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BSCI330 Final Exam Questions With Complete
Solutions 2025
Model Eukaryotes - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ - genome
sequenced
- expression of multiple genes can be tracked across
many cells simultaneously
- yeast, arabidopsis, C. elegans, fruit fly (D.
melanogaster), mouse
Light Microscopy Drawbacks - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ -
Limited Resolution
- Mitochondria are generally the smallest organelles
that can be clearly seen by light microscopy
- If a smaller object emits light, it can generally be
detected
What do stains do - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ Reveals
details of cells
- Requires fixation, which kills and preserves cells
- Tissue samples are too large to be visualized by most
microscopy techniques, and must be cut into thin sections
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Fluorescence Microscopy - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Chemical dyes produce color by absorbing specific
wavelengths of light
- Stains are introduced via chemical dyes, fluorescent
molecules attached to antibodies, or intrinsically
fluorescent proteins expressed by the cell itself
Confocal Microscopy - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ - A
scanning laser and pinhole aperture limits detection to
the focal plane which creates an optical section with
much better resolution
Electron Microscopy - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ - A focused
beam of electrons replaces light
- A resolution more than 200x that of light microscopy
- Vacuum is required and the cells are fixed and sliced
into ultra-thin sections
Scanning Electron Microscopy - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Images the outside surface
- Requires staining, but no sectioning
Transmission Electron Microscopy - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Images internal structures
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What is the most abundant lipid in the plasma
membrane - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ Phospholipids
Phospholipid make-up and philicity - ....ANSWER
....✔✔ Phospholipids are amphiphilic which means
they have a polar head group and two non-polar
hydrocarbon tails
- One tail is saturated which means there are no double
bonds
- The other tail is unsaturated which means there is one
cis-double bond
What does the unsaturated tail do in a phospholipid -
....ANSWER ....✔✔ Increases membrane fluidity
Sterols - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ An important lipid
component of membranes
- Contain rigid ring structures that stiffen portions of the
phospholipids which is essential for the structural
integrity of the membrane
Major sterol in animal cell membranes - ....ANSWER
....✔✔ Cholesterol
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Major sterol in plant cells - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Phytosterol
Major sterol in fungi cells - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Ergosterol
Why is ergosterol a target for antifungal drugs? -
....ANSWER ....✔✔ Because ergosterol is only found in
fungi, but not animal cells.
How do Amphotericin B and Nystatin (antifungal drugs)
work? - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ They specifically bind
ergosterol and form ion pores, allowing ions to leak out
of the cell.
How do Miconazole and Lamisil (antifungal drugs) work?
- ....ANSWER ....✔✔ They inhibit ergosterol synthesis,
blocking fungal cell growth.
How do phospholipid membranes assemble? -
....ANSWER ....✔✔ Phospholipid Membranes self-
assemble into lipid bilayer membranes due to the
amphiphilic nature of phospholipids.
BSCI330 Final Exam Questions With Complete
Solutions 2025
Model Eukaryotes - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ - genome
sequenced
- expression of multiple genes can be tracked across
many cells simultaneously
- yeast, arabidopsis, C. elegans, fruit fly (D.
melanogaster), mouse
Light Microscopy Drawbacks - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ -
Limited Resolution
- Mitochondria are generally the smallest organelles
that can be clearly seen by light microscopy
- If a smaller object emits light, it can generally be
detected
What do stains do - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ Reveals
details of cells
- Requires fixation, which kills and preserves cells
- Tissue samples are too large to be visualized by most
microscopy techniques, and must be cut into thin sections
,2|Page
Fluorescence Microscopy - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Chemical dyes produce color by absorbing specific
wavelengths of light
- Stains are introduced via chemical dyes, fluorescent
molecules attached to antibodies, or intrinsically
fluorescent proteins expressed by the cell itself
Confocal Microscopy - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ - A
scanning laser and pinhole aperture limits detection to
the focal plane which creates an optical section with
much better resolution
Electron Microscopy - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ - A focused
beam of electrons replaces light
- A resolution more than 200x that of light microscopy
- Vacuum is required and the cells are fixed and sliced
into ultra-thin sections
Scanning Electron Microscopy - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Images the outside surface
- Requires staining, but no sectioning
Transmission Electron Microscopy - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Images internal structures
,3|Page
What is the most abundant lipid in the plasma
membrane - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ Phospholipids
Phospholipid make-up and philicity - ....ANSWER
....✔✔ Phospholipids are amphiphilic which means
they have a polar head group and two non-polar
hydrocarbon tails
- One tail is saturated which means there are no double
bonds
- The other tail is unsaturated which means there is one
cis-double bond
What does the unsaturated tail do in a phospholipid -
....ANSWER ....✔✔ Increases membrane fluidity
Sterols - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ An important lipid
component of membranes
- Contain rigid ring structures that stiffen portions of the
phospholipids which is essential for the structural
integrity of the membrane
Major sterol in animal cell membranes - ....ANSWER
....✔✔ Cholesterol
, 4|Page
Major sterol in plant cells - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Phytosterol
Major sterol in fungi cells - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Ergosterol
Why is ergosterol a target for antifungal drugs? -
....ANSWER ....✔✔ Because ergosterol is only found in
fungi, but not animal cells.
How do Amphotericin B and Nystatin (antifungal drugs)
work? - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ They specifically bind
ergosterol and form ion pores, allowing ions to leak out
of the cell.
How do Miconazole and Lamisil (antifungal drugs) work?
- ....ANSWER ....✔✔ They inhibit ergosterol synthesis,
blocking fungal cell growth.
How do phospholipid membranes assemble? -
....ANSWER ....✔✔ Phospholipid Membranes self-
assemble into lipid bilayer membranes due to the
amphiphilic nature of phospholipids.
