Guide Questions with Actual Answers
2026-2027 Updated.
Cell Structure Notes - Answer
What is the basic unit of life? - Answer The Cell
All living organisms are made of Cells- 3 Domains of Life (what are they?) - Answer Domain
Bacteria, Domain Archaea, and Domain Eukarya
Which of these domains of life belong to Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes? - Answer Prokaryotes-
Domain Bacteria and Domain Archaea (Archaea live in extreme environments)
Eukaryotes- Domain Eukarya (living things/fungi)
What are the General structure of the Prokaryotic Cell? - Answer The structure of DNA is just
floating in the Nucleoid
No internal structures
lack a membrane bound nucleus
What are the general structure of the Eukaryotic Cell? - Answer Has a membrane bound
nucleus
has organelles that are membrane bound with specialized functions.
What are the 2 Properties important to microscopes? - Answer Magnification- measure of
enlarge
Resolving power- how clear
What are the 3 types of microscopes, describe them. - Answer Light Microscope- light shines
through specimen. Advantages: Light doesn't hurt organisms. Good to look at living cells.
Disadvantages: Not very powerful
Fluorescent- you can label certain 'organs' of the cell by using dye. Helps to see processes, but
not any stronger than a light microscope.
,Electron- 2 types, Scanning (3D) Beams of electrons interact with surface atoms to give 3D
topography and Transmission (2D) Beams of electrons passed through ultra-thin section-
highest resolution. Very high energy, Can't use with living cells.
What are the site of protein synthesis? - Answer Ribosomes
Are prokaryotic cells smaller than eukaryotic cells? - Answer YES
What do Animal Cells contain?
What do Plant Cells contain? - Answer Animal Cells- Nucleus, ER, Golgi Apparatus,
Mitochondria, Lysosomes, Peroxisomes
Plant Cells-
Nucleus, ER, Golgi Apparatus, Mitochondria, Lysosomes, Peroxisomes, Vacuole, and
Chloroplasts
Membrane- bound Nucleus does what? - Answer Store genetic information (DNA),
Has Nuclear pores that act like a gate
and has a
Nucleolus
Where is the site of ribosomal RNA synthesis? - Answer Nucleolus
Ribosomes - Answer *site of protein synthesis
makes proteins
* found in both Prokaryos and Eurkaryos
*not membrane-bound
*2 subunits attached to each other (a large and small subunit)
Rough Endroplasmic Reticulum (ER) - Answer Ribosomes are attached to the surface (like
tags) and the making of proteins that will be exported from the cell.
Rough ER are like hallways of membranes. Attached to the Smooth ER and the Nuclear
Envelope.
Smooth ER - Answer Function- lipid synthesis, and breakdown some poisonous things.
* Lacks ribosomes and functions primarily as a lipid-processing cneter
, *Calcium storage.
Smooth ER is found in your liver.
HOW DOES THE SMOOTH ER LOOK - Answer it starts with the smooth ER that connects to the
Rough ER then it connects to the nuclear envelope (nucleus)
**they are a continuous membrane with areas of different functions
Golgi Apparatus - Answer Site of protein processing, sorting and distribution like a post office
for protein to be exported to other areas
Cisface- receives products from rough ER
Trans face- ships modified protein to cell surface or to other organelles
Mitochondria - Answer *source of energy for the cell:
the site of biological reactions that convert energy from chemical sources (like glucose) into
from useable to the cell.
*Cellular respiration -Food Energy converted to cellular energy.
Lysosomes - Answer *Digestive center which break down things that contain hydrolytic
enzymes
involved in Autophagy and Phagocytosis
What is Autophagy?
What is Phagocytosis? - Answer Autophagy- self eating
Phargocytosis- cell eating. White blood cells are Phargocytosis.
Peroxisomes - Answer Is the site of production of fatty acid
*contains a catalase- an enzyme that breakdown toxic hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen
Vacuoles (plant cells) - Answer Area of storage for water, colored pigments, and chemical by
products.
Chloroplast (Plant cells) - Answer Site of photosynthesis which is the conversion of sunlight
energy into sugar
The cytoskeleton - Answer the skeleton of protein fibers within a cell.