Cellular Basis of Life Quiz

The movement of molecules from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration until equilibrium is reached.

The movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration.

A solution with a lower solute concentration than the cell's cytoplasm, causing water to move into the cell.

A solution with a higher solute concentration than the cell's cytoplasm, causing water to move out of the cell.

A solution with the same solute concentration as the cell's cytoplasm, resulting in no net movement of water.

Proteins embedded in the cell membrane that facilitate the transport of specific molecules across the membrane.

The ability of a membrane to allow certain substances to pass through while blocking others.

The control of membrane fluidity by regulating the amount of cholesterol within the cell membrane.

The fundamental building block of all living things, capable of independent existence.

Organisms composed of a single cell, like bacteria.

Organisms made up of multiple cells, like plants and animals.

Cells lacking a membrane-bound nucleus and other organelles, typically found in bacteria.

Cells containing a membrane-bound nucleus and other organelles, found in plants, animals, fungi, and protists.

The outer boundary of a cell, controlling the passage of substances in and out.

A double layer of phospholipids, with hydrophobic tails facing each other and hydrophilic heads facing the water.

Proteins embedded in the plasma membrane, facilitating transport, communication, and other functions.

Movement of molecules across a membrane using a protein carrier without requiring energy. The movement follows the concentration gradient, meaning molecules move from a higher concentration to a lower concentration.

A type of facilitated diffusion where a solute passes through a membrane channel. These channels are specific for certain ions, allowing them to move down their concentration gradient.

A type of facilitated diffusion where a carrier protein binds to a solute and transports it across the membrane. The movement follows the concentration gradient.

Movement of molecules across a membrane against their concentration gradient, requiring energy. This process uses a protein carrier and energy (like ATP) to move molecules from a lower concentration to a higher concentration.

The release of substances from a cell by fusion of a vesicle with the cell membrane. This process releases molecules to the outside of the cell.

The process by which cells take in substances from the external environment by engulfing them in a vesicle.

A type of endocytosis where a cell engulfs large particles, like bacteria or cell debris.

A large assembly of RNA and proteins found in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes, responsible for synthesizing proteins by forming peptide bonds between amino acids.

A network of flattened, interconnected tubules within the cell. It's continuous with the nuclear envelope and can be either rough (with ribosomes) or smooth (without ribosomes).

The rough ER is studded with ribosomes, and it plays a key role in protein synthesis as the proteins move through its membrane.

The smooth ER lacks ribosomes and is involved in lipid and steroid synthesis, detoxification, and calcium storage.

A stack of flattened, membrane-bound sacs involved in modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins and lipids for secretion or other cellular destinations.

Membrane-bound organelles containing enzymes that break down macromolecules, worn-out organelles, and engulfed materials.

Organelles that contain enzymes involved in the breakdown of fatty acids and detoxification of harmful compounds.

A potentially dangerous by-product of fatty acid oxidation that is broken down by peroxisomes.

Chemical reactions that break down complex molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy.

These reactions involve the transfer of electrons between molecules. Oxidation is the loss of electrons, while reduction is the gain of electrons.

These reactions break down complex molecules by adding water molecules, cleaving chemical bonds.

This process adds a phosphate group (usually from ATP) to a molecule, often activating or deactivating it. Dephosphorylation removes a phosphate group.

These are groups of atoms attached to a carbon backbone that give molecules their unique chemical properties and reactivity.

This group makes molecules more water-soluble and allows them to form hydrogen bonds.

This group contributes to molecular reactivity and is found in sugars and ketones.

This group is acidic and hydrophilic, making molecules more soluble in water.

A cellular organelle responsible for the breakdown of excess purines like AMP and GMP into uric acid.

Cellular respiration is the process of oxidizing intermediate products of metabolism into carbon dioxide and water, with excess free energy being transformed into ATP synthesis.

The inner membrane of mitochondria has many folds called cristae. These cristae increase the surface area for respiration and ATP synthesis.

The outer membrane of mitochondria is permeable to small molecules, and the intermembrane space has a similar concentration of small molecules as the cytoplasm.

The matrix of mitochondria contains enzymes necessary for many steps of cellular metabolism.

Actin filaments are thin fibers made of the protein actin. They play crucial roles in cell shape, mechanical strength, locomotion, and cell division.

Intermediate filaments provide structural support and mechanical strength to cells.

The cytoskeleton is a network of protein fibers within the cell that maintains its shape, provides strength, facilitates movements, and helps in organelle transport.