Concepts | Questions | Media Resources |
3.1 The Cellular Level of Organization - All organisms are composed of cells, which arise from preexisting cells.
- A microscope is usually needed to see a cell because most cells are quite small.
| List three main ideas of the cell theory. Answer Why are cells so small? Answer
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Surface to Volume Explorations
Cell Size General Biology Weblinks
Microscopy Art Quizzes
Cell Size |
3.2 Eukaryotic Cells - All cells have a plasma membrane that regulates the entrance and exit of molecules into and out of the cell. Some cells also have a protective cell wall.
- Eukaryotic cells have a number of membranous organelles that carry out specific functions.
- The nucleus controls the metabolic functions and the structural characteristics of the cell.
- A system of membranous canals and vacuoles work together to produce, modify, transport, store, secrete, and/or digest macromolecules.
- Mitochondria and chloroplasts transform one form of energy into another. Mitochondria produce ATP and chloroplasts produce carbohydrates.
- The cell has a cytoskeleton composed of microtubules and microfilaments. The cytoskeleton gives the cell shape and allows it and its organelles to move.
- Centrioles are related to cilia and flagella, which enable the cell to move.
| - What are the components of the endomembrane system and what is its function?
Answer
- What are the three types of filaments and tubules that make up the cytoskeleton of a eukaryotic cell?
Answer
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Endomembrane
Organelles
Energy Organelles
Cytoskeleton General Biology Weblinks
Cell Biology BioCourse Study Guide Labeling Exercises Animal Cell 1 (46.0K) Animal Cell 2 (44.0K) Plant Cell 1 (56.0K) Plant Cell 2 (54.0K) Anatomy of the Nucleus (31.0K) Golgi Apparatus (48.0K) Mitochondrion Structure (53.0K) Chloroplast Structure (48.0K) The Cytoskeleton (42.0K) |
3.3 Prokaryotic Cells - In contrast to the eukaryotic cell, the prokaryotic cell lacks a well-defined nucleus.
| - Explain the statement, "Although bacteria seem simple, they are metabolically diverse."
Answer
- What are plasmids?
Answer
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Prokaryotes Labeling Exercises Nonphotosynthetic Bacterium (27.0K) Cyanobacterium (55.0K) |
3.4 Evolution of the Eukaryotic Cell - The endosymbiotic hypothesis suggests that certain organelles of eukaryotic cells were once prokaryotic cells.
| - How did prokaryotic cells give rise to eukaryotic cells according to the endosymbiotic hypothesis?
Answer
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Eukaryotes |