Kaplan MCAT Biology Ch. 1 The Cell

Cell Theory

All living thins are composed of cells
The cell is the basic functional unit of life
Cells arise only from preexisting cells
Cells carry genetic information in the form of DNA passed from parent to daughter cell

Eukaryote

Have membrane-bound organelles, a nucleus, and may form multicellular organisms

Cytosol

Suspends the organelles, allows diffusion of molecules

Nucleus

Contains DNA organized into chromosomes

Nuclear Membrane

Surrounds nucleus, contains pores for exchange

Nucleolus

Subsection of the nucleus in which ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is synthesized

Mitochondria

Outer membrane - forms barrier with cytosol
Inner membrane - folded into cristae and contains exymes for the electron transport chain (ETC)
Can divide independently via binary fission
Trigger apoptosis by releasing enzymes into the cytosol

Lysozymes

Contain hydrolytic enzymes that break down cellular waste

Autolysis

Release of lysozyme enzymes

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Series of interconnected membranes continuous with nuclear envelope

Rough ER

Studded with ribosomes, conduct translation of proteins destined for secretion

Smooth ER

Lipid synthesis and detoxification

Golgi Apparatus

Stacked sacs in which cellular products are modified, packaged, and directed to specific cellular locations

Peroxisomes

Contain hydrogen peroxide, break down long chain fatty-acids via Beta-oxidation

Cytoskeleton

Provides stability and rigidity to structure of cell as well as transport pathways

Microfilaments

Composed of actin
Muscle contraction via interaction with myosin
Form cleavage furrow during cytokinesis

Microtubules

Composed of tubulin
Create pathways for motor proteins like kinesin and dynein to carry vesicles
Found in cilia and flagella organized into 9 pairs of microtubules in a ring with 2 microtubules at the center
Connect to centrioles in centrosomes

Tubulin

Comprises microtubules

Kinesin an Dynein

Carry vesicles

Centrioles

Found in centrosomes
Organize microtubules in mitotic spindle

Intermediate filaments

Cell-cell adhesion
Maintenance of cytoskeleton
Anchor organelles
Keratin and Desmin

Keratin and Desmin

Intermediate Filaments

Epithelial Tissue

Cover body, line cavities
Protect against pathogen invasion and dessication

Simple Epithelia

One layer

Stratified Epithelia

Multiple layers

Pseudostratified Epithelia

Appear to have multiple layers, but only have one

Connective Tissue

Support body and provide framework for epithelial cells

Prokaryotes

No membrane bound organelles
Singular circular molecule of DNA concentrated in nucleoid region

Stroma

Support structure of an organ

Archaea

Extremophiles, use alternative energy sources
Similar to both eukaryotes and bacteria

Bacteria

Prokaryotes similar to eukarya

Eukarya

Non-prokaryotic domain

Cocci

Spherical

Bacilli

Rod

Spirilli

Spiral

Obligate Aerobes

Require O2 for metabolism

Obligate Anaerobes

Cannot surbibe in O2 containing environments, can only carry out anaerobic metabolism

Facultative Anaerobes

Can survive w/ and w/o O2 toggling between metabolic pathways

Aerotlerant Anaerobes

Cannot use O2, but can survive in O2

Enevelope

Cell wall and cell membrane of bacteria

Gram-Positive

Turn purple when stained with crystal violet
Thick cell wall of peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid

Gram-Negative

Turn pink-red when stained with crystal violet
Thin cell wall with peptidoglycan and outer membrane of lipopolysaccharides

Chemotaxis

Movement of bacteria in response to stimuli

Flagella

Flagellin filament anchored by basal body and hook

Prokaryotic Ribosomes

Smaller than Eukaryotic ribosomes

Prokaryote Energy

Electron Transport chain in cell membrane

Binary Fission

Prokaryotic reproduction
Chromosome replicates while cell grows in size until the cell wall begins to grow inward along the midline of the cell and it divides into two identical daughter cells

Plasmid

Extrachromosomal genetic material found in prokaryotes

Virulence Factor

Antibiotic resistance genes

Episomes

Plasmids that can integrate into the genome

Transformation

Acquisition of genetic material from the environment

Conjugation

Transfer of genetic information from one bacterium to another across a conjugation bridge

Transduction

Transfer of genetic material from one bacterium to another via bacteriophage as a vector

Transposons

Genetic elements that can insert into or remove themselves from the genome

Bacterial Growth

Lag Phase
Log Phase
Stationary Phase
Death Phase

Lag Phase

Bacteria adapt to new local conditions

Log Phase

Growth increases exponentially

Stationary Phase

Growth levels off as resources are reduced

Death Phase

Death of bacteria as resources become insufficient

Capsid

Protein coat of a virus

Virus

Consists of genetic material, a capsid, and a lipid containing envelope

Virion

Individual virus particles

Bacteriophage

Viruses that target bacteria

Tail Sheath

Injects genetic material into bacterium

Tail Fibers

Allow the bacteriophage to attach to the host cell

Viral Genomes

Composed of DNA or RNA, Single or Double stranded, positive sense or negative sense

Positive Sense

Can be directly translated

Negative Sense

Complementary strand must be produced by RNA Replicase

Retroviruses

contain single stranded RNA to which complementary DNA is made using reverse transcriptase

Extrusion

Lysis of host cell by virus to release viral progeny

Lytic Cycle

Bacteriophage produces massive number of new virions until cell lyses
Virulent

Lysogenic Cycle

Virus integrates into host genome to be reproduced along with cell which enters lytic cycle later on

Prions

Infectious proteins that trigger misfolding of other proteins, usually converting alpha helices to bet pleated sheets

Viroids

Plant pathogens
Small circles of complementary RNA that turn off genes