Describe the structure and function of the nucleus
Structure
Nuclear envelope - double membrane containing pores which allows mRNA to leave and nucleotides to enter
Nuclear pores-(allow mRNA to come out nucleus)
Nucleoplasm - granular jelly like material. Contains chromatin which when condenses it forms the Chromosomes
Chromosomes - protein bound, linear DNA
Nucleolus- small sphere inside which is the site of RRNA production and makes ribosomes
Function
Site of DNA replication and transcription (making mRNA)
Stores genetic code for production of proteins
Endoplasmic reticulum structure and function
Structure
Rough endoplasmic reticulum - covered in ribosomes. Proteins are synthesised here and transported/ folded in the cisternae
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum- no ribosomes. Lipids and steroids are synthesised here
Function - system of flattened membrane bound sacs called cisternae found throught the cell
Golgi apparatus/body structure and function
Structure
(Stack of dynamic flattened cisternae formed from vesicles from the RER).
Modified lipids
In the cisternae the proteins are modified eg to form glycoproteins and packaged into vesicles which bud off to be transported either to another part of the cell or out of the cell. If the vesicles contain digestive enzymes they form lysosomes
Function - packages/ modifies proteins received from the Rough endoplasmic reticulum and produces lysosymes
Lysosomes structure and function
Structure-
Release hydrolytic enzymes to hydrolyse pathogens and bacteria that would have been taken in by phagocytosis. Lysosomes fuse with the membrane of the vesicles containing the material to be digested and release the lysozymes
Function - spherical membrane bound sacs containing lysozomes
Mitochondria structure and function
Structure-
Double membrane - Inner membrane folded to form cristae.
Intermembrane space - contains a high concentration of hydrogen ions
Matrix - containing circular dna and 70s ribosomes used to make proteins and self replication
Function- site of aerobic respiration using oxygen to make ATP. Many found in cells with a high atp requirement
Ribosomes structure and function
Structure-
Composed of 2 sub units one large and one small which are each made up of only rRNA and protein (no mebranes) it’s the site of translation
In eukaryotic cells the ribosomes are bigger( 80s) than in prokaryotes (70s)
Function - Site of protein synthesis
Vacuole structure and function
Animal cells do contain vacuoles but theyre small and temporary. They make act as contractile vacuoles or they may be formed in phagocytosis
Plant cells all contain a large permanent vacile surrounded by a membrane called tonoplast. This maintains cell turgor and contains cell sap (stores sugars amino acids eg)
Chloroplasts structure and function
Structure-
double membrane- inner membrane folded into thylakoids. Thylakoids stacked onto grana, photosynthetic pigments eg chlorophyll located on these membranes. This is the site of lifht dependent reactions
stroma–contains circular dna and 70s ribesomes used to make proteins and self replication. It’s the site of light dependent reactions.
Often contains starch grains
Function- site of photosynthesis
Cell wall structure and function
Structure -
plant/algal cells- made of cellulose
Fungi- made of chitin
Prokaryotic cells made of murein
Function - provide structural strength to the cell and prevents from bursting. Its fully permeable to water and solutes
Between the cell walls in plants there are often plasmodesma which provide cytoplasmic Continuity between plant cells allowing rapid transport of material
Plasma membrane structure and function
Structure- found in all cells
Phospholipid bilayer - molecules embed within and attached on the outside (proteins, carbohydrates, cholesterol)
Function - controls the entrance and exit of molecules
Types of eukaryotes
Plant, animal, fungi and protists(eg algae)
What are specialised cells organised into
Tissue, organ, organ system
What’s a tissue, organ and organ system
Tissue- aggregation of similar cells carrying out the same function
Organ- aggregation of several tissues to perform a particular funtion for the whole organism
Organ system - several organs working together
What do all prokaryotes have
And some things that only some have
Murein cell wall
70s ribosomes
Circular naked dna which isn’t associated with histone proteins
Things only SOMe have
One or more plasmid
Capsule surrounding cell
Flagella
Differences between eukaryotes and prokaryotes
1)Dna is enclosed within a nucleus in eukaryotes whilst in prokaryotes DNA is floating free in cytoplasm (no nucleus)
2)Eukaryotes dna is long and linear whilst in pro it’s circular
3)Eukaryotes dna is attached to proteins called histones prokaryotes dna isn’t attached to histones
4)eukaryotes has membrane bound organelles whilst prokayrotes has no membrane bound organelles
5)Eukaryotes- cell wall contains cellulose in plants and chitin in fungi
6) eukaryotes - Ribosomes 80s pro 70s
Eukar- no capsule pro yes
Differences in dna between eukaryotes and prokaryotes
Dna is longer in eukaryotes whilst in prokaryotes its shorter
Dna is linear in eukaryotes whilst in pro its circular.
Dna is associated with histone proteins in eukayrotws but not in prokaryotes
Dna contains axons and introns in eukaryotes whilst in prokaryotes it only contains axons
In pro ribesomes are smaller than cytoplasmic ribesomes
What are viruses
Viruses are acellular as they have no cell surface membrane, have no organelles, can’t respiration and no metabolic reactions. They’re extremely small and can’t be seen with light microscope. They enter living cells and multiply with the assistance of the host cells, causing diseases
What are viruses composed of and function
Genetic information (DNA or RNA) - codes for viral protein
Capsid(made of proteins)- protects genetic information
Attachment proteins- are complementary to and bind to receptors on its specific host cell
Some viruses have additional structures
Reverse transcriptase, viral envelope as if contains rna not dna
What are attachment proteins in the HIV virus structure
They’re specific for each virus. This means different viruses will attach to different receptors that are complementary to their attachment proteins. Therefore viruses are specific and can only infect one type of cell
What’s magnification and resolution
Magnification - how much bigger image is compared to the r4al structure
Resolution- ability to see 2 points as 2 points, rather than merged into one.
Light microscope principle and limitations
Uses lenses to focus a beam of light through the specimen
Lower resolution than electron microscopes
Can view live specimens
Simple staining and slide preparation
Can see colours
Electron microscopes
Uses electromagnets to focus a beam of electrons through or onto the specimen
Denser parts absorb more electrons and appear darker
Higher resolution than light, due to smaller wavelength of electrons
Specimen must be placed in a vacuum, can’t look at living material
Longer preparation time, with more complex staining procedure, which can produce artefacts
Specimen must be extremely thin
Transmission electron microscopes principles and limitations
Scanning electron microscope principles and limitations
Resolution not as high as transmission electron microscope. (But more higher than light)
3D Image produced of the surface (not internal structre)
Black and white image only (computer often used to add colour)