Cells and Cellular Processes Exam Study Guide
1. For each organelle/cell part, describe the function and in what type of cell(s) it can be found:
Organelle
Animal/Plant/Bacteria
Function
Cell Wall
Plasma/Cell Membrane
Plant, bacteria, fungi
All Cells
Structure, protection
Maintains homeostasis by controlling
what enters and leaves the cell
Vacuoles
Lysosomes
Large Central in plants, small in
animals
Animals, plants
Stores water, waste, and nutrients for
the cell
Contains digestive enzymes to break
down worn out cell parts and foreign
objects within the cell
Ribosomes
Centrioles
All cells
Animal
Protein synthesis
Used in mitosis in the animal cell
Chloroplasts
Plants
Nucleus
Animal, plants
Mitochondria
Animal, plants
Golgi body/apparatus
Animal, plant
Makes glucose through the process of
photosynthesis
Controls cellular activities and
contains chromosomes
Produces ATP through the process of
cellular respiration; more numerous
in active cells such as cardiac and
skeletal muscle
Sorts, modifies, packages, and
transports substances, such as
proteins, that it receives from the ER
2. Describe three main differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotes do not have a nucleus or membrane bound organelles.
Eukaryotes have a nucleus and membrane bound organelles.
3. Explain the three parts of the Cell Theory.
1. Cells are the basic unit of structure and function for life.
2. All living things are made up of one or more cells.
3. Cells come from preexisting cells.
4. Describe three ways that a plant and animal cell differ from each other.
1. Plant have chloroplast and go through the process of photosynthesis.
2. Plants have a cell wall to give structure to the plant.
3. Plants have a large central vacuole that stores sap.
5. What is the difference between the way plants and animals store glucose?
1. Plants store glucose that they don’t use in the leaves and roots as starch.
2. Animals store glucose in the muscles and liver as glycogen.
6. Why is the nickname for mitochondria “the power house”?
Mitochondria produce ATP (cellular energy) through the process of cellular respiration.
7. Write the chemical equation to photosynthesis and cellular respiration and compare the two.
Photosynthesis: solar energy + 6CO2 + 6H2O
C6H12O6 + 6O2
Cellular Respiration: C6H12O6 + 6O2
6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP
The reactants of photosynthesis are the products of cellular respirations, and the reactants of cellular respiration
are the products of photosynthesis.
8. If you don’t eat/ingest any protein or lipids, how do you still end up with proteins and lipids in your body?
Proteins and lipids that are not obtained through your diet are synthesized by the ribosomes and ER of the cells.
9. What are reactants in a chemical reaction?
Reactants are the molecules on the left side of the equations that are being changed by either putting them
together or breaking them apart.
10. What are products of a chemical reaction?
Products are on the right side of the equation and are the result of the chemical reaction.
11. Mitochondria, Rough ER, Smooth ER, and Golgi bodies have highly folded membranes. How is this beneficial for the
cell?
Folded membranes make interconnected compartments that increase the surface area for chemical reactions to
take place in. The folding makes the cell more efficient in carrying out its processes.
12. Explain why plants have mitochondria in their cells if they already have chloroplasts.
Although plants make glucose through the process of photosynthesis, the glucose does not provide energy
for them unless it is broken down through the process of cellular respiration. In order for the plants to grow and
carry out cellular processes it needs to produce ATP which is provided by the mitochondria through cellular
respiration.
13. For the following, define, describe the movement of water, and what happens to the cell:
Isotonic Solution
Hypotonic Solution
Hypertonic Solution
Define: a solution that has an equal
amounts of solutes on both sides of
the cell membrane
Define: a solution that has less
solutes in it than the cell which has a
higher solute concentration
Define: a solution that has more
solutes in it than is in the cell
Water movement: water will move
equally back and forth with no net
change in concentration of solutes
Water movement: Water will enter
the cell
Water movement: Water will exit
the cell
What happens to the cell?: the cell
will remain the same size
What happens to the cell?: the cell
will enlarge; if it is an animal cell it
could lyse; if it is a plant cell it will
push against the cell wall
What happens to the cell?: the cell
will shrink; in a plant the membrane
will pull away from the cell wall
14. Explain the difference between passive and active transport.
Passive transport is movement of molecules across the membrane from an area of high concentration to an area
of lower concentration without energy being used.
Active transport is the movement of molecules across the membrane through membrane proteins from an area
of low concentration to an area of higher concentration which requires ATP (cellular energy).
15. Explain cell differentiation.
Cell differentiation is the process of stem cells becoming specialized cells that perform specific functions. As cells
develop specific genes on the cells chromosomes are turned on or off to allow the cells to develop into
specialized cells that express different functions such as: long branching nerve cells that carry messages over
great distances; long slender muscle cells that contract for movement; disc shaped blood cells to carry oxygen;
flattened compacted epithelial cells to provide protection between the external environment and the internal
environment.
Other Vocab: Also be familiar with the following words/definitions.
ATP
chromosomes
synthesis
epithelial tissue
paramecium
contractile
diffusion
regulation
excretion
osmosis
spontaneous generation
gene
manipulation
efficient
compartments
advantage
neurons
resistant
fatigue
organelles
TEKS tested:
4: The student knows that cells are the basic structures of all living things with specialized parts that perform specific functions
and that viruses are different from cells.
The student is expected to:
A: compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
B: investigate and explain cellular processes, including homeostasis, energy conversions, transport of molecules, and synthesis
of new molecules