IB Biology Topic 1 - Cells Revision Sheet

What is understood by the term “cell theory”? Cells are the smallest units of life. Explain why a small surface area to volume ratio limits cell size. Describe an example of an emergent property?
Living things are made of cells, and cells come from pre-existing cells (most) cells need oxygen and glucose for respiration.
Emergence is when simple components of a system create properties
the bigger the volume of the cell the more of these they need.
when they operate together which are not seen in the individual components.
Explain why striated muscle, giant algae, fungal hyphae don’t quite fit.
However the bigger the cell volume the smaller the SA to Volume ratio.
These are exceptions to cell theory, striated muscle and fungal hyphae are 'poly-nucleate' Examples can be found in cells and organs.
have more than one nucleus. Giant algae (Acetabularia) is made of just one cell.
As the cell increases in size its need for oxygen increases
The brain is made of neurones which can transmit impulses and connect to others
As it increases in size its ability to absorb oxygen by diffusion is less (per unit volume)
An emergent property is the ability to think, or consciousness in the brain.
Is this enough evidence to falsify cell theory?
Eventually this need for oxygen is greater than the ability to absorb, and that
No - these are exceptions, there are so many other examples which fit the rule. A colony of bacteria growing on a tooth can form a hard biofilm which protects
stops the cell growing any bigger. (Note: we have ignored effects of shape)
This is an interesting TOK point about knowledge in science. them from tooth brushing. The hardness is emergent.

Briefly explain each of the following: Name organelles A & B. Calculate the size of each. Draw a simple labelled diagram of a Prokaryote cell
 Specialized tissues can develop by cell differentiation A: mitochondion 0.5µm in diameter
The process of cell differentiation turns off some genes, results in expression of a
selection of genes which causes changes in a cell, making it become specialised.
B: Vesicle, lysosome. 1.0µm in diameter
 Stem cells can divide and differentiate along different pathways
By turning off different genes stem cells can become different specialised cells
A single stem cell can become a number of different specialised cells. Measure organelle diameter in mm
 Use of stem cells to treat Stargardt’s disease Measure scale bar diameter in mm
Stargardt's disease is a genetic condition caused by a single gene mutation in retina cells. What is the difference in resolution between electron microscopes and light
Divide organelle by scale bar and microscopes?
Stem cells in the retina can regenerate cells which die off in Stargardts diesease.
multiply by the size of the scale bar(1µm)
Medical trials are trying to put stem cells into patients to repair their retina, also Light microscopes have a smaller resolution than electron microscopes
Stems cells are being used to generate retina cells in the lab to test potential new drugs.

Explain how phospholipids form bilayers due to the amphipathic properties Describe three locations & five functions of membrane proteins. Describe how molecules move across membranes by
Amphipathic properties are found in molecules like phospholipids which have a
Location Function  simple diffusion, from a high concentration to low concentration,
hydrophobic and hydrophilic part to the molecule. down a concentration gradient
The hydrophobic parts are attracted to each other and keep away from water. Plasma membrane of liver cells Hormone receptor for Insulin
 facilitated diffusion, from a high concentration to low concentration,
The hydrophilic parts are attracted to the hydrogen bonding in polar water molecules.
Inner membrane of mitochondira Enzymes of aerobic respiration through a protein channel down a concentration gradient

A single layer is not possible, because the hydrophobic would pull together and curl up. The membrane of neurone cells Na+ / K+ pump - active transport  osmosis water molecules move from a dilute solution to a more concentrated
solution, through a partially permeable membrane
A double layer with the hydrophic lipid parts on the inside and the hydrophilic
Epithelial cells of the digestive tract Protein channels for absorption
phosphate parts on the outside can form a stable structure, a membrane.  active transport.
Outer membrane of all cell Proteins used in cell recognition by immune system Molecules (e.g. glucose) are moved across a membrane by a
protein pump, using energy from ATP.

Theories are modified in the light of new evidence and gradually improve. List the stages in cell division by mitosis? Give a detail about each stage. What causes the cell cycle & division to go wrong and cause 1° and 2° tumors
List 5 discoveries in the development of the fluid mosaic model of membranes in cancer? Use the terms cyclins, mutagens, oncogenes and metastasis
Mitosis phase Detail(s)
Thickness of membranes
Prophase - Chromosomes coil up, become visible, nuclear membrane breaks down Mutagens - cause the mutation of genes.
Presence of phospholipids Oncogenes are genes which control the cell cycle, and can result in carcer
Metaphase Chromosomes line up on the spindle To create a 1° tumor a mutagen could cause the creation of an oncogene
Bilayer structure Anaphase Chromatids are pulled apart by spindle fibres (from a proto-oncogene)
This causes a change to the concentration of cyclins and the cell cycle goes out of control.
Telophase Two sets of chromosomes are surrounded by nuclear membrane Cells divide and a growth of cells appears. (1° tumor)
Presence of protein
cytokinesis The cell divides its cytoplasm in half forming two cells. The cells in this growth (tumor) can separate from the tumor and move to other parts
Fluid mozaic structure of the body where they continue dividing to form a 2° tumor.
This is called metastasis.