Title: Cellular Structure
Course: Question Banks

Q: ________ are often used in conjunction with light microscopes to allow scientists to distinguish the different components of cells.
- Radioactive isotopes (Incorrect. Radioactive isotopes are not used with light microscopes.)
- Beams of electrons (Incorrect. Beams of electrons are the illumination sources in electron microscopes, not light microscopes.)
- Special stains (Correct. Many biological specimens are stained with special stains to help scientists distinguish different components.)
A: Special stains

Q: Light microscopes are generally ________.
- used only with dead samples (Incorrect. Light microscopes do not necessarily require dead samples.)
- used to provide details of subcellular structures (Incorrect. The magnification and resolving power of most light microscopes will not provide details about subcellular structures.)
- capable of magnification up to 400 times (Correct. Most basic light microscopes magnify up to 400 times.)
A: capable of magnification up to 400 times

Q: The unified cell theory states that ________.
- all living things are composed of more than one cell and arise from other cells (Incorrect. Many organisms are single-celled.)
- cells are the basic unit of life, make up all living things, and arise spontaneously. (Incorrect. Cells do not arise spontaneously.)
- all living things are composed of the basic unit of life (a cell) and new cells arise from other cells (Correct. This is the unified cell theory.)
A: all living things are composed of the basic unit of life (a cell) and new cells arise from other cells

Q: The use of ________ lenses can greatly increase the magnification power of light microscopes.
- diamond (Incorrect. Diamonds are generally not used to make lenses for light microscopes, though historically they were tested.)
- colored (Incorrect. Colored lenses are not used to increase magnification power of light microscopes.)
- oil immersion (Correct. Oil immersion lenses can increase the magnification power of light microscopes to 1000 times.)
A: oil immersion

Q: Robert Hooke coined the term ________.
- organelle (Incorrect. Hooke never saw an organelle.)
- atom (Incorrect. Hooke never saw an atom.)
- cell (Correct. Hooke called the structures he saw in cork ‘cells’ after cells in monasteries.)
A: cell

Q: Basic light microscopes ________ images.
- falsely color (Incorrect. Basic light microscopes provide images in “true” color.)
- compress (Incorrect. Light microscopes do not compress images.)
- invert (Correct. The two-lens system of a basic light microscope results in an inverted image.)
A: invert

Q: A key disadvantage of ________ is they generally require specimens be dead.
- light microscopes (Incorrect. Specimens are often alive under light microscopes.)
- microscopes in general (Incorrect. Light microscope specimens are often alive.)
- electron microscopes (Correct. Preparing a specimen for an electron microscope generally requires the specimens be killed/dead.)
A: electron microscopes

Q: In addition to providing greater magnification than a light microscope, an electron microscope also provides ________.
- more detail (Incorrect. More detail is the same thing as greater magnification)
- real-time images (Incorrect. Electron microscope samples are usually dead so there is no real-time imaging available.)
- greater resolution (Correct. This is a key advantage of an electron microscope.)
A: greater resolution

Q: ________ will only image cell surfaces.
- Basic light microscopes (Incorrect. Transparent samples can be viewed throughout their structure with a light microscope.)
- Transmission electron microscopes (Incorrect. TEMs do not image cell surfaces.)
- Scanning electron microscopes (Correct. Scanning electron microscopes image cell surfaces.)
A: Scanning electron microscopes

Q: A transmission electron microscope is best for ________.
- cell surfaces (Incorrect. Transmission electron microscopes are not used to image cell surfaces.)
- living samples (Incorrect. Transmission electron microscopes cannot image living samples due to how the samples must be prepared and sectioned (chopped into thin slices).)
- internal structures (Correct. Transmission electron microscopes are used to image internal structures once a specimen has been thinly sectioned.)
A: internal structures

Q: ________ is a major component of the cytoplasm in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
- Glucose (Incorrect. Glucose is found in cytoplasm but is not a major component.)
- Ions (Incorrect. Ions are dissolved in the cytoplasm but are not a major component.)
- Cytosol (Correct. Cytosol is a water-based, semi-solid component found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cytoplasm.)
A: Cytosol

Q: Cytoplasm has a ________ consistency in most cell types.
- liquid (Incorrect. While water is a major component of the cytoplasm, it is still not liquid.)
- solid (Incorrect. If the cytoplasm was solid material would not be able to move easily through it.)
- semi-solid (Correct. The many proteins suspended in the cytoplasm give it a semi-solid, Jello-like consistency.)
A: semi-solid

Q: The cytoplasm in eukaryotes includes ________.
- everything inside the plasma membrane (Incorrect. There are numerous specialized structures and regions inside eukaryotic cells, not just cytoplasm.)
- everything inside the nuclear envelope (Incorrect. The cytoplasm is not considered to extend into the nucleus.)
- everything between the plasma membrane and nuclear envelope (Correct. The cytoplasm is not considered to extend inside the nuclear envelope.)
A: everything between the plasma membrane and nuclear envelope

Q: The ________ houses a eukaryotic cell’s genetic material.
- nucleoid (Incorrect. Prokaryotic cells have a nucleoid.)
- nucleolus (Incorrect. The nucleolus is a specialized location where ribosomal subunits are assembled.)
- nucleus (Correct. Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus to hold their genetic material, DNA.)
A: nucleus

Q: The ________ is separated from the rest of the cell by a ________ nuclear membrane.
- nucleus; single layer (Incorrect. The nuclear membrane is not single-layered.)
- nucleoid; double layer (Incorrect. The nucleoid is not separated by a nuclear membrane.)
- nucleus; double layer (Correct. The nucleus is separated by a double-layer nuclear membrane.)
A: nucleus; double layer

Q: Material enters and leaves the nucleus using ________ in the nuclear envelope.
- channels (Incorrect. The nuclear envelope does not have any channels.)
- gates (Incorrect. The nuclear envelope does not have any gates.)
- pores (Correct. Pores are used to control the passage of materials into and out of the nucleus.)
A: pores

Q: Material enters and leaves the nucleus using pores in the ________.
- nuclear filter (Incorrect. There is no nuclear filter.)
- nuclear wall (Incorrect. There is no nuclear wall.)
- nuclear envelope (Correct. Pores are used to control the passage of materials into and out of the nucleus.)
A: nuclear envelope

Q: ________ are found in practically every cell, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic.
- Mitochondria (Incorrect. Prokaryotic organisms do not have mitochondria.)
- Nuclei (Incorrect. Nuclei are only present in eukaryotic cells.)
- Ribosomes (Correct. Ribosomes are essential for making proteins, and therefore are found all types of cells.)
A: Ribosomes

Q: Ribosomes play a key role in ________.
- DNA replication (Incorrect. Ribosomes do not have a key role in DNA replication.)
- breaking down fatty acids and amino acids (Incorrect. Ribosomes do not have a key role in breaking down any materials in cells.)
- protein synthesis (Correct. Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis in cells.)
A: protein synthesis

Q: ________ are composed of protein and RNA.
- Mitochondria (Incorrect. Mitochondria have no RNA.)
- Peroxisomes (Incorrect. Peroxisomes have no RNA.)
- Ribosomes (Correct. A ribosome is a complex of RNA and proteins.)
A: Ribosomes

Q: This oval shaped organelle is responsible for making ATP to power cellular reactions.
- Chloroplast (Incorrect. Chloroplasts are involved in photosynthesis.)
- Ribosome (Incorrect. Ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis.)
- Mitochondrion (Correct. The mitochondrion is known as the ‘powerhouse’ of the cell.)
A: Mitochondrion

Q: Cells in your ________ contain the most mitochondria.
- brain (Incorrect. Remember, mitochondria provide energy so consider which cell needs the most energy.)
- lung (Incorrect. Remember, mitochondria provide energy so consider which cell needs the most energy.)
- biceps (Correct. Muscle cells, like your biceps, would need the most energy from this list, so they would have the most mitochondria.)
A: biceps

Q: Mitochondria are divided into functional areas known as ________.
- mitoplasm and cristae (Incorrect. There is no such thing as mitoplasm.)
- matrix and membrane (Incorrect. While a mitochondrion will have a matrix area and a membrane, these are not the functional areas of the organelle.)
- cristae and mitochondrial matrix (Correct. The cristae and mitochondrial matrix play distinct roles in cellular respiration.)
A: cristae and mitochondrial matrix

Q: ________ are small organelles responsible for detoxifying many poisons that enter the body.
- Mitochondria (Incorrect. Mitochondria have no role in detoxifying poisons.)
- Glyoxysomes (Incorrect. Glyoxysomes are found in plants but have no role in detoxifying poisons.)
- Peroxisomes (Correct. Peroxisomes break down fatty acids and amino acids as well as detoxifying many poisons in the body.)
A: Peroxisomes

Q: Peroxisomes are predominantly responsible for ________.
- synthesizing sugars (Incorrect. This is the job of the chloroplast.)
- capturing free hydrogen peroxide in cells (Incorrect. Peroxisomes do break down hydrogen peroxide but it is produced as a by-product of reactions inside these organelles.)
- breaking down fatty acids and amino acids (Correct. This is the main role of peroxisomes in cells.)
A: breaking down fatty acids and amino acids

Q: Plants contain specialized peroxisomes known as ________ that convert stored fats into sugars.
- lysosomes (Incorrect. Lysosomes are specialized vesicles, not specialized peroxisomes.)
- oxysomes (Incorrect. There is no such organelle.)
- glyoxysomes (Correct. Glyoxysomes are specialized peroxisomes in plants that convert stored fats into sugars.)
A: glyoxysomes

Q: Where in the cell is the endoplasmic reticulum located?
- anywhere in the cytoplasm (Incorrect. The ER is not ‘free’ within the cell.)
- directly inside the cell membrane (Incorrect. The ER is not located adjacent to the cell membrane.)
- directly outside the nuclear membrane (Correct. The ER is directly outside the nuclear membrane to facilitate its role in protein modification.)
A: directly outside the nuclear membrane

Q: The smooth endoplasmic reticulum plays a major role in the ________.
- transport of proteins and lipids (Incorrect. The major function of the Golgi apparatus is sorting, tagging, packaging, and distribution of lipids and proteins.)
- modifying proteins (Incorrect. This is the major function of the rough ER.)
- synthesis of carbohydrates and lipids (Correct. The major function of the SER includes synthesis of carbohydrates and lipids.)
A: synthesis of carbohydrates and lipids

Q: The ________ distributes proteins and lipids made within cells from the cis face to the transface.
- smooth endoplasmic reticulum (Incorrect. The major function of the SER includes synthesis of carbohydrates and lipids.)
- rough endoplasmic reticulum (Incorrect. The major function of the RER is modifying proteins.)
- Golgi apparatus (Correct. The major function of the Golgi apparatus is sorting, tagging, packaging, and distribution of lipids and proteins.)
A: Golgi apparatus

Q: The ________ works together in the synthesis, modification, packaging, and transport of lipids and proteins.
- endoplasmic reticulum (Incorrect. This is a part of the overall system, but not the entire group.)
- organelle membrane path (Incorrect. This is not the proper term for the organelles that work together in this process.)
- endomembrane system (Correct. This is the name for the membranes and organelles involved in the synthesis, modification, packaging, and transport of lipids and proteins.)
A: endomembrane system

Q: ________ are membrane-bound sacs with a variety of functions in cells.
- Vacuoles (Incorrect. Vacuoles are specialized membrane-bound sacs found only in plants and with limited function.)
- Ribosomes (Incorrect. Ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis and are not membrane-bound sacs.)
- Vesicles (Correct. Vesicles are membrane-bound sacs that function in storage and transport predominantly.)
A: Vesicles

Q: Eukaryotic cells use vesicles to ________.
- support the cell and give it shape (Incorrect. Vesicles play no role in cellular support or shape.)
- modify proteins (Incorrect. Vesicles are not used to modify proteins.)
- organize cellular substances (Correct. Eukaryotic cells use vesicles to organize cellular substances.)
A: organize cellular substances

Q: The cytosol outside a vesicle ________ the fluid vesicle interior.
- is always more acidic than (Incorrect. The inside of a vesicle may not be acidic.)
- is no different from (Incorrect. Vesicles are clearly separated from the cytosol.)
- may be very different from (Correct. This is a key feature of vesicles that makes them useful for organizing cellular substances.)
A: may be very different from

Q: The ________ is a structure unique to animal cells that functions in cell division.
- lysosome (Incorrect. This is a unique organelle to animal cells but it does not function in cell division.)
- mitochondrion (Incorrect. All eukaryotic cell types have mitochondria.)
- centrosome (Correct. The centrosome originates microtubules and replicates itself before a cell divides.)
A: centrosome

Q: The lysosome is a structure unique to animal cells that ________.
- functions in cell division (Incorrect. Lysosomes do not function in cell division.)
- functions in protein synthesis (Incorrect. Lysosomes do not function in protein synthesis.)
- functions in organelle recycling (Correct. The lysosome is found only in animal cells and functions in organelle recycling.)
A: functions in organelle recycling

Q: Lysosomes function as part of the endomembrane system involved in ________.
- protein synthesis (Incorrect. Lysosomes do not function in protein synthesis.)
- cell division (Incorrect. Lysosomes do not function in cell division.)
- pathogen destruction (Correct. Lysosomes also have a role in pathogen destruction.)
A: pathogen destruction

Q: In ________ eukaryotes, photosynthesis takes place in the ________.
- photoautotrophic; chlorophyll (Incorrect. Chlorophyll is a pigment involved in photosynthesis.)
- heterotrophic; chlorophyll (Incorrect. Heterotrophic organisms do not perform photosynthesis.)
- photoautotrophic; chloroplast (Correct. Autotrophic organisms perform photosynthesis inside chloroplasts.)
A: photoautotrophic; chloroplast

Q: Which organelles are found in plant cells but not animal cells?
- Mitochondria (Incorrect. All eukaryotic cell types have mitochondria.)
- Ribosomes (Incorrect. All cells have ribosomes.)
- Chloroplasts (Correct. This is the organelle that is the site of photosynthesis in plants.)
A: Chloroplasts

Q: Plant cells use their ________ to regulate water concentration.
- water sac (Incorrect. There is no ‘water sac’ in plant cells.)
- cell wall (Incorrect. The cell wall plays a structural support role in plant cells.)
- central vacuole (Correct. Water regulation is the main role of the central vacuole.)
A: central vacuole

Q: The ________ is an low energy way for a plant cell to expand.
- primary vesicle (Incorrect. Plants do not have a primary vesicle.)
- chloroplast (Incorrect. This is not the role of chloroplasts.)
- central vacuole (Correct. Filling the central vacuole allows a plant to expand, though it does not actually grow.)
A: central vacuole

Q: Which units of the cytoskeleton are composed of actin?
- Intermediate filaments (Incorrect. Intermediate filaments are made of fibrous proteins, not actin.)
- Microtubules (Incorrect. Microtubules are composed of tubulin, not actin.)
- Microfilaments (Correct. Microfilaments are composed of actin.)
A: Microfilaments

Q: Microfilaments function mainly in ________.
- cellular structure (Incorrect. This is a function of intermediate filaments.)
- flagella “whipping” (Incorrect. This is a function of microtubules.)
- cellular movement (Correct. Microfilaments function mainly in cellular movement.)
A: cellular movement

Q: Which cytoskeletal element does not play a role in intracellular movement?
- Microfilaments (Incorrect. Microfilaments function mainly in cellular movement.)
- Microtubules (Incorrect. Microtubules form cilia and flagella, which function in movement.)
- Intermediate filaments (Correct. Intermediate filaments have a purely structural function.)
A: Intermediate filaments

Q: ________ are composed of fibrous filaments.
- Microfilaments (Incorrect. Microfilaments are composed of two intertwined strands of actin.)
- Microtubules (Incorrect. Microtubules are composed of tubulin.)
- Intermediate filaments (Correct. Intermediate filaments are made of fibrous proteins.)
A: Intermediate filaments

Q: Keratin is a type of ________ found in hair and nails.
- microfilaments (Incorrect. Keratin is not a type of microfilament.)
- microtubules (Incorrect. Keratin is not a type of microtubule.)
- intermediate filaments (Correct. This protein strengthens your hair, nails, and skin.)
A: intermediate filaments

Q: Which of the following is true about microtubules?
- They have a purely structural function. (Incorrect. This is a function of intermediate filaments.)
- They are involved in the process of cytokinesis but they are not the most active during cell division. (Incorrect. This is true of microfilaments.)
- They are most active, and visible, during cell division. (Correct. This describes microtubules.)
A: They are most active, and visible, during cell division.

Q: The ________ are composed of hollow tubules composed of two globular proteins.
- intermediate filaments (Incorrect. Intermediate filaments are made of fibrous proteins.)
- microfilaments (Incorrect. Microfilaments are composed of two intertwined strands of actin.)
- microtubules (Correct. Microtubules are composed of hollow tubules formed from globular tubulin proteins.)
A: microtubules

Q: ________ are always formed of ________ in a 9+2 array.
- Keratin; intermediate filaments (Incorrect. Intermediate filaments do not take on this form.)
- Actin; microfilaments (Incorrect. Microfilaments do not take on this form.)
- Flagella and cilia; microtubules (Correct. This is the arrangement of microtubules in flagella and cilia.)
A: Flagella and cilia; microtubules

Q: In animal cells, the centrosome is the ________ organizing center.
- intermediate filament (Incorrect. Intermediate filaments are not organized by centrosomes.)
- microfilament (Incorrect. Microfilaments are not organized by centrosomes.)
- microtubule (Correct. In animal cells, the centrosome serves to organize microtubules.)
A: microtubule

Q: Select the answer that best describes a plasma membrane.
- single layer of molecules with two fatty acid chain and a phosphate containing group (Incorrect. A plasma membrane is a double layer.)
- controls the passage of solid materials only (Incorrect. The plasma membrane does not control the passage of only solid materials.)
- controls the passage of water, ions, oxygen, waste, and organic molecules (Correct. The plasma membrane basically controls the passage of everything into and out of a cell.)
A: controls the passage of water, ions, oxygen, waste, and organic molecules

Q: Which plasma membrane component can be either found on the surface or embedded in the plasma membrane itself?
- cholesterol (Incorrect. Cholesterol is embedded in the plasma membrane.)
- steroids (Incorrect. There are no pure steroids associated with the plasma membrane.)
- proteins (Correct. Proteins may be attached to or embedded in the plasma membrane.)
A: proteins

Q: All cells have a ________, a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins.
- cell wall (Incorrect. Not all cells have a cell wall.)
- extracellular matrix (Incorrect. Not all cells have an extracellular matrix.)
- plasma membrane (Correct. All types of cells have a plasma membrane.)
A: plasma membrane

Q: Plant cells are connected to each other by ________.
- gap junctions (Incorrect. Gap junctions are found in animal cells.)
- tight junctions (Incorrect. Tight junctions are found in animal cells.)
- plasmodesmata (Correct. Plasmodesmata connect plant cells.)
A: plasmodesmata

Q: The extracellular matrix serves ________ in tissues.
- a structural role (Incorrect. This is not the only role of the extracellular matrix.)
- a signaling role (Incorrect. This is not the only role of the extracellular matrix.)
- both a structural and signaling role (Correct. The extracellular matrix has both structural and signaling roles in tissues.)
A: both a structural and signaling role

Q: Animal cells signal to adjacent cells using a ________.
- tight junction (Incorrect. Tight junctions form watertight seals between adjacent cells.)
- desmosomes (Incorrect. Desmosomes join adjacent cells into a sheet-like formation that will stretch.)
- gap junction (Correct. Gap junctions are used to pass substances between cells that enable communication.)
A: gap junction

Q: ________ prevent fluid from leaking between adjacent cells.
- Gap junctions (Incorrect. Gap junctions are used to pass substances between cells that enable communication.)
- Desmosomes (Incorrect. Desmosomes join adjacent cells into a sheet-like formation that will stretch.)
- Tight junctions (Correct. Tight junctions form watertight seals between adjacent cells.)
A: Tight junctions

Q: ________ are created by cadherins connected to intermediate filaments.
- Gap junctions (Incorrect. Cadherins do not create gap junctions.)
- Tight junctions (Incorrect. Cadherins do not create tight junctions.)
- Desmosomes (Correct. Cadherins connect intermediate filaments to create desmosomes.)
A: Desmosomes

Q: Plant cells have a rigid “square” shape due to their ________.
- plasma membrane (Incorrect. The plasma membrane does not convey rigidity to a cell.)
- stiff vacuoles (Incorrect. Vacuoles push against the outer cell boundary to provide structural support but they do not convey shape.)
- cell wall (Correct. The rigid cell wall gives plant cells their overall shape.)
A: cell wall

Q: ________ cell walls contain mainly peptidoglycan while ________ cell walls contain cellulose.
- Plant; prokaryotic (Incorrect. Plant cell walls do not contain peptidoglycan, nor prokaryotic cell walls cellulose.)
- Fungal; plant (Incorrect. Fungal cell walls do not contain peptidoglycan.)
- Prokaryotic; plant (Correct. Both types of cells have cell walls, composed of quite different materials.)
A: Prokaryotic; plant

Q: Which of the following does not possess a cell wall?
- cells from lettuce (Incorrect. All plant cells have cell walls.)
- cells from a mushroom cap (Incorrect. Fungal cells have cell walls.)
- cells from an ant (Correct. Ants are animal cells, which have no cell walls.)
A: cells from an ant