BIO 255 Cell Molec Exam 1
Reductionism - answer belief that phenomena can be "reduced" to simpler physical
process; parts may explain function of the whole
Matthias Jakob Schleifen & Theodor Schwann - answer Two main proponents of Cell
Theory
Vitalism - answer Living things can't be explained only in terms of physical and chemical
nature; "vital force" makes them different from non-living things
Mechanists - answer Those who believe that life is a "mechanical process" that has to
obey all laws of chemistry and physics
Carl Woese - answer Dude who compared small sub-unit rRNA and found ribosomes
and RNA in all cells across species; common ancestry among all cells
Heterotrophy - answerOxidation of foods
Lithotrophy - answerChemical electron donors provide energy
Autotrophy - answerCapture of light energy (photosynthesis)
Emergent Properties - answerComplex, large scale group behavior with no clear
explanation in terms of the system's constituent parts
Abiotic origins (Miller-Urey), Deep-dwelling vents, and Astrobiological origins -
answerThree experimental approaches to the origins of life
Proteinoids - answerAggregates of abiotically made organic molecules surrounded by
membrane
Light microscopy - answerOptical microscopy involving diffraction, refraction or
reflection of light
Brightfield - answerType of light microscopy; light passes with little contrast
Phase Contrast - answerType of light microscopy; incident light out of phase with
transmitted light
Differential interference contrast - answerType of light microscopy; interference between
polarized light (shadow-casting images)
, Darkfield - answerType of light microscopy; illuminated light directed from side, cells
appear light against dark background
Autoradiography - answerLight microscope image on photographic film, pattern of
radioactive decay emissions from distributing radioactive substance
Fluorescence microscopy - answerComponent of interest has been tagged with
fluorescent molecules
Immunofluorescence microscopy - answerUses tagged antibodies to bind specifically to
corresponding antigen as a probe for a particular molecule
Confocal fluorescence microscopy - answerPinpoint illumination to eliminate out-of-
focus fluorescence; narrow focal plane detected, image resolution enhanced
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) - answerA microscope that transmits a beam
of electrons through a very thin slice of specimen and that can magnify up to 200,000
times
Cryoelectron microscopy - answerFreeze-fracture microscopy
Scanning electron microscopy - answerMetal shadowing & coating of specimens to
reveal surface tomography
Configuration - answerSpatial arrangement of atoms via bonds in the molecule; cannot
be changed without breaking bonds
Conformation - answer3D orientation of chemical groups that are free to assume
different positions in space without breaking any bonds
Tensegrity - answerStructure maintains stability under tension, helps contribute to
biological form and shape; economical and efficient way to build cell form and structure
Differential centrifugation - answerParticles settling according to mass at different
speeds
Rate-zonal centrifugation - answerSucrose gradient; Particles sediment by size, shape
and density
Chromatography - answerSeparation of molecules based on differences in their
structure &/or physical properties when interacting with a stationary support media
Partition chromatography - answerSmall MW molecules partitioned between phases of
two different solvents (alcohol/water)
Reductionism - answer belief that phenomena can be "reduced" to simpler physical
process; parts may explain function of the whole
Matthias Jakob Schleifen & Theodor Schwann - answer Two main proponents of Cell
Theory
Vitalism - answer Living things can't be explained only in terms of physical and chemical
nature; "vital force" makes them different from non-living things
Mechanists - answer Those who believe that life is a "mechanical process" that has to
obey all laws of chemistry and physics
Carl Woese - answer Dude who compared small sub-unit rRNA and found ribosomes
and RNA in all cells across species; common ancestry among all cells
Heterotrophy - answerOxidation of foods
Lithotrophy - answerChemical electron donors provide energy
Autotrophy - answerCapture of light energy (photosynthesis)
Emergent Properties - answerComplex, large scale group behavior with no clear
explanation in terms of the system's constituent parts
Abiotic origins (Miller-Urey), Deep-dwelling vents, and Astrobiological origins -
answerThree experimental approaches to the origins of life
Proteinoids - answerAggregates of abiotically made organic molecules surrounded by
membrane
Light microscopy - answerOptical microscopy involving diffraction, refraction or
reflection of light
Brightfield - answerType of light microscopy; light passes with little contrast
Phase Contrast - answerType of light microscopy; incident light out of phase with
transmitted light
Differential interference contrast - answerType of light microscopy; interference between
polarized light (shadow-casting images)
, Darkfield - answerType of light microscopy; illuminated light directed from side, cells
appear light against dark background
Autoradiography - answerLight microscope image on photographic film, pattern of
radioactive decay emissions from distributing radioactive substance
Fluorescence microscopy - answerComponent of interest has been tagged with
fluorescent molecules
Immunofluorescence microscopy - answerUses tagged antibodies to bind specifically to
corresponding antigen as a probe for a particular molecule
Confocal fluorescence microscopy - answerPinpoint illumination to eliminate out-of-
focus fluorescence; narrow focal plane detected, image resolution enhanced
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) - answerA microscope that transmits a beam
of electrons through a very thin slice of specimen and that can magnify up to 200,000
times
Cryoelectron microscopy - answerFreeze-fracture microscopy
Scanning electron microscopy - answerMetal shadowing & coating of specimens to
reveal surface tomography
Configuration - answerSpatial arrangement of atoms via bonds in the molecule; cannot
be changed without breaking bonds
Conformation - answer3D orientation of chemical groups that are free to assume
different positions in space without breaking any bonds
Tensegrity - answerStructure maintains stability under tension, helps contribute to
biological form and shape; economical and efficient way to build cell form and structure
Differential centrifugation - answerParticles settling according to mass at different
speeds
Rate-zonal centrifugation - answerSucrose gradient; Particles sediment by size, shape
and density
Chromatography - answerSeparation of molecules based on differences in their
structure &/or physical properties when interacting with a stationary support media
Partition chromatography - answerSmall MW molecules partitioned between phases of
two different solvents (alcohol/water)
