Cell Biology

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Questions 1 - 10
1

Which of the following organelles is present in plant cells, but not in animal cells?

Chloroplasts

Mitochondria

Cell membrane

Nucleus

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

Explanation

Mitochondria are membrane-bound organelles found in both plant and animal cells, and provide energy for the cell by converting different forms of reactants into ATP. The cell membrane is present in both types of cells and separates the environment from the inside of the cell, and provides cell structure and protection. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is present in both types of cells and is responsible for the storage and packaging of proteins and vesicles. The nucleus is present in both types of cells and controls the general activities of the cell, including gene expression and cell division.

Of these answer choices, only chloroplasts are present in plants cells, but not animal cells. Plant cells are photosynthetic and create their own form of energy from sunlight. The photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, which contain the pigment chlorophyll.

2

A special dye bonds chiefly to the DNA in cells and is used to help visualize DNA under the microscope. After preparing a microscope slide from human intestine epithelium and observing, a researcher notices that there are differences in the concentration of the dye in the cells on the slide; some dye spots are denser or more defined than in other cells. Which of the following represents the most logical conclusion?

There are eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells in the sample

The dye is unable to bond to any DNA due to residual stomach acids and collects unevenly

Procedural error

There could only be Prokaryotic cells in the sample and the unevenness in dye concentration is due to the differing cell density across the microscope slide

None of these

Explanation

Eukaryotes and prokaryotes are distinguished based on a structure called the nucleus. Eukaryotes have a nucleus, which houses their genetic material. Prokaryotes do not have a nucleus; instead their DNA is localized in an area (i.e. it is not membrane bound). So if the researcher were to stain a sample containing both types of cells, the eukaryotic cells would have darker, more defined stains within their cells. This would indicate the presence of a more compacted and localized DNA than that found in prokaryotes.

3

Chemotaxis refers to movement of an organism in response to which of the following stimuli?

Chemicals

Light

Vibrations

Gravity

Sound

Explanation

Chemotaxis refers to the movement of an organism in response to a chemical stimulus. Single or multicellular organisms may direct their movements according to certain chemicals in their environment. This is important because these organisms need to find food, flee from harmful substances, and chemotaxis also aids in development. Positive chemotaxis is movement towards a higher concentration of the chemical, whereas negative chemotaxis is movement away from the chemical.

4

Which of the following is not characteristic found within a fully functional ribosome?

Sugar-phosphate backbone

RNA

Amino acids

N and C terminus

Peptidyl site

Explanation

A sugar phosphate backbone is characteristic of a DNA sequence. While fully functional ribosomes are composed of a mix of functional RNA and protein the sugar-phosphate components within the RNA do not comprise the backbone of the entire ribosome. This question also requires the knowledge that an amino acid chain has an N and C terminus. Last, it is important to note that the Peptidyl site is where the bond between two amino acids is synthesized.

5

Steroids are an important component of cell membranes and gonadal hormones. What organelle is most important in the synthesis of steroids?

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

Golgi apparatus

Lysosomes

Explanation

Steroids are a type of lipid that include cholesterol (needed for cell membranes) and gonadal hormones (estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone). Since they are lipids, steroids are synthesized in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, the site of lipid synthesis.

Remember that smooth endoplasmic reticulum also plays a role in detoxification of harmful chemicals.

Rough endoplasmic reticulum is used to produce proteins that will be secreted from the cell, including most peptide hormones. The Golgi apparatus is used to modify these proteins and create vesicles for protein transport. Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes that digest cellular wastes.

6

Many people consume alcohol and drugs on a daily occasion. The body needs a detoxification system against these toxins to prevent harmful accumulation of metabolites from the breakdown of these toxins. What organelle is responsible for this detoxification?

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

Golgi apparatus

Nucleus

Explanation

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is primarily responsible for the production of lipids and for the detoxification of drugs and toxins from the body.

7

Translation is a process that creates protein from mRNA. Where does translation occur in a eukaryotic cell?

Cytosol

Nucleus

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

Golgi apparatus

Explanation

Recall that the central dogma of molecular biology states that the information flow within a cell involves DNA replication, transcription, and translation. DNA replication involves the formation of two identical DNA molecules from a single molecule and transcription involves synthesis of mRNA from DNA. The DNA molecules can’t leave the nucleus, therefore, both of these processes occur in the nucleus

Translation involves the synthesis of proteins from mRNA molecules. The mRNA molecules exit the nucleus after transcription (through nuclear pores) and enter the cytosol. The ribosomes in the cytosol bind to mRNA and facilitate translation; therefore, translation occurs in the cytosol.

8

Which of the following is NOT an example of a second messenger molecule?

Protein kinase C

Cyclic AMP

Cyclic GMP

Calcium

Diacylglycerol

Explanation

All of the examples listed are considered second messengers except for protein kinase C, which interacts with second messenger pathways as an effector; however, it is not a second messenger itself.

Recall that second messengers are used to amplify signals within the cell. A ligand may bind to a receptor on the cell surface in order to activate a signaling cascade. Second messagers will help propagate this cascade throughout the cytosol. The messengers essentially help transfer the signal from the receptor on the cell membrane to the proteins in the cytosol that will ultimately be affected.

9

Which organelle is most important for a person who has consumed too much alcohol?

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

Mitochondria

Ribosomes

Explanation

The question states that the person has consumed too much alcohol, which means that the body must detoxify the chemicals from alcohol. You are therefore looking for the organelle that participates in detoxification of chemicals. In addition to synthesizing lipids, the smooth endoplasmic reticulum plays an important role in detoxification of chemicals. This detoxification process occurs in the liver, which contains an abundance of smooth endoplasmic reticulum.

Rough endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis, and mitochondria are the site of energy (ATP) production.

10

Which organelle is responsible for collecting, packaging, and distributing proteins from the location where they are synthesized to the location where they are used?

Golgi apparatus

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

Lysosome

Explanation

The golgi apparatus collects, packages and distributes proteins to the locations where they are used. Proteins are always synthesized on ribosomes, which can either be floating in the cytosol, or on the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum's functions include synthesis of lipids, and detoxification of substances. Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes which break down macromolecules.

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