CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY: COURSEBOOK
Sample answers have been written by the authors.
Coursebook answers
Chapter 1
Self-assessment questions
1 a Structures that animal and plant cells have
in common:
• nucleus with nucleolus and chromatin
• cytoplasm containing mitochondria,
Golgi apparatus and other small
structures
• cell surface membrane.
b Structures found only in plant cells:
• chloroplasts
• large, permanent central vacuole
• cell wall with middle lamella and
plasmodesmata.
c Structure found only in animal cells:
• centriole.
2 • Use a sharp pencil.
• Do not use shading / do not draw the
nucleus as a solid blob.
• Do not cross label lines.
• Do not use arrowheads on label lines.
• Use a ruler to draw label lines.
• Make outline of cells less sketchy – lines
should be continuous, not broken.
• Write labels horizontally, not at the same
angle as the label line.
• Interpret what you see. For example, outlines
are not very accurate (too rounded).
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3 a actual diameter = 20 µm (see caption)
diameter on diagram = 58 mm =
58 000 µm
magnification, M = size of image,
I
=
actual size of specimen A
58 000
=
20
therefore magnification = ×2900
b magnification = ×16 000 (see caption)
length on micrograph = 65 mm =
65 000 µm
size of specimen, A = size of image,
I
=
magnification M
65 000
=
16 000
therefore actual size of chloroplast = 4.1 µm
4 The resolution of a microscope is limited by the
radiation used to view the specimen. Resolution
equals half the wavelength of the radiation used.
The shortest wavelength of light is 400 nm,
therefore the resolution of a light microscope
is 200 nm. The diameter of a ribosome is much
smaller than this, namely 25 nm.
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY: COURSEBOOK

5 • The nuclear membrane can be seen as a

double structure (envelope), continuous
Feature Light Electron with the rough endoplasmic reticulum,
microscope microscope and with pores in it.
source of light electrons • There is extensive rough and smooth
radiation endoplasmic reticulum throughout the cell.
wavelength 400–700 nm about 0.005 nm
of radiation • Free ribosomes are visible in the cytoplasm.
used • Microtubules are visible in the cytoplasm.
maximum 200 nm 0.5 nm in • The mitochondria have a double
resolution practice membrane (envelope), the inner layer
lenses glass electromagnets having folds into the matrix.
specimen living, non- non-living or • Chloroplasts have a double outer
living or dead dead membrane (envelope).
stains coloured dyes heavy metals
• Grana can be seen in the chloroplast, as
image coloured black and white stacks of sacs connected to other grana by
longer sacs (thylakoids).
6 Detail in an animal cell seen with the electron
microscope but not apparent using a light 8 a diameter of nucleus (I)
microscope: = 75 mm = 75 000 µm
• In the nucleus, chromatin can be magnification (M) = ×11 000
distinguished.
therefore actual diameter
• The nucleus is seen to be surrounded by a 75 000
of nucleus (A) =   = 6.8 µm
double membrane (envelope) with pores 11 000
in it. b The nucleus may not have been sectioned
• Mitochondria have a surrounding double at its widest part. If you try cutting
membrane (envelope), the inner layer a model sausage, the cut surface of a
forming finger-like folds pointing inwards. transverse section will look like a circle.
The cut surface of a longitudinal section
• Endoplasmic reticulum is extensive will look like a sausage. Other sections
throughout the cell, some with ribosomes will be somewhere between circles and
(rough) and some without (smooth). sausages.
• Small structures seen under the light
9 Cilia in the oviduct beat in order to move the
microscope can be distinguished by the
egg from the ovary to the uterus. (It may be
electron microscope as lysosomes and
fertilised along the way.)
vesicles.
• Free ribosomes are seen throughout 10 Cell surface membrane: essential because it
the cell. forms a partially permeable barrier between
the cell and its environment, regulating
• The centriole is seen to be two separate movement of materials into and out of
centrioles. the cell. This is necessary to maintain an
• Finger-like extensions of the cell surface environment inside the cell which is different
membrane, known as microvilli, are seen. from that outside the cell.
• Microtubules are visible in the cytoplasm. Cytoplasm: site of metabolic activity. It
contains biochemicals in solution.
7 Detail in a plant cell seen with the electron
microscope but not apparent using a light Ribosomes: sites of protein synthesis, an
microscope: essential activity of all cells. (DNA controls
cells by controlling which proteins are
• In the nucleus, chromatin can be
made.) Protein synthesis is a complex process
distinguished.
involving the interaction of many molecules;

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 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY: COURSEBOOK
the ribosome provides a site where this can
happen in an organised way.
DNA: the genetic material. DNA contains the
information which controls the activities of
the cell. It can replicate itself, enabling new
cells to be formed.
Cell wall (absent in animal cells): prevents the
cell from bursting as a result of osmosis if it is
exposed to a solution of higher water potential.
Flagellum: needed for locomotion by some cells.
Reflection
What is a cell?
A cell is the basic unit of life. All living organisms
are made of cells. All cells have a cell surface
membrane, cytoplasm and genetic material in the
form of DNA. All cells have a protein synthesising
machinery which includes ribosomes.
Why are all living things made of cells?
The biochemistry of life must be separated from
the surrounding environment. This separation is
achieved by the cell surface membrane. The cell
surface membrane is partially permeable and
controls what enters and leaves the cell. Without it,
the chemicals of life would mix with the chemicals
of the environment and a separate chemistry of
life would be impossible.
3 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology © Cambridge University Press 2020
Comparing the success of
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Criteria could be:
• complexity of cells
• complexity of the whole organism
• size
• total biomass on the planet
• range of habitats they can live in
• ability to survive adverse conditions
• ability to regulate their internal environments
• number and variety of species.
Is this a meaningless question?
This question probably is a meaningless question,
although it doesn’t stop people discussing it. All
living things have evolved to be adapted to their
particular environments (ecological niches) and to
this extent are equally successful. Judgements can
be made in various ways. Eukaryotes are far more
complex than prokaryotes. Humans (probably
the most intelligent eukaryotes) have the greatest
control over their environments. Bacteria have the
greatest biomass and are the most versatile of cells.
They are probably the most likely cells to survive
a catastrophic change in the Earth’s climate/
environment.