4.E: Cell Structure and Function (Exercises)
3.1: How Cells Are Studied
Multiple Choice
When viewing a specimen through a light microscope, scientists use _________ to distinguish the individual components of cells.
A. a beam of electrons
B. radioactive isotopes
C. special stains
D. high temperatures
- Answer
-
C
The ___________ is the basic unit of life.
A. organism
B. cell
C. tissue
D. organ
- Answer
-
B
Free Response
What are the advantages and disadvantages of light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes?
- Answer
-
The advantages of light microscopes are that they are easily obtained, and the light beam does not kill the cells. However, typical light microscopes are somewhat limited in the amount of detail that they can reveal. Electron microscopes are ideal because you can view intricate details, but they are bulky and costly, and preparation for the microscopic examination kills the specimen. Transmission electron microscopes are designed to examine the internal structures of a cell, whereas a scanning electron microscope only allows visualization of the surface of a structure.
3.2: Comparing Cell Types
Multiple Choice
Which of these do all prokaryotes and eukaryotes share?
A. nuclear envelope
B. cell walls
C. organelles
D. plasma membrane
- Answer
-
D
A typical prokaryotic cell __________________ compared to a eukaryotic cell.
A. is smaller in size by a factor of 100
B. is similar in size
C. is smaller in size by a factor of one million
D. is larger in size by a factor of 10
- Answer
-
A
Free Response
Describe the structures that are characteristic of a prokaryote cell.
- Answer
-
Prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane and have DNA, cytoplasm, and ribosomes, like eukaryotic cells. They also have cell walls and may have a cell capsule. Prokaryotes have a single large chromosome that is not surrounded by a nuclear membrane. Prokaryotes may have flagella or motility, pili for conjugation, and fimbriae for adhesion to surfaces.
3.3: Eukaryotic Cell Structure
Multiple Choice
Which of the following is found both in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?
A. nucleus
B. mitochondrion
C. vacuole
D. ribosome
- Answer
-
D
Which of the following is not a component of the endomembrane system?
A. mitochondrion
B. Golgi apparatus
C. endoplasmic reticulum
D. lysosome
- Answer
-
A
Free Response
In the context of cell biology, what do we mean by form follows function? What are at least two examples of this concept?
- Answer
-
“Form follows function” refers to the idea that the function of a body part dictates the form of that body part. As an example, organisms like birds or fish that fly or swim quickly through the air or water have streamlined bodies that reduce drag. At the level of the cell, in tissues involved in secretory functions, such as the salivary glands, the cells have abundant Golgi
Contributors and Attributions
Remixed and/or curated from the following works:
Fowler, S., Roush, R., & Wise, J. (2013). 3.E Cell Structure and Function (Exercises) . In Concepts of Biology . OpenStax (CC BY 4.0; Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/1-introduction ).