Cell Biology: The Study of the Basic Unit of Life

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Questions and Answers

What is the ultimate goal of cell biology?

To learn how to fix the ‘abnormal’ in cells
To identify and study how proteins drive a biological cellular process
To study the extracellular matrix proteins
To understand how macromolecular systems and organelles work and cooperate to enable cells to function autonomously and in tissues (correct)

Why is studying cells important?

Because the cells are the storehouse for thousands of genes
Because they are the site for synthesizing enzymes
Because they are the fundamental unit of life (correct)
Because it allows us to identify and study how proteins drive a biological cellular process

What is cell culture?

A process of isolating and maintaining cells in vitro
A technique used to grow cells or tissues outside the organism under strictly controlled conditions (correct)
A method of studying cell movement
A method for identifying how proteins drive a biological cellular process

What is contact inhibition in cell culture?

When cells grow and divide until they are unable to divide further (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of adding insulin in cell culture?

To signal cells to stay alive and cue growth and division (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the Hayflick limit?

The number of generations a primary cell culture can go through (B) Signup and view all the answers

How are cells supplied with proper nutrients in cell culture?

By providing amino acids, minerals, vitamins, salts, glucose, etc., and serum containing insulin and growth factors (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does serum contain in cell culture?

Insulin and growth factors (A) Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the process of contact inhibition in cell culture?

Cells are unable to divide further due to being closely packed (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is primary cell culture?

Cells taken directly from an organism that usually divide a limited number of times (~50 generations) (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does phenyl red indicate in cell culture?

Proper pH for growing cells (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of adding CO2 in a CO2 incubator used for cell culture?

To mimic the natural environment inside the body where cellular atmosphere has a higher CO2 content compared to O2 (B) Signup and view all the answers