Question 1

Heart muscle works hard and therefore consumes much ATP. Which organelles would you expect to be especially numerous in the heart muscle cells?
A) nuclei
B) mitochondria
C) Golgi complexes
D) lysosomes

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria are the organelles responsible for ATP production through cellular respiration. Therefore, in heart muscle cells which require a lot of ATP, you would expect to find a large number of mitochondria.

Question 2

A red blood cell has lost its nucleus to make more space for carrying oxygen. This is an example of ________.
A) a prokaryotic cell
B) a cell that is not living
C) the relationship between structure and function
D) a cell whose DNA is circular

Accepted Answer

The loss of the nucleus in the red blood cell is an adaptation that allows it to carry more oxygen, demonstrating the relationship between the structure and function of cells. Choice A is incorrect because red blood cells are eukaryotic cells with a nucleus during their developmental stage, but they lose it as they mature. Choice B is incorrect as red blood cells are living cells that transport oxygen throughout the body. Choice D is also incorrect because red blood cells contain genetic material in the form of linear DNA rather than circular DNA.

Question 3

Which of the following is a membranous organelle that chemically modifies and ships proteins to other organelles or out of the cell?
A) lysosome
B) chloroplast
C) mitochondria
D) Golgi complex

Accepted Answer

The Golgi complex is a membranous organelle that chemically modifies proteins and lipids and sorts and ships them to other organelles or out of the cell. Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes, chloroplasts are organelles found in plants that carry out photosynthesis, and mitochondria produce energy in the form of ATP.

Question 4

A reddish chemical, lipofuscin, is found in greater quantities in cells of older people than in those from younger people. This chemical should be broken down in the cells. Which specific type of organelle is not working as well in the seniors?
A) lysosome
B) mitochondrion
C) nucleus
D) rough endoplasmic reticulum

Accepted Answer

Lysosomes are responsible for breaking down cellular waste, including lipofuscin. As people age, lysosomes become less efficient at this process, leading to an accumulation of lipofuscin in the cells.

Question 5

Calcium ions are normally in higher concentrations outside most living cells than within cells. Which of the following processes is most likely responsible for this condition?
A) simple diffusion
B) facilitated diffusion
C) osmosis
D) active transport

Accepted Answer

Active transport is the process in which energy is required to move molecules or ions across a cell membrane against their concentration gradient, from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration. This process is responsible for maintaining a higher concentration of calcium ions outside the cell membrane compared to inside the cell.

Question 6

Which of these is most abundant in the plasma membrane?
A) proteins
B) carbohydrates
C) cholesterol
D) phospholipids

Accepted Answer

The plasma membrane is primarily composed of phospholipids, which form a bilayer that makes up the structure of the membrane. While proteins and cholesterol are also present, they are not as abundant as phospholipids. Carbohydrates are present in the form of glycoproteins and glycolipids, but they are not as abundant as phospholipids.

Question 7

The movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration until equilibrium is reached can be described as ________.
A) diffusion
B) active transport
C) osmosis
D) All of the above are true.

Accepted Answer

The described movement of water is a specific type of passive transport called osmosis, where water moves from areas of high concentration (hypotonic solution) to areas of low concentration (hypertonic solution) until equilibrium is reached. Diffusion is the general term for the movement of particles from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration, which includes the movement of gases and solutes, while active transport requires energy to move particles against their concentration gradient. Therefore, the correct answer is C, osmosis.

Question 8

You have a bacterial infection. Your immune system will be able to distinguish this foreign invader from other cells by ________.
A) recognizing cell adhesion molecules (CAMs)
B) finding glycolipids on the plasma membrane
C) identifying glycoproteins on the plasma membrane
D) determining the presence or absence of a nucleus

Accepted Answer

The immune system can distinguish bacterial cells from other cells by identifying the glycoproteins on the bacterial plasma membrane. These glycoproteins act as antigens that trigger an immune response in the body. This recognition process is a crucial part of the immune system's ability to differentiate between self and non-self.

Question 9

If a liver cell were to be placed in a beaker with a solution containing the same solute concentration as that found inside the cell, we would say that the beaker contained a(n) ________ solution.
A) heterotonic
B) hypertonic
C) isotonic
D) hypotonic

Accepted Answer

An isotonic solution has the same solute concentration as that found inside the cell, which means that there will be no net movement of water in or out of the cell.

Question 10

Which of the following is found in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?
A) ribosomes
B) endoplasmic reticulum
C) nucleus
D) mitochondria

Accepted Answer

Ribosomes are found in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. They play a crucial role in protein synthesis. Endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus, and mitochondria are found only in eukaryotic cells.

Question 11

A form of diffusion in which the molecules pass through a protein instead of between the phospholipids is called ________.
A) facilitated diffusion
B) diffusion
C) osmosis
D) active transport

Accepted Answer

Facilitated diffusion involves the use of a protein to facilitate the movement of molecules across the membrane. The protein serves as a channel or carrier for the molecules, allowing them to pass through the membrane without having to interact with the phospholipids directly. This type of diffusion is more specific than simple diffusion and requires the use of a protein. Osmosis involves the movement of water across a membrane, while active transport involves the movement of molecules against their concentration gradient, requiring the use of ATP.

Question 12

The Mars rover Curiosity finds a living organism on the red planet. Scientists would know that it is eukaryotic and not prokaryotic if ________.
A) it has membrane-bound organelles
B) it has a cytoskeleton
C) its diameter is 10 μm
D) it has six internal membranes

Accepted Answer

The presence of membrane-bound organelles (such as a nucleus, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum) is a characteristic of eukaryotic cells, while prokaryotes lack these structures. The other options may be present in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, and are not specific enough to distinguish between the two types of organisms.

Question 13

When bacteria appear in tissues, a type of large cell engulfs and destroys them. Which process are these cells using to engulf the bacteria?
A) exocytosis
B) active transport
C) pinocytosis
D) phagocytosis

Accepted Answer

The process described is phagocytosis, where a cell engulfs and destroys bacteria or other particles. This is not exocytosis, which is the release of substances from a cell, or active transport, which is the movement of substances against a concentration gradient. Pinocytosis is a form of endocytosis where a cell takes in small droplets of fluid, which is not the same as engulfing and destroying bacteria.

Question 14

Which of these processes brings into the cell large macromolecules and particles by the formation of a vesicle in the outer membrane?
A) facilitated transport
B) endocytosis
C) pinocytosis
D) exocytosis

Accepted Answer

Endocytosis brings into the cell large macromolecules and particles by the formation of a vesicle in the outer membrane. Facilitated transport is a type of passive transport that helps molecules cross the membrane through a protein channel. Pinocytosis is a type of endocytosis that involves the uptake of liquid by the cell. Exocytosis is the opposite process of endocytosis, where molecules are secreted out of the cell by the fusion of vesicles with the plasma membrane.

Question 15

You find a strange infection in your mouth and visit your dentist. The dentist said the new organism was prokaryotic because it had ________.
A) circular DNA
B) DNA in the nucleus
C) relatively large cells
D) membrane-bound organelles

Accepted Answer

Circular DNA is a characteristic feature of prokaryotic organisms, while eukaryotic organisms have linear DNA located in the nucleus. Membrane-bound organelles and relatively large cells are also features of eukaryotic organisms. Therefore, the presence of circular DNA indicates that the new organism in the mouth is prokaryotic.

Question 16

Which of the following is not a membrane-bound organelle?
A) mitochondrion
B) cytoskeleton
C) nucleus
D) endoplasmic reticulum

Accepted Answer

The cytoskeleton is a network of protein fibers that provide support and shape to the cell, but it is not a membrane-bound organelle. Membrane-bound organelles are surrounded by a membrane and include the mitochondrion, nucleus, and endoplasmic reticulum.

Question 17

Zara has worked for 40 years at a garden center, where she often potted plants. In the early days, she frequently worked with vermiculite, an asbestos-like material. Which organelles are most likely to have destabilized membranes as a result of exposure to vermiculite?
A) nuclei
B) mitochondria
C) Golgi complexes
D) lysosomes

Accepted Answer

Lysosomes are involved in breaking down and digesting cellular waste and materials, including potential harmful substances. Exposure to vermiculite, which has been linked to asbestos-like properties, could therefore lead to destabilization of lysosomal membranes, potentially causing damage to the cell. The other organelles listed are less likely to be directly affected by exposure to vermiculite.

Question 18

If natural selection would select against organisms with a nucleus, which one of the following organisms would survive and evolve?
A) plants
B) archaea
C) protists
D) fungi

Accepted Answer

Archaea do not have a nucleus and would be able to survive and evolve in an environment where natural selection favored organisms without a nucleus. Plants, protists, and fungi all have a nucleus and would likely not survive in this scenario.

Question 19

A cell is limited in its size by ________.
A) its ability to move waste material out
B) its ability to move nutrients in
C) its surface-to-volume ratio
D) All of the above are correct.

Accepted Answer

All of the choices are correct because a cell's size is limited by its ability to move waste material out, its ability to move nutrients in, and its surface-to-volume ratio. These factors ensure efficient transport and communication within the cell.

Question 20

Most of the energy used by the cell is converted to ATP in ________.
A) lysosomes
B) Golgi complexes
C) nuclei
D) mitochondria

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria are considered the powerhouse of the cell because they are responsible for the majority of ATP synthesis through cellular respiration. Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes, Golgi complexes modify and package proteins, and nuclei contain DNA but do not directly generate ATP.

Quiz 4: The Cell

Heart muscle works hard and therefore consumes much ATP. Which organelles would you expect to be especially numerous in the heart muscle cells?

A red blood cell has lost its nucleus to make more space for carrying oxygen. This is an example of ________.

Which of the following is a membranous organelle that chemically modifies and ships proteins to other organelles or out of the cell?

A reddish chemical, lipofuscin, is found in greater quantities in cells of older people than in those from younger people. This chemical should be broken down in the cells. Which specific type of organelle is not working as well in the seniors?

Calcium ions are normally in higher concentrations outside most living cells than within cells. Which of the following processes is most likely responsible for this condition?

Which of these is most abundant in the plasma membrane?

The movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration until equilibrium is reached can be described as ________.

You have a bacterial infection. Your immune system will be able to distinguish this foreign invader from other cells by ________.

If a liver cell were to be placed in a beaker with a solution containing the same solute concentration as that found inside the cell, we would say that the beaker contained a(n) ________ solution.

Which of the following is found in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?

A form of diffusion in which the molecules pass through a protein instead of between the phospholipids is called ________.

The Mars rover Curiosity finds a living organism on the red planet. Scientists would know that it is eukaryotic and not prokaryotic if ________.

When bacteria appear in tissues, a type of large cell engulfs and destroys them. Which process are these cells using to engulf the bacteria?

Which of these processes brings into the cell large macromolecules and particles by the formation of a vesicle in the outer membrane?

You find a strange infection in your mouth and visit your dentist. The dentist said the new organism was prokaryotic because it had ________.

Which of the following is not a membrane-bound organelle?

Zara has worked for 40 years at a garden center, where she often potted plants. In the early days, she frequently worked with vermiculite, an asbestos-like material. Which organelles are most likely to have destabilized membranes as a result of exposure to vermiculite?

If natural selection would select against organisms with a nucleus, which one of the following organisms would survive and evolve?

A cell is limited in its size by ________.

Most of the energy used by the cell is converted to ATP in ________.