CCBC BIO 110 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | COMPLETE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE OF BALTIMORE COUNTY BIOLOGY STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
Cell theory proposed by Mathias Schleiden and Theodore Schwann: - ANS ✔✔• All organisms are made
of cells
• The cell is the simplest collection of matter that can be alive
• All cells are related by their descent from earlier cells
• Cells can differ substantially from one another but share common features
Limits to cell size: - ANS ✔✔• Cells are usually too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microscopes are
used to visualize cells.
• Metabolic requirements set upper limits on the size of cells. The surface area to volume ratio of
a cell is critical. As a cell increases in size, its volume grows proportionately more than its surface
area.
• The plasma membrane is a selective barrier that allows sufficient passage of oxygen, nutrients,
and waste to service the volume of every cell.
Prokaryotic cells have: - ANS ✔✔• No nucleus.
• DNA in an unbound region called the nucleoid.
• No membrane-bound organelles.
• Cytoplasm bound by the plasma membrane
Eukaryotic cells are characterized by having: - ANS ✔✔• DNA in a nucleus that is bounded by a
membranous nuclear envelope.
• Membrane-bound organelles.
• Cytoplasm in the region between the plasma membrane and nucleus.
• Eukaryotic cells are generally much larger than prokaryotic cells.
The eukaryotic cell's genetic instructions are - ANS ✔✔housed in the nucleus and carried out by the
ribosomes
The nucleus - ANS ✔✔contains most of the cell's genes and is usually the most conspicuous organelle
The nuclear envelope - ANS ✔✔encloses the nucleus, separating it from the cytoplasm. The nuclear
membrane is a double membrane; each membrane consists of a phospholipid bilayer.
In the nucleus, DNA is organized into discrete units called - ANS ✔✔chromosomes. Each chromosome is
composed of a single DNA molecule associated with proteins.
The DNA and proteins of chromosomes are together called - ANS ✔✔chromatin. Chromatin condenses
to
form discrete chromosomes as a cell prepares to divide.
The nucleolus is - ANS ✔✔located within the nucleus and is the site of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis.
Ribosomes - ANS ✔✔are complexes made of ribosomal RNA and protein.
, Ribosomes carry out protein: synthesis in two locations - ANS ✔✔• In the cytosol (free ribosomes)
• On the outside of the endoplasmic reticulum or the nuclear envelope (bound ribosomes)
The endomembrane system - ANS ✔✔regulates protein traffic and performs metabolic functions in the
cell.
The endomembrane system consists of: - ANS ✔✔• Nuclear envelope
• Endoplasmic reticulum
• Golgi apparatus
• Lysosomes
• Vacuoles
• Plasma membrane
These components are either continuous or connected via transfer by vesicles.
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) - ANS ✔✔accounts for more than half of the total membrane in many
eukaryotic cells. The ER membrane is continuous with the nuclear envelope.
There are two distinct regions of ER: - ANS ✔✔Smooth ER and Rough ER
Smooth ER, which lacks ribosomes: - ANS ✔✔• Synthesizes lipids
• Metabolizes carbohydrates
• Detoxifies drugs and poisons
• Stores calcium ions
Rough ER, whose surface is studded with ribosomes: - ANS ✔✔• Has bound ribosomes, which synthesize
membrane proteins, lysosomal proteins and proteins destined for secretion
• Protein quality control.
• Distributes transport vesicles, secretory proteins surrounded by membranes.
• Is a membrane factory for the cell.
The Golgi apparatus - ANS ✔✔consists of flattened membranous sacs called cisternae.
Functions of the Golgi apparatus: - ANS ✔✔• Modifies products of the ER
• Sorts and packages materials into transport vesicles
A lysosome is a - ANS ✔✔membranous sac of hydrolytic enzymes that can digest macromolecules.
Lysosomal enzymes work best in the acidic environment inside the lysosome.
Hydrolytic enzymes and lysosomal membranes - ANS ✔✔are made by rough ER and then transferred to
the Golgi apparatus for further processing.
Some lysosomes - ANS ✔✔digest food in food vacuole. Lysosomes also use enzymes to recycle the cell's
own organelles and macromolecules, a process called autophagy.
Vacuoles are - ANS ✔✔large vesicles derived from the ER and Golgi apparatus.
COLLEGE OF BALTIMORE COUNTY BIOLOGY STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
Cell theory proposed by Mathias Schleiden and Theodore Schwann: - ANS ✔✔• All organisms are made
of cells
• The cell is the simplest collection of matter that can be alive
• All cells are related by their descent from earlier cells
• Cells can differ substantially from one another but share common features
Limits to cell size: - ANS ✔✔• Cells are usually too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microscopes are
used to visualize cells.
• Metabolic requirements set upper limits on the size of cells. The surface area to volume ratio of
a cell is critical. As a cell increases in size, its volume grows proportionately more than its surface
area.
• The plasma membrane is a selective barrier that allows sufficient passage of oxygen, nutrients,
and waste to service the volume of every cell.
Prokaryotic cells have: - ANS ✔✔• No nucleus.
• DNA in an unbound region called the nucleoid.
• No membrane-bound organelles.
• Cytoplasm bound by the plasma membrane
Eukaryotic cells are characterized by having: - ANS ✔✔• DNA in a nucleus that is bounded by a
membranous nuclear envelope.
• Membrane-bound organelles.
• Cytoplasm in the region between the plasma membrane and nucleus.
• Eukaryotic cells are generally much larger than prokaryotic cells.
The eukaryotic cell's genetic instructions are - ANS ✔✔housed in the nucleus and carried out by the
ribosomes
The nucleus - ANS ✔✔contains most of the cell's genes and is usually the most conspicuous organelle
The nuclear envelope - ANS ✔✔encloses the nucleus, separating it from the cytoplasm. The nuclear
membrane is a double membrane; each membrane consists of a phospholipid bilayer.
In the nucleus, DNA is organized into discrete units called - ANS ✔✔chromosomes. Each chromosome is
composed of a single DNA molecule associated with proteins.
The DNA and proteins of chromosomes are together called - ANS ✔✔chromatin. Chromatin condenses
to
form discrete chromosomes as a cell prepares to divide.
The nucleolus is - ANS ✔✔located within the nucleus and is the site of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis.
Ribosomes - ANS ✔✔are complexes made of ribosomal RNA and protein.
, Ribosomes carry out protein: synthesis in two locations - ANS ✔✔• In the cytosol (free ribosomes)
• On the outside of the endoplasmic reticulum or the nuclear envelope (bound ribosomes)
The endomembrane system - ANS ✔✔regulates protein traffic and performs metabolic functions in the
cell.
The endomembrane system consists of: - ANS ✔✔• Nuclear envelope
• Endoplasmic reticulum
• Golgi apparatus
• Lysosomes
• Vacuoles
• Plasma membrane
These components are either continuous or connected via transfer by vesicles.
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) - ANS ✔✔accounts for more than half of the total membrane in many
eukaryotic cells. The ER membrane is continuous with the nuclear envelope.
There are two distinct regions of ER: - ANS ✔✔Smooth ER and Rough ER
Smooth ER, which lacks ribosomes: - ANS ✔✔• Synthesizes lipids
• Metabolizes carbohydrates
• Detoxifies drugs and poisons
• Stores calcium ions
Rough ER, whose surface is studded with ribosomes: - ANS ✔✔• Has bound ribosomes, which synthesize
membrane proteins, lysosomal proteins and proteins destined for secretion
• Protein quality control.
• Distributes transport vesicles, secretory proteins surrounded by membranes.
• Is a membrane factory for the cell.
The Golgi apparatus - ANS ✔✔consists of flattened membranous sacs called cisternae.
Functions of the Golgi apparatus: - ANS ✔✔• Modifies products of the ER
• Sorts and packages materials into transport vesicles
A lysosome is a - ANS ✔✔membranous sac of hydrolytic enzymes that can digest macromolecules.
Lysosomal enzymes work best in the acidic environment inside the lysosome.
Hydrolytic enzymes and lysosomal membranes - ANS ✔✔are made by rough ER and then transferred to
the Golgi apparatus for further processing.
Some lysosomes - ANS ✔✔digest food in food vacuole. Lysosomes also use enzymes to recycle the cell's
own organelles and macromolecules, a process called autophagy.
Vacuoles are - ANS ✔✔large vesicles derived from the ER and Golgi apparatus.
