University of North Carolina

BIOL 101

A Tour of the Cell

1)Put these in size order: bacterium, human liver cell, ribosome, insulin (a protein), human egg, a carbon atom. (Check your answer against figure 4.1E)

2. Why can’t cells get very big?

As cell size increases, what happens to its surface-to-volume ratio?.

3. What is the structure and function of the plasma membrane?
4. There are two kinds of cells in nature.

5. All cells have some features in common (list them, define any you aren’t familiar with):

6. 

   Compare and contrast eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells:

7. What is the advantage for the cell in having “compartments” within a eukaryotic cell?
8. Compare and contrast a plant cell and an animal cell. Examine diagrams of typical organelles of plant and animal cells, what differences do you see?
9. Genetic Control of the cell: The Nucleus and ribosomes

Name and sketch the structure that matches the functional description of each component below:

1. The cell’s genetic instructions inside the nucleus:                               
2. A barrier separating the cell’s genetic information from the cell’s cytosol:
3. How materials enter and exit the nucleus:

A cell with many ribosomes tells you what about this cell’s function?

What is the difference between proteins that are made on either:

• • Free ribosomes in the cytosol: or

Ribosomes attached to the endoplasmic reticulum or nuclear envelope:

10. The Endomembrane System

The rough ER and Golgi form a functional unit that help to produce what for the cell? Describe this process, as this will be a major focus of our study of cells. (Drawing will help you work through biological processes.)

What is the function of lysosomes?

What is one disease associated with malfunction of the lysosomal enzymes?

11. Energy-Converting Organelles

What is the function of mitochondria?

Do prokaryotes have? Animal cells? Plant cells? What is the function of chloroplasts?

Do prokaryotes have?  Animal cells? Plant cells?