STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF CELLS MEMBRANE
FINAL EXAM GUIDE 2025
|MOST COMMON QUESTIONS WITH CORRECTLY
VERIFIED ANSWERS|ALREADY A+
GRADED|GUARANTEED PASS
Where does the term "cell" come from? Who coined this term? - Robert Hooke observed
and made incredible drawings of cells. Through these observations he coined the term "cells"
because the cork cells resembled the cells in a monastery where monks sleep.
What is the cell theory? Who proposed this theory? Why was this a widely accepted theory? -
Schleiden and Schwann proposed the cell theory in 1838. The theory basically says that,
"all living things are composed of cells." They decided that "cells come from pre-existing cells."
By this point in time, experiments were putting the idea of spontaneous generation to rest.
"All living cells arise from preexisting cells" was proposed by Rudolf Virchow. How did this
addendum to cell theory challenge the old concept of spontaneous generation? - All
observations of cells told us that life does not spontaneously arise, but cells must be the origin
of other living cells.
The surface of a cell is represented by what structure? As the cell enlarges does this surface
area increase or decrease? - The surface area of a cell could be represented as the cell
membrane.
As cells get larger, the cell membrane decrease
The contents of a cell are measured in volume. As the cell enlarges does the volume increase or
decrease? - As cells enlarge, the volume increase
As the cell enlarges what happens to the surface area to volume ratio? Increase or decrease.
Why? - It decreases because the volume grows much faster than their surface area.
Why is it unlikely that you would ever meet a two-ton predatory one-celled organism on the
street? In other words, why must cells remain small? - Cell size posed a problem for life.
Bigger cells often out-compete similar cells that are smaller. However, there is a limit to how a
cell can get. This problem was solved by simply becoming multicellular. One large cell can have
, the same volume as many small ones. However, there is much more surface area available for
small cells.
What are some ways that cells have adapted to increase their surface to volume ratio while
increasing in size? - Folding membranes is one such adaptation that we find in some cells.
Some of our largest cells have folds called microvilli that aid in absorption of nutrients. Another
example is an algae called Caulerpa that looks like a multicellular organism, but is actually a
single cell that grows very thin and branches into a network of tiny spheres or fronds. This
increases the surface area of the structure.
What are the minimum requirements for cells? - A cell or plasma membrane and DNA, in
order to carry out these instructions, cells need ribosomes.Without them the cell would not
function. Finally, cells need to have the ability to obtain energy (ATP).
Distinguish between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. - Prokaryote is a simple cell. They do
not have a nucleus around their DNA. They're either bacteria or Archae. These cells lack of
other membrane-bound organelles.
Eukaryote have a nucleus along with other membrane-bound organelles.
What is compartmentalization? What does this do for the eukaryotic cells? - Organelles
isolate cellular activities from each other. This makes them more efficient and increases the
overall efficiency and production of the cell.
Do prokaryotes exhibit compartmentalization? Explain. - Yes, prokaryotic cells have some
compartmentalization created by the folding of the cell membrane. However, it becomes the
equivalent of a cubicle system and does not completely isolate activities from each other. Their
efficiency may suffer from time to time.
Prokaryotic cells: Nucleoid region - The DNA and ribosomes of a prokaryote, are not in a
nucleus. It is found in a region of the cell called the nucleoid region. Their DNA consists of one
circular chromosome. Often they will accumulate smaller pieces of DNA from other bacteria
called plasmids.
Prokaryotic cells: Cell wall - The cell wall is outside of the cell membrane and it's use for
support.
Prokaryotic cells: Cell membrane - All cells have membranes which are the doorways in
and out of the cell.
Prokaryotic cells: Capsule (slime layer) - The capsule can also be found on the outside of
the cell on the surface of the wall. It is made up of polysaccharides and can be slimy and sticky.
FINAL EXAM GUIDE 2025
|MOST COMMON QUESTIONS WITH CORRECTLY
VERIFIED ANSWERS|ALREADY A+
GRADED|GUARANTEED PASS
Where does the term "cell" come from? Who coined this term? - Robert Hooke observed
and made incredible drawings of cells. Through these observations he coined the term "cells"
because the cork cells resembled the cells in a monastery where monks sleep.
What is the cell theory? Who proposed this theory? Why was this a widely accepted theory? -
Schleiden and Schwann proposed the cell theory in 1838. The theory basically says that,
"all living things are composed of cells." They decided that "cells come from pre-existing cells."
By this point in time, experiments were putting the idea of spontaneous generation to rest.
"All living cells arise from preexisting cells" was proposed by Rudolf Virchow. How did this
addendum to cell theory challenge the old concept of spontaneous generation? - All
observations of cells told us that life does not spontaneously arise, but cells must be the origin
of other living cells.
The surface of a cell is represented by what structure? As the cell enlarges does this surface
area increase or decrease? - The surface area of a cell could be represented as the cell
membrane.
As cells get larger, the cell membrane decrease
The contents of a cell are measured in volume. As the cell enlarges does the volume increase or
decrease? - As cells enlarge, the volume increase
As the cell enlarges what happens to the surface area to volume ratio? Increase or decrease.
Why? - It decreases because the volume grows much faster than their surface area.
Why is it unlikely that you would ever meet a two-ton predatory one-celled organism on the
street? In other words, why must cells remain small? - Cell size posed a problem for life.
Bigger cells often out-compete similar cells that are smaller. However, there is a limit to how a
cell can get. This problem was solved by simply becoming multicellular. One large cell can have
, the same volume as many small ones. However, there is much more surface area available for
small cells.
What are some ways that cells have adapted to increase their surface to volume ratio while
increasing in size? - Folding membranes is one such adaptation that we find in some cells.
Some of our largest cells have folds called microvilli that aid in absorption of nutrients. Another
example is an algae called Caulerpa that looks like a multicellular organism, but is actually a
single cell that grows very thin and branches into a network of tiny spheres or fronds. This
increases the surface area of the structure.
What are the minimum requirements for cells? - A cell or plasma membrane and DNA, in
order to carry out these instructions, cells need ribosomes.Without them the cell would not
function. Finally, cells need to have the ability to obtain energy (ATP).
Distinguish between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. - Prokaryote is a simple cell. They do
not have a nucleus around their DNA. They're either bacteria or Archae. These cells lack of
other membrane-bound organelles.
Eukaryote have a nucleus along with other membrane-bound organelles.
What is compartmentalization? What does this do for the eukaryotic cells? - Organelles
isolate cellular activities from each other. This makes them more efficient and increases the
overall efficiency and production of the cell.
Do prokaryotes exhibit compartmentalization? Explain. - Yes, prokaryotic cells have some
compartmentalization created by the folding of the cell membrane. However, it becomes the
equivalent of a cubicle system and does not completely isolate activities from each other. Their
efficiency may suffer from time to time.
Prokaryotic cells: Nucleoid region - The DNA and ribosomes of a prokaryote, are not in a
nucleus. It is found in a region of the cell called the nucleoid region. Their DNA consists of one
circular chromosome. Often they will accumulate smaller pieces of DNA from other bacteria
called plasmids.
Prokaryotic cells: Cell wall - The cell wall is outside of the cell membrane and it's use for
support.
Prokaryotic cells: Cell membrane - All cells have membranes which are the doorways in
and out of the cell.
Prokaryotic cells: Capsule (slime layer) - The capsule can also be found on the outside of
the cell on the surface of the wall. It is made up of polysaccharides and can be slimy and sticky.
