Chapter 1 Cells: basic units of life on Earth

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Page 8
Quick check
1 List the conditions that must be met for life to exist.
2 In drilling into Lake Whillans, great care was taken to ensure that the equipment that entered
the borehole was sterilised. Why was this precaution taken?
3 What was the first evidence that indicated that it was possible life existed in Lake Whillans?
4 Identify the follow-up experiment that confirmed this finding.
5 What kinds of organism live in the Lake Whillans ecosystem?
6 Why is Europa, one of the moons of planet Jupiter, of interest as a possible location for life
beyond planet Earth?
Answers
1 The following four requirements must be met.
i An energy source is available that can be trapped and utilised by an organism for metabolic
processes that maintain its living state.
ii Liquid water is available to allow biochemical reactions to occur and to dissolve chemicals
and transport them both within cells and to and from cells.
iii The chemical building blocks required for life are available for use by an organism in cellular
repair, growth and reproduction.
iv Stable environmental conditions exist within the range of tolerance of an organism, such as
pressure, temperature and light intensity.
2 This precaution was designed to prevent any cells from the surface or the overlying ice reaching
the lake. This ensured that any living cells found in the samples from the lake originated from
the lake itself and were not introduced contaminant cells from the surface.
3 Evidence of living cells indicates the existence of life. The first test was to add a DNA-sensitive
dye to a sample of the lake water. DNA is the genetic material of all cells. If cells were present in
the lake water, this DNA-sensitive dye would reveal them as glowing green dots when viewed
under a microscope.
4 When cells from samples of lake water were exposed to thymidine (one of building blocks of
DNA) the cells took up this compound and incorporated it into their DNA. This observation
confirmed that the cells were living and undergoing cell division. Similar confirmation that the
cells were metabolically active came from showing that they were synthesising proteins.
5 Both bacteria and archaea —with over 3900 different microbial species — live in the Lake
Whillans ecosystem.
6 Europa is the most likely place for being habitable because of its relatively thin ice shell, its liquid
ocean and that fact that it is in contact with the rock below that is geologically active. Europa has
the right ingredients for life: it has water and the right chemical elements, as well as an
environment that is probably stable over time.

Page 17
Quick check
7 Identify whether each of the following statements is true or false.
a Cells are typically too small to be seen with an unaided eye.
b Bacterial cells are typically larger than animal cells.

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 Chapter 1 answers

c Viral particles are smaller than microbial cells.

d As a given shape increases in size, its surface-area-to-volume ratio increases.
e Beyond a given cell size, the two-way exchange of materials across the cell surface cannot
occur at a rate sufficient to meet the needs of a cell.
8 Two spheres (A and B) have different diameters, with A being larger than B. Which has the
higher SA:V ratio?
Answers
7 a True
b False
c True
d False. As a cell increases in size, its internal volume expands at a greater rate than the area
of its plasma membrane.
e True
8 The smaller of the two spheres (B) will have the greater SA:V ratio.

Page 20
Quick check
9 Identify whether each of the following statements is true or false.
a Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms, comprising bacteria and archaea.
b The presence of a membrane-bound nucleus in its cells provides evidence that an organism
is a eukaryote.
c All eukaryotes are multicellular organisms.
d The various compartments within eukaryotic cells would be expected to have identical
conditions.
10 List two similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
11 A unicellular organism was found in a sample of pond water. Is it reasonable to conclude that
this organism must be either a bacterium or an archaeon? Briefly explain.
Answers
9 a True
b True
c False
d False
10 Similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells include:
i have DNA in their cells
ii have plasma membranes that selectively control the entry and exit of dissolved materials
into and out of the cell
iii use the same chemical building blocks including carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and
phosphorus, to build the organic molecules that form their structure and enable their
function
iv produce proteins through the same mechanism (transcription of DNA and translation of
mRNA on ribosomes)
v use ATP as their source of energy to drive the energy-requiring activities.
11 No it is not reasonable to assume that it is a bacterium or an archaeon. A number of eukaryotes
are unicellular. Unicellular eukaryotes can be protists, such as Amoeba, Paramecium and
Euglena, or algae, such as Chlorella and the diatoms, or fungi, such as yeasts.
Quick check
12 What are the two major components of a plasma membrane?
13 Identify whether each of the following statements is true or false.

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 Chapter 1 answers

a The plasma membrane is present as a boundary in all living cells.

b The plasma membrane consists of layers of proteins in which phospholipids are embedded.
c A key role of the plasma membrane is the control of transport of materials into or out of
cells.
d Trans-membrane proteins span the width of the plasma membrane.
14 What is a glycoprotein?
15 What part of a plasma membrane is responsible for its flexibility?
16 Briefly outline the fluid mosaic model of the plasma membrane.
Answers
12 The major structural component of the plasma membrane is a bilayer of phospholipid
molecules, each with a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail. Proteins comprise the other
essential component of the plasma membrane.
13 a True
b False
c True
d True
14 A glycoprotein is a protein that has a carbohydrate group attached.
15 The fatty acid chains within the plasma membrane confer flexibility on the plasma membrane.
16 The plasma membrane should be considered as two-dimensional fluids in which proteins are
embedded. The term ‘fluid’ comes from the fact that the fatty chains of the phospholipids are
like a thick oily fluid and the term ‘mosaic’ comes from the fact that the external surface (when
viewed from above) has the appearance of a mosaic because of the various embedded proteins
set in a uniform background.

Page 27
Quick check
17 Is the plasma membrane impermeable, selectively permeable or fully permeable?
18 Identify two functions of the plasma membrane.
19 What kind of proteins act as cell identity tags?
20 What advantage might result from creating several membrane-enclosed compartments within
a cell?
21 What is the role of receptor proteins in the plasma membrane?
22 Give an example of a problem that arises from the malfunction of a protein transporter in the
plasma membrane.
Answers
17 The plasma membrane is selectively permeable.
18 Functions of the plasma membrane include: is an active and selective boundary, denotes cell
identity, receives external signals and transports materials
19 Glycoproteins on the outer plasma membrane function as cell surface markers, also known as
antigens or cell identity tags.
20 Each compartment can have its own environment. This allows the cell to perform efficiently
and isolates incompatible chemical processes from one another.
21 A receptor protein will bind with a signalling molecule and initiate a response within the cell.
22 One example of a problem that has arisen from the malfunction of a protein transporter is
cystic fibrosis.

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 Chapter 1 answers

Page 40
Quick check
23 What is the process by which bulk materials are exported out of cells?
24 Consider passive diffusion and facilitated diffusion:
a Identify one difference between these processes.
b Identify one similarity that they share.
25 Identify one difference between diffusion and active transport.
26 Which transport process relies on the involvement of either a carrier or a channel protein?
27 By which process do cells of the stomach lining manage to move hydrogen ions out of the cells
to produce a highly acidic gastric secretion?
28 What process is involved in the movement of water down its concentration gradient and across
a layer of cells from outside the body to inside?
Answers
23 Bulk transport of material out of a cell is referred to as exocytosis.
24 a Facilitated diffusion requires the presence of a protein molecule, simple diffusion does not.
b Both facilitated diffusion and simple diffusion are passive processes, they do not require an
input of energy.
25 Diffusion is a passive process; active transport requires an input of energy.
26 Facilitated diffusion relies on a carrier or channel protein. Special transport proteins embedded
across the plasma membrane carry out the process of active transport.
27 This is achieved by active transport of these ions out of the stomach cells against their
concentration gradient.
28 Osmosis or facilitated diffusion. Channel proteins known as aquaporins are trans-membrane
proteins that are specific for the facilitated diffusion of water molecules.

Biochallenge
1 a A plasma membrane is approximately 10 nanometres thick. This is equal to
0.01micrometres.
b A transmission electron microscope would be required to produce this image.
c The rails are composed of fatty acid chains.
d There may be proteins in the space between the rails.
e Extracellular fluid will be found in the space between the two cells.
2 This evidence suggested that the lipid layer is a bilayer.
3 It is reasonable to conclude that: (c) surface proteins can move laterally across the plasma
membrane.
4 True. The fluid mosaic model suggests that there is some movement of molecules in the
membrane. The redistribution of the human and mouse protein in the hybrid cell is evidence
for this.

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 Chapter 1 answers

Chapter review questions

1 An example of a possible concept map is as follows.

2 a An isotonic saline solution would be used. This would cause an increase in blood volume
without causing a change in size of the blood cells.
b The treatment would be more effective if given intravenously as it is being directly added to
the blood. The treatment will still work if the solution is given orally but absorption will be
slower as it takes longer for the fluid to cross the digestive tract.
3 a The person would be given and isotonic solution. This solution would increase blood volume
and help to reverse the effects of dehydration.
b The solution would contain glucose. The presence of glucose helps to stimulate the
absorption of sodium by the gut cells. This will help reverse the salt that has been lost.
4 The person would be given a double strength or hypertonic solution. Water would move from
the extracellular fluid into the blood. Excess water in blood could then be removed by the
kidneys. This would stop the accumulation of excess fluid. Care would have to be taken that the
hypertonic solution did not cause the blood cells to change shape.
5 a Cell A would be most efficient in moving materials into and removing wastes from the cell.
This cell has the highest SA:V ratio.
b Cell C would be the least efficient as it has the lowest SA:V ratio.
c Cells that have a high demand for materials and make many wastes are likely to be flat
rather than spherical in shape.
d Cells can increase their surface area through the folding of the plasma membrane. Microvilli
on the surface of cells that absorb digested food in the small intestine are designed to
increase the surface area of the cell.
6 a You cannot agree with the student .As the same shaped cell is scaled down the SA: V ratio
increases.
b i Halved
ii Doubled
c i The ratio would get 1/5 ( 0.2) smaller.
ii The ratio would be doubled.
d The SA: V ratio of a sphere with a diameter of 0.5 units would be 12.
e The SA:V ratio would be expected to follow a similar pattern for a different shape.

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 Chapter 1 answers

7 a Cell P would take up more dissolved material in a given time as it has a greater SA:V ratio.
b Cell P would be flatter and thinner than cell Q.
c Both measures are important in determining the rate at which material will move into or out
of a cell. It is the ratio of the two measurements that is important.
d The volume of the cell will determine the needs of the cell. More material is required by a
cell with a large volume.
e Cells that are large have a low SA: V ratio. To be able to meet the needs of a cell it must
remain small so the SA:V ratio is large.
8 a False
b True
c False
d True. Mineral ions, such as Na+, K+ and Cl– , cannot cross because they are repelled by the
hydrophobic lipid component of the plasma membrane.
e False
f False
g False. The water molecules of the external hypertonic solution are at a lower concentration
than those in the cell contents. Water molecules will diffuse down their concentration
gradient from the cells into the external solution, resulting in a net loss of water from the
cells. The plant cell within its plasma membrane shrinks away from the cell wall.
9 a A hypertonic sucrose solution would cause the most water loss and shrinkage of the red
blood cells. There will be a net movement of water by osmosis from the red blood cells to
the hypertonic solution. Sucrose cannot cross the cell membrane. A solution with glucose
will have less effect as the glucose can move across the membrane and make the osmotic
gradient smaller.
b A hypotonic sucrose solution would cause the red blood cells to break. There will be a net
movement of water by osmosis from the hypotonic sucrose solution into the red blood cells.
Sucrose cannot cross the membrane. A solution with glucose will have less effect as the
glucose can move across the membrane and make the osmotic gradient smaller.
10 a Simple diffusion and facilitated diffusion
b Movement of molecules will always be down a concentration gradient. Both types of
diffusion do not need an input of energy.
c Facilitated diffusion involves proteins transporters and simple diffusion does not.
d Two types are needed as some molecules cannot diffuse across the phospholipid bilayer and
thus need a protein to help move them across the plasma membrane.
e Active transport requires an input of energy, simple diffusion does not.
11 a The plasma membrane is not solid. This allows proteins to move laterally across the
membrane.
b A person with cystic fibrosis produces very thick mucus in the lungs. This acts as a breeding
place for many microbes.
c Mineral ions, such as Na+, K+ and Cl–, cannot cross because they are repelled by the
hydrophobic lipid component of the plasma membrane.
d In the skin, the chloride ion channel is normally involved in reabsorbing salt (NaCl) from fluid
within cells of the sweat glands before it is released as sweat. When the chloride ion (Cl –)
transporter is blocked, reabsorption does not occur and very salty sweat is produced.
e A toxin produced by these bacteria causes the chloride ion channels in the cells lining the
intestine to be locked in the ‘open’ position. This results in a flood of chloride ions into the
intestinal space that is followed by a flow of sodium ions (down the resulting electrochemical
gradient that is created). In turn, the increased concentration of salt in the gut creates a
hyperosmotic environment that draws water into the gut by osmosis. The continuous
secretion of water into the intestine causes the production of large volumes of watery
diarrhoea.

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 Chapter 1 answers

12 The two membranes would behave in a different manner. The artificial membrane would allow
small lipophilic substances to cross but not glucose, proteins or charged particles. Glucose,
proteins and charged particles require the presence of a protein in the membrane; the artificial
membrane has no proteins.
13 0.6 mm is equal to 600 µm. A red blood cell has a diameter of approximately 8 µm. This means
around 75 red blood cells would fit across the width of a hair.
14 The width of the plasma membrane is approximately 10 nm. This means that the width and
length of the phospholipid molecule must be between 0.9 and 3.4 nm. The other
measurements are too large to fit into the membrane.
15 a The cells would use active transport to move the salt against a concentration gradient.
b This process would require an input of energy.
c You may expect the salt-secreting mechanism to be present in other animals living in salt
water such as marine turtles and sea snakes. Freshwater crocodiles would not require the
secretion of excess salt.
16 a The difference in sodium concentration is maintained by active transport.
b The sodium ions enter a nerve cell through protein channels.
c The cell uses active transport to pump the sodium ions out of the cell. The sodium–
potassium pumps in the plasma membrane are used by the cell to achieve this.
17 a The causative agent of cholera is the bacteria Vibrio cholera.
b A toxin produced by these bacteria causes the chloride ion channels in the cells lining the
intestine to be locked in the ‘open’ position. This results in a flood of chloride ions into the
intestinal space that is followed by a flow of sodium ions (down the resulting electrochemical
gradient that is created). In turn, the increased concentration of salt in the gut creates a
hyperosmotic environment that draws water into the gut by osmosis. The continuous
secretion of water into the intestine causes the production of large volumes of watery
diarrhoea.
c Cholera can be spread by water that is contaminated through contact with untreated
sewage or the faeces of an infected person.
d Water is more likely to become contaminated and cholera more likely to spread in the
population.
e  Repair of water treatment plants would prevent water from becoming contaminated.
 Distribution of water purification tablets would help kill bacteria.
 Oral rehydration salt packs would help people recover from the symptoms of cholera.
 Community health programs educate people on how to prevent the spread of cholera.
 Oral vaccines will prevent people from becoming sick.
 Rapid diagnosis tests will allow for the correct treatment of people and slow the spread
of cholera.

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