Cell Structures and Organelles - Biology

Bacteria and plant cells both have cell walls, although the cell walls are composed of different macromolecules in different cell types. Plants use the protein chitin, while bacteria use peptidoglycan. Bacteria are a certain class of prokaryotes.

Animal cells only have a plasma membrane, and do not have cell walls.

Plant cells are very similar to animal cells, but receive energy from sunlight. As a result, they require chloroplasts in order to house the chlorophyll where photosynthesis takes place. Animal cells are incapable of photosynthesis, and do not contain chloroplasts.

The other listed structures are found in both animal and plant cells.

The nucleolus is a subdivision of the nucleus; thus, it is only found in eukaryotes. It is the site of ribosome assembly. The nucleolus is made of RNA and proteins.

Diffusion and osmosis are both used in order to equalize the concentrations of solutes on both sides of a membrane. This act requires no energy to take place, as solutes will passively flow from regions of high concentration to areas of low concentration. Facilitated diffusion requires a channel protein to allow substances to cross the membrane, but also allows flow down a concentration gradient and does not require energy.

Active transport is needed in order to accumulate solutes on one side of a barrier against their concentration gradient. This requires ATP in order to take place, as the solutes will not flow in this direction naturally.

Two general concepts allow you to predict how easily a molecule is able to cross the plasma membrane.

1. The smaller the molecule, the more permeable the membrane is to it. Large molecules have a harder time crossing the membrane.

2. Polar and charged molecules have a very hard time crossing the membrane. Nonpolar molecules can cross the membrane much more easily.

As a result, small, nonpolar molecules are ideal for crossing the membrane easily. Larger molecules do not fit through the membrane gaps, and polar molecules are repelled by the hydrophobic interior of the membrane.

Peptidoglycan is found in the cell walls of bacteria. Plant cells have cell walls made of cellulose, and animal cells lack a cell wall entirely. Archaea are a class of prokaryote, but have cell walls that differ from those of bacteria. Archaea cell walls do not contain peptidoglycan.

Since salt is unable to pass the membrane, the animal cell will attempt to equalize the salt concentrations on both sides by expelling water into the solution. The concentration of salt outside the cell is higher than the concentration inside the cell. This means that water itself is more concentrated inside the cell than outside. The water will flow down its gradient from high solvent concentration (in the cell) to low solvent concentration (outside the cell) via the process of osmosis. As the water exits the cell, it will lose volume and shrivel.

The cell wall is a very tough structure that is able to help the cell withstand extracellular stressors. A plant cell or bacterium can survive hypotonic solutions better than an animal cell due to protection from the cell wall. As water flows into the cell, but the cell wall will keep the cell from bursting.

The cell wall does not protect well against hypertonic environments, however. As water exits the cell, the plasma membrane pulls away from the cell wall. The cell shrinks within the cell wall, which maintains its original size and does not prevent cellular damage.

The cell membrane is composed of a phospholipid bilayer. Polar regions of the membrane face outward and shield a hydrophobic interior. Only certain compounds can cross both regions of the membrane. Polar compounds and ions will be able to interact with the polar regions of the membrane, but be unable to cross the hydrophobic interior. Similarly, large compounds will be unable to fit between the phospholipids. Only small, nonpolar molecules can cross the membrane freely.

Protein channels are placed in the membrane to allow polar and large molecules to cross, further adding to the selective nature of the membrane. Harmful compounds can still enter the cell from time to time, but the selectivity of the membrane helps prevent the potency of these attacks.

The cell membrane controls what enters and leaves the cell. The cell membrane is a selectively permeable phospholipid bi-layer, which admits molecules by passive and active transport into the interior of the cell. The DNA is the genetic code found in the nucleus while cytoplasm is the liquid inside the cell.

All these answers are correct and can be used interchangeably, so it's good to be aware of all of them. All cells have a cell membrane, regardless of organism, to separate their internal environment from their external environment. The term plasma membrane refers to the cytoplasm within the cell that the membrane is separating from the external environment. Phospholipid bilayer describes the molecular makeup of the cell membrane as it is composed of a double layer of amphiphilic (something that is both hydrophobic/lipophilic and hydrophilic) phospholipids. Semipermeable membrane refers to the ability of the membrane to allow certain substances cross from one side to the other, while restricting the passage of other substances. Cytomembrane uses the Greek root "cyto", meaning cell, to create a compound word that in the end means the same thing as cell membrane.

Cell membranes are composed of a phospholipid bilayer. Phospholipids have hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails. The tails come together to form the hydrophobic inside of the membrane, whereas the hydrophilic heads face the outside of the cell and the inside aqueous cytoplasm.

The smooth endoplasmic reticulum has a variety of functions, one of which involves the detoxification of drugs and pollutants found in the body. Enzymes found in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum allow it to break down harmful drugs and toxins. Cells in the liver, called hepatocytes, have particularly large smooth endoplasmic reticulum regions, allowing them to be especially efficient at clearly toxins from the body.

The rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus are involved in protein modification, folding, and packaging. Lysosomes house enzymes that aid in breakdown of macromolecules and cellular wastes; they are specialized to remove biological waste, but are not well-suited to remove ingested toxins.

The smooth endoplasmic reticulum has a variety of functions. Proteins can be packaged and transported through the cell by the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, as can other cellular components and materials. The membrane around the smooth endoplasmic reticulum can be used to create intracellular vesicles. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is also responsible for using these vesicles to interface with the plasma membrane, synthesizing phospholipids to repair and grow the membrane surface area. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum also contains enzymes responsible for degrading inorganic toxins, such as alcohol and drugs. This organelle is especially prevalent in hepatocytes (liver cells) where the blood if filtered and toxins are removed for degradation.

Protein synthesis requires the action of ribosomes, which can be found in the cytosol or embedded in the membrane of the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

The question states that organelle A has more amino acids. This means that organelle A has more proteins than organelle B. Remember that rough endoplasmic reticulum (rough ER) is termed ‘rough’ because it contains ribosomes on its surface. These ribosomes give it a rough appearance under the microscope. Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis, therefore, rough ER will contain more proteins (and amino acids).

We cannot draw any conclusions about organelle B, since most organelles contain fewer amino acids and proteins than the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Steroids are a type of lipid that include cholesterol (needed for cell membranes) and gonadal hormones (estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone). Since they are lipids, steroids are synthesized in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, the site of lipid synthesis.

Remember that smooth endoplasmic reticulum also plays a role in detoxification of harmful chemicals.

Rough endoplasmic reticulum is used to produce proteins that will be secreted from the cell, including most peptide hormones. The Golgi apparatus is used to modify these proteins and create vesicles for protein transport. Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes that digest cellular wastes.

Mitochondrial DNA is much smaller and simpler than nuclear DNA, meaning it does not need histones or introns. Mitochondrial DNA is also circular, like bacterial DNA, rather than linear like nuclear DNA. As the ovum is the only contributor of mitochondria to an offspring, all mDNA must therefore be inherited from the mother.

The only possible answer choices are the Rough ER and Cytoplasm since proteins are synthesized in these two components. Proteins intended to be membranous are synthesized exclusively on the Rough ER.

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum(ER) is responsible for the detoxification of a number of organic chemicals. The smooth ER converts organic substances into water and other soluble products to allow for excretion. Large amounts of smooth ER are found in liver cells, where products of natural metabolism, drugs, and alcohol are detoxified. Fun fact: the smooth ER can double its surface area within a few days then return to its normal size once the assault has subsided.