AHS | AP Biology

2.1 CELL STRUCTURE

& FUNCTION
UNIT 2 THE BASIC UNIT OF LIFE
 Topics: (click one to jump to that section)
(1) Types of Cells
(2) Endomembrane System
(3) Energy Organelles
(4) Cytoskeleton, Cell Wall, and Cell Junctions

Unit 2.1 Self-Assessment Questions

TOPIC 1
UNIT 2.1 CELL STRUCTURE & FUNCTION

TYPES OF CELLS
The Fundamental Units of Life
● All living things (organisms) are made of
cells.
● The cell is the simplest collection of
matter that can be alive. They are the
“basic unit of life”
● Cells only come from preexisting cells. All
cells are related by their descent from
earlier cells.
● Though cells can differ substantially from
one another, they share common features
Common Features of all Cells
● Unifying characteristics of all cells include having
a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, genetic
material, and ribosomes.
● The plasma membrane is a phospholipid
bilayer embedded with proteins that separates
the cell from the surrounding environment.
○ It functions as a selective barrier for the
material that goes into and out of a cell.
○ The plasma membrane is called a
semi-permeable membrane because some
substances can move across the
membrane, while other substances cannot.
Common Features of all Cells
● The cytoplasm is all the material contained inside
the plasma membrane. It consists of the cytosol and
all the particles suspended in it.
○ The cytosol is the semifluid substance found
inside the cell (intracellular fluid). DNA

● All cells have chromosomes containing genetic Cytoplasm

material, which have all the instructions needed for

growth, development, functioning, and
reproduction.
○ The genetic material found in almost all cells is
DNA. There are some exceptions, however, in
which RNA is the genetic material.
Common Features of all Cells
● Ribosomes are small structures made of
ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and protein.
○ Made of a small and a large subunit.
○ Ribosomes build proteins using
instructions from genes found in the
DNA.
○ Cells that make a lot of proteins have
large numbers of ribosomes:
○ Ex: A human pancreas cell, which
makes digestive enzymes, has a few
million ribosomes.
Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells
● All organisms on earth can be classified as
either prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
● Prokaryotes are single-cell organisms made of
prokaryotic cells.
○ Prokaryotic cells are simple cells that are
characterized by not having a nucleus
● Eukaryotes include both single-cell and
multicell organisms made of eukaryotic cells.
○ Eukaryotic cells are complex cells that are
characterized by having a nucleus and
other membrane-bound organelles.
Prokaryotic Cells
● Prokaryotic cells are structurally smaller
and simpler than eukaryotic cells.
● Contain the following structures:
○ Cell membrane
○ Cytoplasm
○ Ribosomes
○ Nucleoid: a region in the cell
where DNA is located (not
surrounded by a membrane).
■ Prokaryotic chromosomes are
circular.
Prokaryotic Cells
○ Cell wall: rigid structure outside
the cell membrane.
■ In prokaryotes, the cell wall
is made of the
carbohydrate
peptidoglycan.
○ Capsule: jelly like outer coating
of many prokaryotes.
○ Flagella: locomotion organelles
of some bacteria.
Eukaryotic Cells
● Eukaryotic cells are much larger
and more complex than
prokaryotic cells.
● Like prokaryotes, eukaryotes
also contain a cell membrane,
cytoplasm, and ribosomes.
● Contain DNA enclosed in a
nucleus.
○ Eukaryotic chromosomes
are linear
Eukaryotic Cells
● Contain a diverse collection of
specialized compartments
called organelles.
○ Many organelles in
eukaryotic cells are
surrounded by a
membrane
(membrane-bound)
○ Each organelle performs
specific functions.
The Three Domains of Life
● Taxonomy is the science of defining
and naming groups of biological
organisms based on shared
characteristics.
● The largest level of these groupings
are domains, which categorize all life
on earth into three overarching
groups: archaea, bacteria, and
eukarya.
 The Three Domains of Life
Three Domains of Life

PROKARYOTES EUKARYOTES
(cells do not have a nucleus or (cells have a nucleus and
membrane-bound organelles) Bacteria Archaea Eukarya membrane-bound organelles)
UNICELLULAR UNICELLULAR
Cell Wall Cell Wall
(Peptidoglycan) (Peptidoglycan)

Protists Fungi Plants Animals

UNICELLULAR MULTICELLULAR MULTICELLULAR MULTICELLULAR
Cell Wall in Some Cell Wall Cell Wall No Cell Wall
(Chitin) (Cellulose)
The Three Domains of Life
● Eukarya consist entirely of eukaryotic
organism, which can be single-celled or
multi-celled.
○ Include four main types of organisms:
animals, plants, fungi, and protists
(single-celled eukaryotes).
● Archaea and bacteria consist entirely of
prokaryotes, which are all single-celled
organisms.
○ Bacteria and archaea are structurally
very similar, however, genetically and
biochemically they are very different.
The Three Domains of Life
● Archaea include a group of prokaryotes that are mainly
characterized by their ability to thrive in extreme environments,
such as deep sea vents with temperatures over 100 °C, hot
springs, and highly basic, acidic, and salty waters.
○ Archaea are also common in more neutral environments,
such as in soil, wetlands, and in the intestines of cattle and
humans (which produce methane gas while helping with
digestion).
● Bacteria include a diverse group of prokaryotes that are most
notably recognized for their role in disease, health, important
ecological relationships with plants and animals, and
decomposing dead organic matter.
Animal vs. Plant Cells

Plant Cell
● Both plant and animals are made of
eukaryotic cells.
● Structural difference between plant and
animal cells:
○ Plant cells have a cell wall, a large
central vacuole, and chloroplast,
which are all absent in animal cells.

Animal Cell
○ Animal cells have centrioles and
lysosomes, which are absent in
most plant cells.
Animal
Cell
Plant
Cell
Name four things that ALL cells have in common.

Interactive Notes
Draw a picture of a phospholipid bilayer. Label a
phospholipid and an embedded protein.

How do you think the embedded proteins

contribute to making the cell membrane a
“selective, semi-permeable membrane”?

Interactive Notes
Ribosomes and genetic material are useless
without one another. Describe the relationship
between ribosomes and the genetic material.

Interactive Notes
A biologist was looking under a microscope and
found a microorganism made of a single cell. Is this
enough info for the biologist to determine if the
organism is a prokaryote or eukaryote? If not, what
else should the biologist look for?

Interactive Notes
Label 7 things on the bacteria cell below.

Interactive Notes
If you were looking at DNA inside a cell, what are
two things about the DNA you could look for to
support your claim that the cell is eukaryotic.

Interactive Notes
In what domain(s) do eukaryotic organisms fall
into?

In what domain(s) do prokaryotic organisms fall

into?

Interactive Notes
While standing next to your friend you hear them
pass gas, which is a combination of oxygen,
nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and methane
gas. Your friend insists it wasn’t them. In what way
are they technically telling the truth?

Interactive Notes
When looking at a cell under a microscope a
student discovers a nucleus and mitochondria. The
student claims that it must be an animal cell. How
would you correct this student?

Interactive Notes
TOPIC 2
UNIT 2.1 CELL STRUCTURE & FUNCTION

ENDOMEMBRANE
SYSTEM
The Endomembrane System
● The membrane-bound organelles
found inside eukaryotic cells make up
the endomembrane system.
● Includes the following organelles:
○ The nucleus
○ The endoplasmic reticulum
○ The golgi apparatus
○ Lysosomes
○ Various types of vesicles and
vacuoles
○ The plasma membrane
The Nucleus
● The nucleus holds the DNA, which is
organized into discrete units called
chromosomes (humans have 46).
○ Each chromosome contains one
long DNA strand coiled around
proteins which help condense
the DNA so it fits into the
nucleus.
○ The complex of DNA and
proteins is called chromatin.
The Nucleus
● The nucleus is enclosed by a
double-membrane (two lipid
bilayers) called the nuclear
envelope:
○ The nuclear envelope is
perforated by nuclear pores
which allow material to enter
and leave the nucleus.
● The nucleolus is a DNA dense
region inside the nucleus where
ribosomes are synthesized.
The Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
● The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an
extensive network of membrane,
which is continuous with the nuclear
envelope.
○ This membrane hugely increases
the surface area found inside the
cell, allowing for the synthesis of
many materials.
● Two distinct regions of the ER:
○ Rough ER: embedded
with ribosomes
○ Smooth ER: lacks ribosomes
The Rough ER
● A major function of the rough ER is to
synthesize proteins (via embedded
ribosomes)
● The embedded ribosomes build the
polypeptide chain so that it is inserted
into the lumen (inside) of the ER.
● The polypeptide is then modified and
the finished protein is wrapped in a
membrane that buds off from the
rough ER, forming a transport vesicle,
which carries the protein to its next
destination.
The Rough ER
● Proteins made by the rough ER are
ultimately destined to be:
1. Secreted from the cell (ex:
Enzymes released by cells
lining the stomach to help
digest food).
2. Incorporated into the cell
membrane (ex: transport and
receptor proteins which
function on the cell membrane)
3. Or become the hydrolytic
enzymes found in lysosomes.
The Rough ER
● It’s important to note that not all ribosomes are embedded on the rough ER.
○ Bound ribosomes: attached to the endoplasmic reticulum.
○ Free ribosomes: found suspended in the cytoplasm.
● Proteins made by free ribosomes are destined to remain and be used inside
the cytosol of the cell.
The Smooth ER
● The smooth ER contains many
important metabolic enzymes that
have diverse functions (often
depending on the type of cell).
● One of the main functions of the
smooth ER is to synthesize lipids.
○ This included fats, steroids, and
new membrane phospholipids.
● In some cell types, the smooth ER
plays an important function in
detoxifying the cell.
The Golgi Apparatus
● After leaving the ER, many transport vesicles travel
to the Golgi apparatus, where proteins are
modified, stored and then sent to other destinations
in new transport vesicles.
● The Golgi is made of flattened membranous sacs
called cisternae. A stack has two opposite sides:
○ The cis face: (receiving end) vesicles from the
ER fuse with the Golgi membrane, giving the
Golgi its content.
○ The trans face: (shipping end) after the
contents are modified, they pinch off inside of
vesicles to transported to other parts of the cell
The Golgi Apparatus
● While being transported from the cis to
the trans face, the golgi modifies the
products of the ER, and then sorts and
targets them for various parts of the cell.
● Most transport vesicles that leave the
golgi are exported from the cell or
become incorporated into the plasma
membrane.
● Some of the transport vesicles produced
by the golgi remain in the cell and
become lysosomes.
Lysosomes
● A lysosome is a vesicle containing hydrolytic enzymes that are used to digest
(break down) macromolecules. Not usually found in plants.
● The hydrolytic enzymes are produced by the rough ER and modified by the
golgi, which ultimately produces the lysosomes.
● The enzymes work best in acidic environments found inside the lysosomes.
Lysosomes
● Lysosomes have a variety of functions:
● They fuse with food vacuoles to break
down the contents into simple sugars,
amino acids, and other monomers,
which are released to the cytoplasm to
be used as nutrients.
● They recycle cell components by
breaking down worn and damaged
organelles into material that can be
reused by the cell.
Lysosomes
● They play an important role in
apoptosis, which is when a cell
programs itself to die and be
destroyed.
○ During apoptosis, lysosomes
release their hydrolytic enzymes
within the cell, which begin to
break down important structures
such as the cell membrane.
Vacuoles
● Vacuoles are large vesicles created by
the ER and Golgi that perform a variety of
functions:
● Food vacuoles are formed by
phagocytosis, which is a process in
which a cell engulfs materials from
outside the cell.
● Contractile vacuoles, found in many
freshwater protists, pump excess water
out of cells.
Vacuoles
● A common type of vacuole found
in plant cells are large central
vacuoles, which store water,
nutrients, pigments, and waste
products.
○ These are not found in
animal cells.
Summary of the
Endomembrane
System
Importance of the Endomembrane System
● Internal membranes facilitate cellular processes by minimizing competing
interactions and by increasing surface area where reactions can occur.
● Membranes and membrane-bound organelles in eukaryotic cells localize
(compartmentalize) processes and reaction occurring inside the cell.
Each cell in the human body contains about six feet
of DNA. How does all of that DNA fit inside a cell
that is on average only 25 micrometers in
diameter?

Interactive Notes
Ribosomes are made in the nucleus but perform
their functions in the cytoplasm. How so ribosomes
travel from the nucleus to the cytoplasm?

Interactive Notes
If the drawing below represented the ER, which
part would be the smooth ER and which part would
be the rough ER? What do the dots represent?

In the drawing above, draw a transport vesicle

being released from the rough ER, carrying a newly
made protein.

Interactive Notes
What type of proteins are made by the rough ER?

An enzyme was found catalyzing a reaction in the

cytosol. Was this protein made by the rough ER? If
not, where was it made?

Interactive Notes
Testosterone is a steroid hormone secreted by cells
found in the testes into the bloodstream. Where
inside the cells is testosterone made?

If the Golgi apparatus was damaged on the cis face,

coordination with which organelle would most
likely be affected?

Interactive Notes
Macrophages are specialized white blood cells that
engulf pathogens found in the body and digest
them inside the cell. Name three organelles that
you would predict to be larger or more numerous in
a macrophage?

Interactive Notes
What are two types of vacuoles whose functions
include filling up with water?

Through what path does plasma membrane travel

inside a cell, starting with where it is first made?

Interactive Notes
What benefits does an internal system of
membranes, such as the endomembrane system,
give eukaryotic cells over prokaryotic cells (who
lack them)?

Interactive Notes
TOPIC 3
UNIT 2.1 CELL STRUCTURE & FUNCTION

ENERGY ORGANELLES
The Mitochondrion
● Mitochondria are found in nearly all eukaryotic
cells, including plants, animals, fungi, and protists.
● The mitochondrion is made up of a double
membrane (two phospholipid bilayers).
● The two membranes divide the mitochondria into
two compartments:
○ The intermembrane space between the two
membranes and the mitochondrial matrix
inside the inner membrane.
● The inner membrane contains foldings called
cristae, which increases surface area for cellular
respiration reactions.
The Mitochondrion
● Enzymes and other molecules found in the mitochondria are responsible for
the process of aerobic (oxygen-requiring) cellular respiration.
● Overview of aerobic cellular respiration:
○ If oxygen is available, sugar molecules (like glucose) are completely
broken down into carbon dioxide and water in the mitochondria.
○ Energy stored in the chemical bonds of sugar molecules is released,
which produces ATP.
○ Overall Reaction: sugar + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + ATP
The Mitochondrion
● Cells can contain many
mitochondria.
● Muscle cells have hundreds.
The Chloroplast
● The outside of the chloroplast is made up of a
double membrane (two phospholipid bilayers),
separated by a narrow intermembrane space.
● Inside the chloroplast is another membranous
system in the shape of flattened,
interconnected sacs called thylakoids.
● A stack of thylakoids is called a granum.
● The membranes of the chloroplast divide the
space into three compartments: the
intermembrane space, the stroma (fluid space
outside the thylakoids) and the thylakoid
space (inside the thylakoids).
The Chloroplast
● Chloroplast contain the green pigment chlorophyll, along with enzymes and
other molecules that function to perform photosynthesis. Found only in plants.
● Overview of Photosynthesis:
○ Converts solar energy (from the sun) into chemical energy (such as sugar)
that can be used by cells.
○ Uses light, water and carbon dioxide to synthesize carbohydrates. Oxygen
is also created in the process.
○ Overall reaction: light + carbon dioxide + water → carbohydrate + oxygen.
○ The sugar created by photosynthesis can be given to the plant cell’s
mitochondria to perform cell respiration.
The Chloroplast
● Plant cells can contain
many chloroplast.
Origin of the Eukaryotic Cell
● According to the endosymbiotic theory, an early prokaryotic ancestor of
eukaryotic cells engulfed an oxygen-using (aerobic) prokaryotic cell, forming a
mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship between the two.
○ The aerobic prokaryotic cell was able to perform aerobic cell respiration,
which provided energy to the cell that engulfed it. In return, the large cell
provided nutrients and other materials to the cell that it engulfed.
○ This relationship evolved over time to a point at which the two cells
became fully dependent on one another for survival.
● The engulfed cell would evolve into the modern-day mitochondria organelle
found in all eukaryotes.
Origin of the Eukaryotic Cell
● Later in the history of life on this planet (according
to the theory) one of these
mitochondria-containing cells may have engulfed
a photosynthetic prokaryote, forming another
mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship.
○ The engulfed cell would evolve into the
modern-day chloroplasts found in plant cells,
and would explain why plant cells contain
both mitochondria and chloroplasts.
● Ultimately this theory would explain the evolution
of eukaryotic plant and animal cells from
prokaryotic ancestral cells.
Evidence for the Endosymbiotic Theory
● Both mitochondria and chloroplast have a double membrane (two membranes)
surrounding them, unlike other organelles found in the cell.
○ This is consistent with what happens when a cell engulfs another cell.
● Mitochondria and chloroplast contain their own ribosomes, as well as multiple
circular DNA chromosomes, separate from the ribosomes and DNA that the
rest of the cell contains.
○ Both the ribosomes and circular DNA are similar to those found in
prokaryotes.
○ The DNA even contains genes that control the synthesis of some proteins
used in the mitochondria and chloroplast.
● Mitochondria and chloroplast are autonomous and grow and reproduce within
the cell, independently from when the cell divides.
In what type of organisms would you NOT find
mitochondria?

Interactive Notes
Add these labels to the mitochondrion below: outer
membrane, inner membrane, matrix,
intermembrane space, and cristae.

Interactive Notes
What are the reactants and products of cellular
respiration?

Interactive Notes
In what type of organisms would you NOT find
chloroplast?

Interactive Notes
Add these label to the chloroplast below: outer
membrane, inner membrane, intermembrane space,
stroma, thylakoid, and granum.

Interactive Notes
What are the products and reactants of
photosynthesis?

Interactive Notes
According to the endosymbiotic theory, which
evolved first in the history of life on Earth, the
mitochondrion or chloroplast? Why?

Interactive Notes
What are FIVE pieces of evidence that support the
endosymbiotic theory:

Interactive Notes
TOPIC 4
UNIT 2.1 CELL STRUCTURE & FUNCTION

CYTOSKELETON, CELL WALL,

AND CELL JUNCTIONS
Cytoskeleton
● The cytoskeleton is a network of fibers
extending throughout the cytoplasm
● Functions include: helping support the cell
and maintain its shape, providing
anchorage for organelles and molecules
within the cell, and assisting in movement
of the cell and the movement of material
within the cell.
○ Inside the cell, vesicles and other
organelles can “walk” along the tracks
provided by the cytoskeleton.
Cytoskeleton
● There are three main types of fibers that make up the cytoskeleton:
○ Microtubules are the thickest of the three components of the
cytoskeleton
○ Microfilaments, also called actin filaments, are the thinnest components
○ Intermediate filaments are fibers with diameters in a middle range
Cytoskeleton
Cilia and Flagella
● In eukaryotes, specialized arrangement of microtubules created protrusions
from the cell called flagella and cilia.
○ Flagella are long protrusions and are usually limited to just one per cell.
○ Cilia are shorter protrusions and occur in large numbers on the cell
surface.
Cilia and Flagella
● Sometimes their function is to
move the cell.
○ Such as propelling unicellular
organisms through water.
● Other times, it's to move fluid and
material over the surface of a
tissue
○ Such as the ciliated lining of
the trachea which moves
debris trapped in mucous
away from the lungs.
The Cell Wall
● The cell wall protects the plant cell, maintains its shape, prevents excessive
uptake of water, and helps hold up the plant against the force of gravity.
● In plants, the cell wall is composed of the polysaccharide cellulose
● In bacteria, the cell wall is made of peptidoglycan (a polymer of sugar and
amino acids).
Cell Junctions
● Cells in plants and animals are often organized
into tissues, in which neighboring cells often
adhere, interact, and communicate with one
another via sites of direct contact.
● In plant cells, the cell walls are perforated with
plasmodesmata, which are channels
connecting the cells.
○ The plasma membrane of each cell lines
the channels and are thus continuous
(along with the cytosol of each cell).
○ Water and materials can freely pass from
one plant cell to another.
Cell Junctions
● In animal cells, there are three main
types of cell junctions: tight junctions,
desmosomes, and gap junctions.
● Tight junctions:
○ The plasma membrane of
neighboring cells are tightly
pressed against one another,
bound together by proteins.
○ Creates a seal that does not allow
extracellular fluid to cross a layer
of epithelial cells (such as skin).
Cell Junctions
● Desmosomes:
○ Function like rivets, fastening cells
together into strong sheets. Anchored by
keratin protein filaments
○ Used to attach muscle cells to one another
● Gap Junctions:
○ Membrane proteins create pores/channels
between cells that allow ions, sugars,
amino acids, and other small molecules to
move across cells.
○ Very important for communication
between cells in many types of tissues.
Which type of cytoskeletal fiber would be easiest to
see using a microscope?

Interactive Notes
What type of human cells have flagella?

What is the role of cilia in the respiratory system?

Interactive Notes
What is the difference between the cell wall found
in plants and the cell wall of bacteria cells?

Interactive Notes
Plant cells are able to send chemical signals to one
another without secreting anything from their cells.
How is this possible?

Interactive Notes
Radiolabeled calcium ions were inserted into a
cardiac muscle cell found in heart tissue. After a
couple heart beats, the radiolabeled calcium ions
were found dispersed in many nearby cardiac
muscle cells. What type of cell junction is most
likely responsible for this observation?

Interactive Notes
UNIT 2.1 CELL STRUCTURE & FUNCTION

SELF-ASSESSMENT
QUESTIONS
Self-Assessment Questions
1. Which cellular structure is common to all three domains of life?

A. nucleus
B. endoplasmic reticulum
C. mitochondria
D. ribosomes
E. vacuoles
Self-Assessment Questions
2. Enzymes responsible for biosynthesis of membrane lipids would be located in
what part of the cell?

A. endoplasmic reticulum
B. nucleus
C. lysosomes
D. Golgi
E. plasma membrane
Self-Assessment Questions
3. Which of the following is not an argument for the theory that mitochondria and
chloroplasts evolved from prokaryotic precursors?

A. Mitochondria and chloroplasts have double membranes.

B. Mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own ribosomes.
C. Mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own DNA.
D. The mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes are circular.
E. All of the above support the endosymbiotic theory.
Self-Assessment Questions
4. Autophagy is a cellular process that removes old, damaged organelles like
mitochondria. Which organelle is most critical for autophagy?

A. smooth ER
B. peroxisomes
C. rough ER
D. lysosomes
E. Golgi apparatus
Self-Assessment Questions
5. What protein(s) is (are) NOT likely made at the rough ER?

A. insulin released in the blood

B. digestive enzymes in the stomach
C. antibodies in the blood
D. lactase enzymes used in the cytoplasm to break down lactose.
E. hydrolytic enzymes found in lysosomes
Self-Assessment Questions
6. What is the correct sequence of membrane movement in a cell?

A. rough ER, endosome, Golgi, smooth ER

B. rough ER, Golgi, smooth ER, exocytosis
C. smooth ER, rough ER, exocytosis, Golgi
D. rough ER, Golgi, transport vesicle, exocytosis
E. rough ER, Golgi, endosome, exocytosis, transport vesicle
Self-Assessment Questions
7. Brefeldin A disrupts transport from the ER to the Golgi apparatus. What other
structures would be affected by Brefeldin A?

A. lysosomes, transport vesicles, plasma membrane

B. mitochondria, nuclear membrane, plasma membrane
C. vacuoles, mitochondria, plasma membrane
D. lysosomes, transport vesicles, nuclear membrane
E. all intracellular organelles and membranes
Self-Assessment Questions
8. Which kind of cells make plasmodesmata?

A. plant cells
B. animal cells
C. bacterial cells
D. all of the above
E. B and C
Self-Assessment Questions
9. Which of the following structures would you NOT find in a prokaryotic cell?

A. nucleoid
B. chloroplast
C. ribosome
D. plasma membrane
E. cell wall
Self-Assessment Questions
10. Which is a structure would you NOT find in a eukaryotic cell?

A. nucleoid
B. chloroplast
C. ribosome
D. plasma membrane
E. peroxisome
Self-Assessment Questions
11. Ribosomal RNA is made in the nucleus, but is used in the cytoplasm. Through
what structure must it have traveled through?

A. Chromatin
B. Endoplasmic reticulum
C. Nuclear pore
D. Golgi
E. Not necessarily any of these.
Self-Assessment Questions
12. Where would you place an arrow on a diagram of a cell if the arrow was to point
to the place where cytoplasmic proteins are made?

A. rough ER
B. smooth ER
C. free ribosomes
D. peroxisome
E. mitochondrion
Self-Assessment Questions
13. If you were working in a dark cave and discovered an unusual carnivorous plant,
what might this plant lack at the cellular level yet still be able to survive using
carnivory?

A. ER
B. nucleus
C. mitochondrion
D. chloroplast
E. peroxisome
Self-Assessment Questions
14. If you applied a drug to block mitochondrial function, what would an affected
cell lack most?

A. protein
B. ATP
C. enzymes
D. vesicles
E. membranes
Self-Assessment Questions
15. Members of the domains Bacteria and Archaea have

A. a nucleus but no nuclear membrane.

B. ribosomes but no endoplasmic reticulum.
C. chloroplasts but no mitochondria.
D. cytoplasm but no cell membrane.
E. dissolved ions and molecules but no ribosomes.
Self-Assessment Questions
16. If a cell is making a protein that is then going to be modified and packaged for
export out of the cell, what is the order of structures it will most likely pass through?

A. Vesicle; smooth ER; Golgi apparatus

B. Rough ER; Golgi apparatus; vesicle
C. Golgi apparatus; rough ER; ribosome
D. Rough ER; Golgi apparatus; lysosome
E. Smooth ER; Golgi apparatus; vesicle
Self-Assessment Questions
17. The function of the nuclear pores is to

A. synthesize and repair DNA, the unit of genetic information.

B. assemble ribosomes from raw materials that are synthesized in the nucleus.
C. communicate with components of the endomembrane system.
D. regulate movement of materials across the nuclear membrane.
E. support the nuclear envelope.
Self-Assessment Questions
18. What is the difference between “free” ribosomes and “bound” ribosomes?

A. Free ribosomes are found floating within vesicles, whereas bound ribosomes
are found anchored to the endoplasmic reticulum.
B. Free ribosomes produce polypeptides in the cytosol, whereas bound
ribosomes produce polypeptides that are inserted into the ER.
C. Free ribosomes produce polypeptides that are exported from the cell, whereas
bound ribosomes make polypeptides for mitochondria and chloroplasts.
D. Free ribosomes are not organelles, whereas bound ribosomes are organelles.
E. Free ribosomes translate rRNA into polypeptides, whereas bound ribosomes
translate mRNA into polypeptides.
Self-Assessment Questions
19. Certain cells in your pancreas make digestive enzymes that are secreted into
ducts and carried to your small intestine. If you looked at these pancreatic cells by
electron microscopy, you would expect to see

A. large amounts of rough ER.

B. multiple nuclei per cell.
C. large numbers of primary lysosomes.
D. numerous cilia on the cell surfaces.
E. few ribosomes but numerous vacuoles.
Self-Assessment Questions
20. If all the lysosomes within a cell suddenly ruptured, what would be the most
likely result?

A. More proteins would be made.

B. The DNA within mitochondria would break down.
C. The mitochondria and chloroplasts would divide.
D. There would be no change in cell function.
E. The macromolecules in the cytosol would break down.
Self-Assessment Questions
21. Mitochondria and chloroplasts differ in that

A. mitochondria contain DNA, but chloroplasts do not.

B. chloroplasts contain DNA, but mitochondria do not.
C. mitochondria harvest chemical energy, whereas chloroplasts convert light
energy into chemical energy.
D. mitochondria are enclosed within one membrane, whereas chloroplasts are
enclosed within two.
E. mitochondria have extensive infoldings
Self-Assessment Questions
22. A student has built a model of a plant cell for a science fair. It consists of a
balloon filled with water that is placed within a plastic bag that also contains water,
and this bag is held within a plastic box. In this model, the balloon most likely
represents a _______, the plastic bag represents the _______, and the plastic box
represents the _______.

A. chromosome; nucleus; cell membrane

B. vacuole; cell membrane; cell wall
C. chloroplast; nucleus; cell membrane
D. thylakoid; chloroplast; cell wall
E. nucleus; cytoplasm; cell membrane
Self-Assessment Questions
23. Plants are able to distribute hormones and nutrients to neighboring cells
through _______; in animal tissues _______ has/have a similar function.

A. cellulose; collagen
B. plasmodesmata; desmosomes
C. cell membrane-lined channels extending through the cell wall; gap junctions
D. endoplasmic reticulum; blood vessels
E. extracellular matrix; proteoglycans
Self-Assessment Questions
24. In which structure would you not find nucleic acids?

A. The nucleus
B. Mitochondrion
C. Plant vacuole
D. Ribosome
E. Prokaryotic cell
Self-Assessment Questions
25. A mutant mouse cell line is examined. Under normal conditions this cell type
excretes the hormone estrogen, but it is found that this particular line does not.
Where should a researcher look to determine if the cells’ defect is in hormone
excretion or in hormone synthesis?

A. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

B. Rough endoplasmic reticulum
C. Mitochondria
D. Free ribosomes
E. Golgi apparatus
Self-Assessment Questions
26. Identify the structures labeled A-E.
Self-Assessment Questions
27. Is this from a plant or animal cell? How do you know?
ANSWERS TO SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
1. D 11. C 21. C
2. A 12. C 22. B
3. E 13. D 23. C
4. D 14. B 24. C
5. D 15. B 25. A
6. D 16. B 26. A = Rough ER
7. A 17. D B = Smooth ER
8. A 18. B C = Transport Vesicle
9. B 19. A D = Golgi Trans Face
10. A 20. E E = Golgi Cis Face
27. Animal; no cell wall