Cell Processes

Question 1

An RNA molecule that specifies the amino acid sequence of a protein. In transcription, these molecules copy the genetic information stored in DNA. It brings the protein coding from the nucleus to cytoplasmic ribosomes

Answer 1

messenger RNA (mRNA)

Question 2

The side of DNA that is synthesized continuously along a replication fork. This is in contrast to the lagging strand, which must be synthesized in segments. (Okazaki fragments)

Answer 2

leading strand

Question 3

The second stage of mitosis in which microtubules align the chromosomes in the center of the cell along the metaphase plate. The stage of meiosis I and II during which the chromosomes align at the center of the cell.

Answer 3

metaphase

Question 4

The first stage of mitosis, meiosis I, and meiosis II, during which the chromosomes become visible and the centrioles move to opposite ends of the cell and begin to form the spindle.

Answer 4

prophase

Question 5

The phase of the eukaryotic cell cycle in which the cell prepares for division, primarily by replicating its DNA, After interphase, the cell enters mitosis

Answer 5

interphase

Question 6

The final stage of mitosis beore cytokinesis during which the nuclear envelope re-forms around separated sister chromatids. The final stage of meiosis I and meiosis II where chromosomes arrie at cellular poles and begin recondensing. Meiosis II, the nuclear envelope re-forms.

Answer 6

telephase

Question 7

The rapid movement of cytoplasm (especially in plant cells) orchestrated by microfilaments (actin). This helps distribute nutrients rapidly throughout the cell.

Answer 7

cytoplasmic streaming

Question 8

The process in which the cell burns glucose to create ATP with the aid of oxygen. Cells have two different methods of turning food into useable fuel: aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration.

Answer 8

cellular respiration

Question 9

An enzyme that binds to a DNA strand and prevents transcription at the promoter.

Answer 9

repressor

Question 10

The enzyme responsible for elongating a strand of new DNA.

Answer 10

DNA polymerase

Question 11

The two tightly wrapped, identical DNA protein complexes (sister chromatids) that make up a chromosome.

Answer 11

chromatids

Question 12

an RNA molecule used in protein synthesis as a link helping to convert messenger RNA into amino acids.

Answer 12

transfer RNA (tRNA)

Question 13

The synthesis by ribosomes of amino acid sequences (protein) from an RNA template

Answer 13

translation

Question 14

The synthesis of RNA from a DNA template

Answer 14

transcription

Question 15

A process in which cells reproduce. First, the cell replicates its DNA. It then divides into two daughter cells. The two main phases of the cell cycle are interphase and mitosis.

Answer 15

cell cycle

Question 16

The series of codons that make up an organism’s DNA.

Answer 16

genetic code

Question 17

A zipper like point from which DNA synthesis occurs.

Answer 17

replication fork

Question 18

A complex of microtubules that forms between opposite poles of a cell during mitosis. The mitotic spindle is formed by the centrioles and serves to separate and move chromosomes to opposite ends of the cell for division.

Answer 18

mitotic spindle

Question 19

The phase of the eukaryotic cell cycle in which the cell divides. The four steps of mitosis are prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telephase.

Answer 19

mitosis

Question 20

Cellular suicide triggered by the activation of a chain of specialized proteins.

Answer 20

apoptosis

Question 21

The final part of mitosis, in which a cell with duplicated contents splits into two independent cells.

Answer 21

cytokinesis

Question 22

A short stretch of RNA that binds to its complementary sequence and to DNA polymerase to synthesize a new strand of DNA

Answer 22

primer

Question 23

A laboratory procedure in which DNA can be quickly and readily amplified using a synthetic primer, DNA polymerase and a source of nucleotides.

Answer 23

polymerase chain reaction

Question 24

The first step of aerobic and anaerobic respiration. It produces ATP while converting glucose to pyruvate, which is the raw material for the rest of aerobic respiration.

Answer 24

glycolysis

Question 25

The energy storage molecule for the cell. It is comprised of an adenosine molecule bonded to three phosphate groups. The cell obtains energy for chemical reactions by breaking the phosphate bonds. Cells build it during cell respiration, using the raw material of glucose

Answer 25

adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

Question 26

Chromosomes containing the same series of genes but not the same alleles. Humans receive one set of 23 chromosomes from each parent. Its pairs line up and separate during meiosis. In males, the partially _______ X and Y sex chromosomes act as a pair.

Answer 26

homologous chromosomes

Question 27

A protein complex that binds and compacts DNA into chromatin

Answer 27

histone

Question 28

The number of homologous pairs in a cell. Equal to half the diploid number. Gametes, calls that are passes on to offspring, contain the haploid number of chromosomes. In humans, the haploid number is 23.

Answer 28

haploid number

Question 29

The second stage of anaerobic respiration, which produces the NAD+ necessary for glycolysis. There are two types of ____: alcoholic fermentation and lactic. Yeast engage in alcoholic ___ while muscle cells lacking oxygen produce lactic acid.

Answer 29

fermentation

Question 30

A molecule that stores energy for harvest by the electron transport chain.

Answer 30

FADH2

Question 31

The final stage of aerobic respiration. This establishes an electrochemical gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane that powers the synthesis of ATP in oxidative phosphorylation.

Answer 31

electron transport chain

Question 32

The microtubules and proteins responsible for orchestrating separation of genetic material during cell division.

Answer 32

spindle

Question 33

The 3 carbon end product of glycolysis. It is the raw material of the Krebs cycle

Answer 33

pyruvate

Question 34

The specific sequence of DNA that a restriction enzyme recognizes and cuts.

Answer 34

restriction site

Question 35

A bacterial enzyme that recognizes foreign DNA and cuts it. Its used in laboratories to cut DNA at specific sites and then anneal novel sequences.

Answer 35

restriction enzyme

Question 36

Any plant or animal cell that is not a germ cell, meaning it is not passed down to offspring. The calls of cell formed during mitosis.

Answer 36

somatic cell

Question 37

One of two pathways by which a chloroplast harvests light using proteins and chlorophyll.

Answer 37

photosystem

Question 38

The process by which plants and other autotrophic organisms convert light energy into organic materials, such as glucose

Answer 38

photosynthesis

Question 38

In plants, the absence of airborne CO2 promotes consumption of O2 and the breakdown of carbon compounds into CO2 (usually because of stomata closing on hot, dry days). It reduces the effcacy of photosynthesis because it produces no ATP or sugars.

Answer 38

photorespiration

Question 39

Part of the electron transport chain. A process occurring in the mitochondria that results in the formation of ATP from the flow of electrons across the inner membrane to bind with oxygen.

Answer 39

oxidative phosphorylation

Question 40

A genetic complex on a single stretch of DNA that encodes for all the related enzymes in a pathway. Includes a promoter, the starting point of RNA transcription; an operator, the on/off switch; and a transcription unit, which contains the genes encoding these enzymes.

Answer 40

operon

Question 41

The short segments of DNA attazched together to synthesize a new length of DNA on the lagging strand.

Answer 41

Okazaki fragments

Question 42

A type of cellular reproduction that results in the formation of four haploid cells from one diploid cell. Contains two cellular divisions, ___ I and II, that follow only one round of DNA replication. It produces germ cells.

Answer 42

meiosis

Question 43

The side of DNA that is synthesized in segments (Okazaki fragments). DNA polymerase can only synthesize DNA in one direction along a replication fork, and so the ______ catches up to the leading strand by forming piecemeal.

Answer 43

lagging strand

Question 44

A metabolic pathway (also known as the citric acid cycle) in aerobic organisms in which acetyle - CoA combines with oxaloacetic acid to form citric acid. The cycle produces energy in the forms of ATP, NADH and FADH2.

Answer 44

Krebs cycle

Question 45

The four chromatids of homologous pairs of chromosomes, brought together during synapsis.

Answer 45

tetrad

Question 46

dN/dt = rN((K-N)/K)

Answer 46

Formula for carrying capacity

Question 47

The lining up of homologous chromosomes at the onset of meiosis

Answer 47

synapsis

Question 48

A codon on mRNA that signals the termination of DNA translation. There are three stop codons: UAA, UAG, or UGA.

Answer 48

stop codon

Question 49

The total number of chromosomes present in a somatic cell. It is twice the haploid number. In humans, it is 46.

Answer 49

diploid number

Question 50

The one-way transfer of genetic material in temporarily joined bacterials cells. This bacterial sex creates genetic diversity.

Answer 50

conjugation

Question 51

The exchange of genetic information between homologous chromosomes during meiosis I. It can disrupt the normal linkage between genes on the same chromosome

Answer 51

crossing-over

Question 52

A three-nucleotide sequence in a DNA or mRNA molecule. Each codon specifies a single amino acid.

Answer 52

codon

Question 53

The cross over site of two nonsister but homologous chromatids during meiosis

Answer 53

chiasma (plural - chiasmata)

Question 53

In animal development, the rapid mitotic divisions of a fertilized zygote, forming a blastula.

Answer 53

cleavage

Question 54

Process by which plants incorporate airborne CO2 into sugars during the Calvin cycle.

Answer 54

carbon fixation

Question 54

The light independent phase of photosynthesis, in which carbon dioxide is fixed to a three carbon compound used to form glucose. ATP and NADH are consumed in this cycle. Also called the Calvin-Benson cycle, or the dark reactions.

Answer 54

Calvin cycle

Question 55

Asexual reproduction found in prokaryotes in which a cell divides into two equal daughter cells by a non-mitotic process.

Answer 55

binary fission

Question 56

The sequence of three nucleotides on tRNA that pairs with a codon of mRNA at the A-site of a ribosome during translation

Answer 56

anticodon

Question 57

Cellular process generating 36 ATP from 1 glucose molecule, using oxygen. This is much more efficient than anaerobic respiration (which generates only 2 ATP from glucose without oxygen). The three stages of aerobic respiration include glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain.

Answer 57

aerobic respiration

Question 58

An enzyme that binds to a DNA strand and enables transcription at the promoter

Answer 58

activator

Question 59

A compound in cellular respiration that serves as the junction between glycolysis and the Krebs cycle.

Answer 59

acetyl CoA

Question 60

All the possible wavelengths of light that a pigment can absorb. Useful in discussing photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids) in plants.

Answer 60

absorption spectrum

Question 61

The fourth stage of mitosis where microtubules separate sister chromosomes, pulling them to opposite ends of the cell; the analogous fourth stages in meiosis I where microtubules separate homologous pairs and in meiosis II where microtubules separate sister chromatids.

Answer 61

anaphase

Question 62

Cellular process that harvests 2 ATP from glucose in the absence of oxygen. ____ is less efficient than aerobic respiration, which produces 36 ATP per molecule of glucose. ____ has two stages: glycolysis and fermentation.

Answer 62

anaerobic respiration

Question 63

Cellular process that harvests 2 ATP from glucose in the absence of oxygen. This is less efficient that aerobic respiration, which produces 36 ATP per molecule of glucose. Anaerobic respiration has two stages: glycolysis and fermentation.

Answer 63

anaerobic respiration