Podcast
Questions and Answers
What primary function does the plasma membrane serve in a cell?
What primary function does the plasma membrane serve in a cell?
What is the consequence of lysis in a cell?
What is the consequence of lysis in a cell?
Which component of the cytoplasm is primarily responsible for facilitating chemical reactions?
Which component of the cytoplasm is primarily responsible for facilitating chemical reactions?
Which characteristic distinguishes prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells?
Which characteristic distinguishes prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells?
Signup and view all the answers
What role do genes in DNA primarily serve in a cell?
What role do genes in DNA primarily serve in a cell?
Signup and view all the answers
What structure prevents the entry of toxic substances into a cell?
What structure prevents the entry of toxic substances into a cell?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a characteristic of Gram-positive eubacteria?
Which of the following is a characteristic of Gram-positive eubacteria?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement about water in the cytoplasm is correct?
Which statement about water in the cytoplasm is correct?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
### Plasma Membrane
- The outer boundary of the cell, enclosing all of its contents
- Controls the entry and exit of substances
- Can pump substances in, even if the concentration outside the cell is very low
- Very effective at preventing entry of unwanted or even toxic substances
- Allows a cell to maintain concentrations of substances that are very different from those in the surrounding environment
- The permeability of the plasma membrane relies on a structure based on lipids
- Lysis is the bursting of the plasma membrane, which can be caused by excess pressure, viruses, or even the cell itself (autolysis)
- Lysis always leads to the death of the cell, showing that the plasma membrane is a vital structure
Cytoplasm
- The main component of water
- Dissolved or suspended in this water are enzymes, which catalyse hundreds or even thousands of chemical reactions
DNA
- Genes, made of DNA, contain the information needed for a cell to carry out all its functions
- Many genes hold the instructions for making a protein
- Some proteins are structural, therefore needed for growth and repair
- Others act as enzymes, without which many biochemical reactions would occur too slowly to support life
Prokaryote Cell Structure
- The first organisms to evolve on Earth and possess the simplest cell structure
- Mostly small in size and found almost everywhere
- Cytoplasm is not divided into compartments by membranes (it is one uninterrupted chamber)
- Structurally simpler than eukaryotic cells
- Bacteria are prokaryotic
- Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus
- Include these cell components: cell wall, plasma membrane, cytoplasm, naked DNA in a loop, and 70S ribosomes
Gram-Positive Eubacteria
- The type of prokaryotic cell structure required involves Gram-positive eubacteria such as Bacillus and Staphylococcus
- Prokaryote cell structure varies, for example, the lack of cell walls in phytoplasmas and mycoplasmas
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the essential concepts surrounding the plasma membrane and cytoplasm in this quiz. Understand how the plasma membrane regulates substance entry and exit, and learn about the vital role of cytoplasm in cellular functions. Test your knowledge on these fundamental cellular structures.
