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BIOLOGY


Ch 4: The Living Cell - p. 68
   
4.1 How Cells Receive Information - p. 69
  • Proteins form voltage-sensitive channels that control the passage of ions through the cell membrane. 
  • Receptor proteins in the cell membrane are able to sense chemical signals. 
  • Protein cell surface markers establish a cell’s identity. 
4.2 Moving In and Out of Cells - p. 74
  • Diffusion is the mixing of 2 substances by the random motion of molecules. 
  • Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a membrane.
  • Osmotic pressure is the force created by water pushing outwards.
  • Selective transport is the movement of substances through membrane protein channels. It is selective because they allow only a particular type of molecule or ion to pass through. 
  • Generally, substances move from areas with high concentration to areas with low concentration. 
  • Facilitated diffusion is when a channel helps a substance to pass through. 
  • Active transport is when a channel pushes a substance from the low concentration side to the high concentration side. 
  • A sodium-potassium pump is an active transport system that allows a cell to admit ions necessary for biological processes. 
  • A proton pump is an active transport system that sends protons across the cell membrane. 
  • Chemiosmosis is the mechanism by which energy is released by the action of proton pumps. 
  • Larger particles enter and exit a cell by endocytosis and exocytosis.
    • Endocytosis is the process of bringing particles into a cell by capturing them within a sac. 
    • Exocytosis is the process of getting rid of material by discharging it from sacs at the cell surface. 
4.3 How Cells Divide - p. 79
  • Bacteria (prokaryotic cells) reproduce by dividing themselves in two stages. 
    • First the DNA is copied. 
    • Then the cell splits in two. 
  • Eukaryotic cells divide in two basic (but more complicated) stages: mitosis and cytokinesis. 
    • Mitosis is the process by which the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell divides into two nuclei. 
      • Each nuclei has the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
      • Interphase is the time period between cell divisions when the DNA is duplicating. 
      • Stages of Mitosis: 
        • 1) Prophase: chromosomes form; the nuclear membrane dissolves
        • 2) Metaphase: the chromosomes line up in the middle 
        • 3) Anaphase: the chromosomes are pulled apart 
        • 4) Telophase: two new nuclei form and the cytoplasm starts to separate (leading to cytokinesis) 
  • Chromosomes are pieces of tightly packed DNA found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. 
  • In many cells, mitosis is followed by cytokinesis. 
    • Cytokinesis is cell division where the cytoplasm is pinched in half, separates, and two separate cells are created. 
  • Cells have different life spans. They divided a certain number of times and then die. 

  • Cancer is a disease in which cells grow and divide at an abnormally high rate.


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