Questions and Answers
What is the function of mitochondria in a cell?
What is the control center of the cell where DNA is stored?
Nucleus
Cells convert light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
False
The building blocks of DNA are sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous bases called ____________.
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Match the following terms with their descriptions:
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What is the primary function of the cell nucleus?
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What is the primary function of codons in the process of gene expression?
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What is the main component of chromosomes?
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What would be the effect on the polypeptide sequence if a mutation changed the second cytosine (C) to an adenine (A) in the sequence?
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What is the relationship between the structure of a molecule and its function in biology?
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What is the term for a membrane-bound compartment with a specialized function?
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What determines the characteristics of a cell?
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What is the process called when an mRNA sequence is translated into a polypeptide sequence?
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What is the process by which genetic information is transcribed from DNA?
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What is the term for the series of three bases that code for an amino acid during translation?
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What are the building blocks of DNA?
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What is the term for a change in the DNA sequence?
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What is the purpose of the double membrane surrounding the nucleus?
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What is the role of mRNA in the process of gene expression?
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What is the relationship between chromosomes and DNA?
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What is the relationship between the mRNA sequence and the polypeptide sequence?
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What is the term for the process by which cells make proteins?
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What is the function of the nucleus in regulating gene expression?
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What is the primary function of messenger RNA (mRNA)?
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What determines the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide?
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What is the result of the process of transcription?
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What is the role of the genetic code in gene expression?
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What is the relationship between polypeptides and proteins?
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What determines the three-dimensional structure of a polypeptide?
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What is the significance of protein structure in cell biology?
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What is the outcome of the functioning of proteins in a cell?
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Study Notes
Cells
Cell Structure
- Plasma membrane: thin layer of lipid and protein molecules that surrounds the cell
- Cytoplasm: jelly-like substance inside the cell where metabolic reactions occur
- Nucleus: control center of the cell where DNA is stored
- Mitochondria: organelles responsible for generating energy for the cell
- Endoplasmic reticulum: network of membranous tubules and cisternae involved in protein synthesis and transport
- Ribosomes: site of protein synthesis
Cellular Functions
- Metabolism: chemical reactions that occur within the cell to maintain life
- Photosynthesis: process by which cells convert light energy into chemical energy
- Cell division: process by which a cell divides into two daughter cells
- Cell signaling: communication between cells through signaling molecules
Genetics
DNA Structure
- Double helix model: two complementary strands of nucleotides twisted together
- Nucleotides: building blocks of DNA, consisting of sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous bases
- Genes: segments of DNA that code for specific traits or functions
Inheritance Patterns
- Mendel's laws:
- Law of segregation: alleles separate during gamete formation
- Law of independent assortment: alleles for different genes are sorted independently
- Law of dominance: one allele can be dominant over another
- Punnett squares: graphical representation of possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring
Gene Expression
- Transcription: process by which DNA is copied into RNA
- Translation: process by which RNA is used to build proteins
- Gene regulation: mechanisms that control gene expression, including transcription factors and enhancers
Cells
Cell Structure
- Plasma membrane is a thin layer of lipid and protein molecules that surrounds the cell and regulates what enters and leaves the cell.
- Cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance inside the cell where metabolic reactions occur, and it helps maintain the cell's shape.
- Nucleus is the control center of the cell where DNA is stored, and it's surrounded by a double membrane called the nuclear envelope.
- Mitochondria are organelles responsible for generating energy for the cell through cellular respiration, and they have their own DNA and ribosomes.
- Endoplasmic reticulum is a network of membranous tubules and cisternae involved in protein synthesis and transport, and it has two types: rough and smooth ER.
- Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis, and they can be found floating in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum.
Cellular Functions
- Metabolism involves chemical reactions that occur within the cell to maintain life, including anabolic and catabolic reactions.
- Photosynthesis is the process by which cells convert light energy into chemical energy, and it occurs in chloroplasts.
- Cell division is the process by which a cell divides into two daughter cells, and it involves several stages: interphase, mitosis, and cytokinesis.
- Cell signaling is the communication between cells through signaling molecules, such as hormones and neurotransmitters.
Genetics
DNA Structure
- The double helix model of DNA consists of two complementary strands of nucleotides twisted together, with sugar and phosphate molecules making up the backbone.
- Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA, consisting of sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous bases, which are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T).
- Genes are segments of DNA that code for specific traits or functions, and they can be turned on or off through gene expression.
Inheritance Patterns
- Mendel's laws describe the patterns of inheritance, including the law of segregation, the law of independent assortment, and the law of dominance.
- The law of segregation states that alleles separate during gamete formation, resulting in each gamete receiving only one allele.
- The law of independent assortment states that alleles for different genes are sorted independently during gamete formation.
- The law of dominance states that one allele can be dominant over another allele, resulting in the dominant allele being expressed in the phenotype.
- Punnett squares are graphical representations of possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring, and they can be used to predict the probability of certain traits.
Gene Expression
- Transcription is the process by which DNA is copied into RNA, and it occurs in the nucleus.
- Translation is the process by which RNA is used to build proteins, and it occurs in the ribosomes.
- Gene regulation involves mechanisms that control gene expression, including transcription factors, enhancers, and repressors.
Gene Expression and Protein Synthesis
- Most genes encode messenger RNA (mRNA), which contains the information for the synthesis of a particular polypeptide.
- The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide determines its three-dimensional structure, and one or more polypeptides form a functional protein.
- During translation, the sequence of nucleotides in an mRNA provides the information to produce the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide using the genetic code.
Structure and Function of Proteins
- The functioning of proteins largely determines cell structure and function.
- Some proteins are composed of a single polypeptide, while others consist of two or more polypeptides.
DNA and Chromosomes
- DNA is a component of chromosomes, which also contain proteins that contribute to chromosome structure.
- Within a eukaryotic cell, chromosomes are contained in a compartment called the cell nucleus, which is bounded by a double membrane composed of lipids and proteins.
- The nucleus protects the chromosomes from mechanical damage and provides a single compartment for genetic activities such as gene transcription.
Nucleotides and Genetic Code
- Nucleotides are small organic molecules that are linked to each other to form the building blocks of DNA.
- The genetic code specifies the amino acids within a polypeptide.
- A mutation in the DNA sequence can change the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide.
Cell Characteristics and Proteins
- The characteristics of a cell depend on the types of proteins it makes.
- Proteins determine cell structure and function to a great extent.
Gene Expression and Problem-Solving
- Making a direct comparison between two things, such as two RNA sequences, can help understand how they are similar and different.
- Relating structure and function is a recurring theme in biology, and understanding how structural features are related to their biological functions can help solve problems.
- Describing the steps involved in a process, such as gene expression, can help identify the key step needed to solve a problem.
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Test your knowledge of the components that make up a cell, including the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, and more. Identify the functions of each cell part and how they work together.
