Cell Biology and Microscopy Quiz

Tissue samples are often cut into thin, transparent slices called sections to allow for microscopic examination.

Glutaraldehyde is a commonly used chemical that preserves the cells in a tissue sample, preventing them from degrading.

Tissues are sometimes frozen in a specific medium, which later solidifies into a block that can be easily sliced.

Organic dyes with an affinity for certain cell structures are used to stain the sections, making specific components visible.

Fluorescence microscopy uses fluorescent dyes that emit light when excited by specific wavelengths.

The confocal microscope is specially designed for fluorescence microscopy, allowing it to focus on single points in the specimen.

Electrons are used instead of light in electron microscopy, providing much higher resolution and allowing viewing of smaller structures.

The resolution of an electron microscope is significantly higher than a light microscope due to the shorter wavelength of electrons.

A source of electrons that are used to illuminate the specimen in an electron microscope.

A process where air is removed from the electron microscope's column to create a vacuum.

The process of accelerating electrons from the filament towards the specimen.

A focused beam of electrons used to illuminate the specimen in an electron microscope.

Coils placed along the column of the electron microscope that focus the electron beam.

The process of preparing a specimen for electron microscopy by removing water and replacing it with a resin.

A device that cuts extremely thin slices of a specimen for electron microscopy.

Extremely thin slices of a specimen, about 1/200 the thickness of a single cell, used in electron microscopy.

The process of killing and preserving living tissue for electron microscopy.

A small metal grid used to support ultrathin sections for viewing in an electron microscope.

The basic unit of life, capable of independent existence and carrying out all essential life functions.

A single cell contains all the hereditary information that defines a species. This information is passed down through generations.

DNA, a double-stranded molecule composed of nucleotides, carries the genetic instructions for building and maintaining an organism.

Each nucleotide in DNA consists of a sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a base (A, G, C, T).

The order of bases (A, G, C, T) in DNA determines the genetic code, which instructs the cell to produce specific proteins.

A group of cells that work together to perform a specialized function in an organism.

The process by which a cell divides to produce two identical daughter cells, ensuring the continuity of genetic information.

In eukaryotic cells, the genetic material is organized into structures called chromosomes, which contain DNA tightly packaged with proteins.

The process by which DNA is copied to produce two identical DNA molecules, ensuring that each daughter cell gets a complete set of genetic information.

The process by which DNA is transcribed into RNA, a molecule that carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes, the protein synthesis machinery.

A double-stranded molecule composed of nucleotides, it carries genetic information in the form of a sequence of bases: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C).

The process by which a cell creates two identical copies of its DNA before cell division, ensuring each daughter cell receives a complete genome.

A segment of DNA that codes for a specific protein or RNA molecule.

The process by which DNA's genetic information is copied into a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule.

The process by which mRNA's instructions are decoded to assemble a chain of amino acids, forming a protein.

A type of RNA that carries the genetic information from DNA to ribosomes, where proteins are made.

A type of RNA that forms part of the ribosome, the cellular machinery for protein synthesis.

A cell's outer boundary, acting as a selectively permeable barrier. Its structure is based on a phospholipid bilayer, which arranges in a specific way due to the properties of its molecules.

The building block of cell membranes, with a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails, forming a bilayer structure in water.

Changes in the DNA sequence that can lead to variations in traits. Some mutations are harmful, some neutral, and some beneficial.

These are packets of genetic material that rely on a host cell to reproduce.

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. They can be used as vectors to transfer genes between cells.

Bacteria are single-celled organisms known for their rapid reproduction and adaptability. They are widely studied in laboratories.

Yeast is a single-celled organism that exhibits both sexual and asexual reproduction, making it convenient for researching eukaryotic cells.

Model organisms are organisms chosen for research due to their suitability for studying specific biological processes.

The selective expression of genes based on a cell's developmental history and external cues leads to diverse cell types while maintaining the same genome.

Gene function is analyzed by two complementary approaches: studying purified molecules (biochemistry) and examining altered genes (genetics).