


  It acts as the "superintendent of the cell" and houses DNA
• What is chromatin?


  It carries hereditary information and determines traits passed from parents to offspring
• What are chromosomes?


  Long, stringy aggregates of genes that carry hereditary information
• What are plastids?


  Organelles involved in the synthesis and storage of food in plant cells
• What are the types of modifications of plastids?

  Leucoplastids, elaioplastids, chloroplastids, chromoplastids, and protein plastids
• What is the function of leucoplastids?


  They build up reserve foods like starch from glucose and other carbohydrates
• What is the role of plasmodesmata?

  They connect the protoplasts of adjacent cells through tiny holes in the cell walls
• What are the properties of protoplasm?

  1. Structure – exhibits a homogeneous structure
  2. Metabolism – involves continuous chemical changes

  • Anabolism: building up processes
  • Catabolism: breaking down processes

  1. Irritability – response to stimuli
• What is irritability in protoplasm?

  It is the response to stimuli, where no response indicates death
• What are intrinsic stimuli?


  Inherited stimuli carried in chromosomes from parents to offspring
• What are extrinsic stimuli?

  Agents from the external world that modify the effects of intrinsic stimuli
• What are the physical properties of protoplasm?


  • Either a true solid or a true liquid
  • Largely colloidal
  • Grayish, granular, translucent, viscous fluid
  • Heavier and denser than water
• What are the chemical properties of protoplasm?

  • Composed of inorganic compounds (water, minerals, gases)
  • Composed of organic compounds (carbohydrates, fats, proteins)
• What is tropism?


  It is the response of non-motile plants to growth movements towards or away from stimuli
• What is the difference between positive and negative tropism?

  Positive tropism is a response towards the source, while negative tropism is away from the source
• What is ameboid movement?

  Creeping or flowing movement typical of slime molds and Amoeba
• What are the types of tropisms?

  1. Thermotropism – response to temperature
  2. Chemotropism – response to chemical stimulation
  3. Silotropism – response to food
  4. Oxytropism – response to oxygen
  5. Hydrotropism – response to water
  6. Rheotropism – response to water currents
  7. Phototropism – response to light
  8. Geotropism – response to gravity
  9. Galvanotropism – response to electric stimulus

  10. Thigmotropism – response to mechanical stimulation
• What is the significance of sexual cells (gametes) in reproduction?

  They unite to form a zygote, retaining the properties of the original cell
• What are other physiological characteristics of protoplasm?

  Motility and conductivity
• What is the role of the nucleopore?

  It allows nucleic acids and proteins to move into and out of the nucleus
• What is the function of the nucleolus?


  It represents reserve food used in the metabolic processes of the nucleus
• What is the significance of the nuclear sap?

  It consists of a watery solution of nourishing substances found in the nucleus
• What happens to chromosomes when a cell is "resting"?

  They are organized into long entangled structures called chromatin
• What is the role of chromoplastids?

  They contain pigments responsible for the yellow, orange, or red colors of flowers and fruits
• What is the function of elaioplastids?


  They form oil, such as in olive fruit
• What is the function of amyloplastids?

  They build up and store starch
• What is the role of chloroplastids?


  They contain chlorophyll and are found in cells exposed to light
• What is the significance of protein plastids?

  They build up aleurone grains in aleurone cells of many seeds