Chapter 3 Review Questions

1. In plant cells, each cell consists of a box-like ____________ surrounding a mass of ____________ which in turn contains its own smaller parts, the _____________.

2. In Table 3-1, the size of water-conducting vessel cells in oak are _________ __ __________. Each millimeter contains 1,000 m. Approximately how much of these cells could be laid end to end (or side by side) in 1 mm? Do you think such a cell would be visible if it were placed in your hand? How long are the fiber cells in hemp? How long is this in millimeters? How long is it in centimeters? (1 cm = 10 mm)? Could you see one of these cells if it were in your hand?

3. Figure 3-1 is a light micrograph of a leaf cell, and it is typical of what you might see if you were to examine a moss leaf. What two cell structures can you see?

4. The division of labor among various types of cells in plants is important. Examine Table 3-2, and name the cells responsible for the following tasks: a. Collecting solar energy b. Transporting water c. Cell division and the production of new protoplasm d. Water retention e. Having pigments that attract pollinators f. Producing poisons that inhibit animals from harming the plants

5. Stone cells in coconut shells are part of the division of labor in plants. What modifications do they have that make it impossible for them to be dividing and growing cells (hint: see Figure 3-5)?

6. All biological membranes are composed of __________ and two layers of _____________ molecules. One of these components occurs as a thin solution only two molecules thick. A layer only two molecules thick is a ________________.

7. Some of the proteins that are a part of a cell's membranes are actually immersed in the membrane. Others are located outside the membrane and merely lie next to it. What are the names of each type?

8. Cell membranes are described as being fluid mosaics. What does that mean? Are all membrane components free to diffuse laterally anywhere within the membrane?

9. What are the two basic components of membranes? What are three ways that a material can move from one side of a membrane to the other? Which method requires the plant to use energy?

10. Pieces of membranes frequently move from one area of a cell to another, but never as just flat patches, only as vesicles. Study Figure 3-9, and then draw examples of endocytosis and exocytosis using different colors for the two sides of the membranes. Notice that the black side of the membrane bilayer always touches the blue part of the cell in Figure 3-9. Can you come up with any type of vesicle fusion that would result in the black side of the membrane touching the green part of the cell?

11. Define each of these terms: a freely permeable membrane, an impermeable membrane, and a selectively permeable membrane. During your next exam, you may begin to sweat a solution of sodium, chloride, and water, but not proteins, sugars, or nucleotides. Are the membranes of your sweat gland cells freely permeable, impermeable or selectively permeable?

12. Circle the correct answer: Plants, animals, fungi and protists have (prokaryotic, eukaryotic) cells. What is a key feature of eukaryotic cells?

13. The _______________ ________________ ( less frequently called the ______________) is the membrane that completely covers the surface of the protoplasm. It is (circle one: freely permeable, impermeable, selectively permeable), and it (circle one: does, does not) contains molecular pumps.

14. The nucleus serves as an archive for the organism's ___________ ______________, all of which is stored as __ __ __ inside every nucleus.

15. Which organelle functions as storage of both nutrient reserves and waste products? What is the name of its membrane?

16. Which organelle carries out cell respiration? Each of these organelles has two membranes--a liquid portion and folded, sheet-like membrane structures. What are the names of these four components?

17. Plastics can grow and develop into many different types of structure. What is the name for the plastids that do each of the following: a. Carry out photosynthesis b. Synthesize lipids and other materials c. Store starch d. Contain abundant colored lipids e. Occur when tissues are grown without light

18. Which organelle carries out protein synthesis?

19. What is the difference between RER and SER? SER is not very common in plants, but several examples are given in the text. What are they?

20. What is the role of dictyosomes in cell metabolism? What is their forming face? Their maturing face?

21. Draw a "typical" plant cell and include all of the organelles mentioned in this chapter. Most cells have specialized functions and increased proportions of certain organelles. How would you change your drawing if the cell is involved in photosynthesis? Is part of a yellow or orange petal? Secretes protein-rich digestive fluid? Needs a great deal of ATP? Stores starch? Has just grown a great amount?

22. Which of the organelles in Question 21 are composed primarily of membranes? What are some of the ways that the membranes participate in the metabolic activities of those organelles?

23. Describe how material is brought to a dictyosome. What happens to material while it is in a dictyosome, and how is it released? What are some of the things that might happen to it after it is released?

24. What are alpha-tubulin and beta-tubulin? When they aggregate, what do they form? What structure in dividing cells is made with this substance (Figure 3-27)? Algal, fungal, and animal cells move with structures made of this. What is the name of the structure?

25. Many animals and algae have cells with flagella, but do any plants have flagella? For example, do fern cells or moss cells have flagella?

26. How do microtubules act as a cytoskeleton? Are there times when they are particularly abundant? What are centrioles, basal bodies, and flagella?

27. Examine Figures 3-32 to 3-34. What types of substances occur as storage products in plant cells?

28. What chemical do clams use to make strong shells? What do we use for our bones? Do plants use either of these chemicals in the construction of strong cell walls? What problem would plants have if they used either the shell material or the bone material?

29. In cell walls, adjacent, parallel cellulose molecules crystallize into an extremely strong _______________ 10 to 25 nm wide. These are bound together by polysaccharides called _______________, which are produced in dictyosomes.

30. What are the most abundant components of a plant cell wall? How do the compounds interact and how are they arranged with respect to each other? What are the symplast and the apoplast in plants?

31. What is the type of cell wall present in all plant cells? What is the type present in certain cells that must be unusually strong?

32. What are the extremely fine holes that interconnect plant cells? What is the name of the especially thin areas of walls where these holes are particularly common (hint: Figure 3-37)?

33. What is an intercellular space? Diffusion through a gas-filled space is approximately _______________ times faster than through a liquid-filled space. Living cells deep inside a bulky object such as an apple need oxygen. Do you think the oxygen could diffuse to those cells fast enough if there were no intercellular spaces? Would you guess (you will have to guess, as the answer is not in the text) that all or most of the intercellular spaces are interconnected such that oxygen could diffuse deep into an apple without ever having to dissolve into protoplasm?