BSC 2005 UF Exam 2 Test Questions
with Complete Answers 2026-2027
Updated.
Distinguish prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells based on their respective attributes - Answer
- Both have cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, DNA and nucleus
- Prokaryotic- "Bacteria", usually smaller, DNA not inside a special structure, chromosomes are
circular, no membrane-bound organelles (organized, specialized structures), typically simple
- Eukaryotic- DNA inside membrane bound nucleus, linear chromosomes, other membrane
bound organelles, usually larger
Categorize major groups of life according to whether they are autotropic or heterotrophic, and
prokaryotic or eukaryotic. - Answer - Plants- multicellular eukaryotes- Plants are autotrophs,
which means they harvest their energy from sunlight & store it.
- Animals- Animals are heterotrophs, which means they must obtain their energy by eating
other organisms.
- Fungi- heterotroughs
- EUKARYOTIC CELLS HAVE DIFFERENT ORGANELLES FOR DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS (i.e. plants
have chloroplast, celluloce cell wall and central water vacuole)
- Bacteria and Archaea- prokaryotic- could be either A or H
Describe the major attributes and functions of cellular structures including the membrane,
cytoskeleton, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, golgi apparatus, mitochondria,
lysosomes, plant cell walls, vacuoles, and chloroplasts. - Answer - Cell membrane- Both
prokaryotes and eukaryotes- Forms a boundary between the inside and the outside of the cell.
Contain a bilayer of phosopholipids and associated proteins (hydrophilic heads face out)
- Cytoskeleton- provides support for eukaryotic cells to maintain shape and organelle position
- Cytoplasm- liquid inside the cell
- Nucleus- Surrounded by phospholipid bilayer, contains DNA in the form of chromotin
- Endoplasmic reticulum- a system of folded membranes that is used for producing new
proteins. Rough ER has ribosomes (a minute particle consisting of RNA and associated proteins
found in large numbers in the cytoplasm of living cells. They bind messenger RNA and transfer
RNA to synthesize polypeptides and proteins.) that make proteins. Smooth ER is a site of lipid
production.
- Ribosomes- Site of protein synthesis- may be attached to ER or be free in the cytoplasm.
- Golgi apparatus- the "shipping center" of the cell. Receiving and repackaging proteins
produced by the ER
- PROCESS:
1. The nucleus provides instructions for protein production
2. Proteins are made in the ER and packaged in vesicles for transport to the golgi
, 3. Proteins receive final modifications in the golgi. They are packaged into vesicles for transport
to the site of the protein function.
- Mitochondria- Converts food energy into a usable form (ATP) using aerobic respiration
(producing cellular energy involving oxygen.). Outer membrane that encloses the organelle;
inner membrane folded into cristae. (each of the partial partitions in a mitochondrion formed
by infolding of the inner membrane.)
- Lysosomes- an organelle in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells containing degradative enzymes
enclosed in a membrane. Full of digestive enzymes that break down food molecules and recycle
debris
- Plant cell walls- rigid structure made of cellulose
•List 3 points of evidence that suggest chloroplasts and mitochondria derive from
endosymbiosis - Answer - Endosymbiont theory suggests that prokaryotes ingested other
prokaryotes, which survived and became mitochondria and chloroplasts.
-Evidence: membrane structure, separate genomes, divide like bacteria within cells.
•Describe what is meant by simple diffusion. - Answer In the cell, examples of molecules that
can use simple diffusion to travel in and out of the cell membrane are water, oxygen, carbon
dioxide, ethanol and urea. They pass directly through the cell membrane without energy along
the concentration gradient. Move from high to low concentration.
List characteristics of molecules which can pass through cell membranes by simple diffusion,
and which are blocked. - Answer - Small and uncharged ones can pass (ex. O2)
- Prevents large molecules like glucose, hydrophilic substances (ex. sodium ions) from crossing.
They use facilitated diffusion instead which moves them with help of special transport proteins
that act as a pump to guide them through
Explain what osmosis is - Answer - when a substance crosses a semipermeable membrane in
order to balance the concentrations of another substance.
Define hypo, iso, and hyper tonic solutions. Explain why these terms are relative. - Answer -
Hypotonic- the concentration of solutes is greater inside the cell than outside of it.
- Hypertonic- the concentration of solutes is greater outside the cell than inside it.
- Isotonic-two solutions having the same osmotic pressure across a semipermeable membrane
Make predictions of what will happen to cells (or organisms) when they are in each type of
solution. - Answer - If the concentration of the extracellular fluid is different than the
cytoplasm, water will move into or out of the cells via osmosis, and cells may be damaged.
- Hypotonic- water into cells
- Hypertonic- water out of cells
- Isotonic- water cycling in and out evenly
with Complete Answers 2026-2027
Updated.
Distinguish prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells based on their respective attributes - Answer
- Both have cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, DNA and nucleus
- Prokaryotic- "Bacteria", usually smaller, DNA not inside a special structure, chromosomes are
circular, no membrane-bound organelles (organized, specialized structures), typically simple
- Eukaryotic- DNA inside membrane bound nucleus, linear chromosomes, other membrane
bound organelles, usually larger
Categorize major groups of life according to whether they are autotropic or heterotrophic, and
prokaryotic or eukaryotic. - Answer - Plants- multicellular eukaryotes- Plants are autotrophs,
which means they harvest their energy from sunlight & store it.
- Animals- Animals are heterotrophs, which means they must obtain their energy by eating
other organisms.
- Fungi- heterotroughs
- EUKARYOTIC CELLS HAVE DIFFERENT ORGANELLES FOR DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS (i.e. plants
have chloroplast, celluloce cell wall and central water vacuole)
- Bacteria and Archaea- prokaryotic- could be either A or H
Describe the major attributes and functions of cellular structures including the membrane,
cytoskeleton, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, golgi apparatus, mitochondria,
lysosomes, plant cell walls, vacuoles, and chloroplasts. - Answer - Cell membrane- Both
prokaryotes and eukaryotes- Forms a boundary between the inside and the outside of the cell.
Contain a bilayer of phosopholipids and associated proteins (hydrophilic heads face out)
- Cytoskeleton- provides support for eukaryotic cells to maintain shape and organelle position
- Cytoplasm- liquid inside the cell
- Nucleus- Surrounded by phospholipid bilayer, contains DNA in the form of chromotin
- Endoplasmic reticulum- a system of folded membranes that is used for producing new
proteins. Rough ER has ribosomes (a minute particle consisting of RNA and associated proteins
found in large numbers in the cytoplasm of living cells. They bind messenger RNA and transfer
RNA to synthesize polypeptides and proteins.) that make proteins. Smooth ER is a site of lipid
production.
- Ribosomes- Site of protein synthesis- may be attached to ER or be free in the cytoplasm.
- Golgi apparatus- the "shipping center" of the cell. Receiving and repackaging proteins
produced by the ER
- PROCESS:
1. The nucleus provides instructions for protein production
2. Proteins are made in the ER and packaged in vesicles for transport to the golgi
, 3. Proteins receive final modifications in the golgi. They are packaged into vesicles for transport
to the site of the protein function.
- Mitochondria- Converts food energy into a usable form (ATP) using aerobic respiration
(producing cellular energy involving oxygen.). Outer membrane that encloses the organelle;
inner membrane folded into cristae. (each of the partial partitions in a mitochondrion formed
by infolding of the inner membrane.)
- Lysosomes- an organelle in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells containing degradative enzymes
enclosed in a membrane. Full of digestive enzymes that break down food molecules and recycle
debris
- Plant cell walls- rigid structure made of cellulose
•List 3 points of evidence that suggest chloroplasts and mitochondria derive from
endosymbiosis - Answer - Endosymbiont theory suggests that prokaryotes ingested other
prokaryotes, which survived and became mitochondria and chloroplasts.
-Evidence: membrane structure, separate genomes, divide like bacteria within cells.
•Describe what is meant by simple diffusion. - Answer In the cell, examples of molecules that
can use simple diffusion to travel in and out of the cell membrane are water, oxygen, carbon
dioxide, ethanol and urea. They pass directly through the cell membrane without energy along
the concentration gradient. Move from high to low concentration.
List characteristics of molecules which can pass through cell membranes by simple diffusion,
and which are blocked. - Answer - Small and uncharged ones can pass (ex. O2)
- Prevents large molecules like glucose, hydrophilic substances (ex. sodium ions) from crossing.
They use facilitated diffusion instead which moves them with help of special transport proteins
that act as a pump to guide them through
Explain what osmosis is - Answer - when a substance crosses a semipermeable membrane in
order to balance the concentrations of another substance.
Define hypo, iso, and hyper tonic solutions. Explain why these terms are relative. - Answer -
Hypotonic- the concentration of solutes is greater inside the cell than outside of it.
- Hypertonic- the concentration of solutes is greater outside the cell than inside it.
- Isotonic-two solutions having the same osmotic pressure across a semipermeable membrane
Make predictions of what will happen to cells (or organisms) when they are in each type of
solution. - Answer - If the concentration of the extracellular fluid is different than the
cytoplasm, water will move into or out of the cells via osmosis, and cells may be damaged.
- Hypotonic- water into cells
- Hypertonic- water out of cells
- Isotonic- water cycling in and out evenly
