Concepts of Biology, Chapter 3 Practice
Exam Questions and Verified Answers
Microscope - Answer the instrument that magnifies an object
Unified cell theory - Answer the biological concept that states that all organisms are composed of one or
more cells, the cell is the basic unit of life, and new cells arise from existing cells
Eukaryotic cell - Answer a cell that has a membrane-bound nucleus and several other membrane-bound
compartments or sacs
Organelle - Answer a membrane-bound compartment or sac within a cell
Prokaryotic cell - Answer a unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus or any other membrane-bound
organelle
Cell wall - Answer a rigid cell covering made of cellulose in plants, peptidoglycan in bacteria, non-
peptidoglycan compounds in Archaea, and chitin in fungi that protects the cell, provides structural
support, and gives shape to the cell
Central vacuole - Answer a large plant cell organelle that acts as a storage compartment, water
reservoir, and site of macromolecule degradation
Chloroplast - Answer a plant cell organelle that carries out photosynthesis
Cilium - Answer (plural: cilia) a short, hair-like structure that extends from the plasma membrane in
large numbers and is used to move an entire cell or move substances along the outer surface of the cell
Cytoplasm - Answer the entire region between the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope,
consisting of organelles suspended in the gel-like cytosol, the cytoskeleton, and various chemicals
, Cytoskeleton - Answer the network of protein fibers that collectively maintains the shape of the cell,
secures some organelles in specific positions, allows cytoplasm and vesicles to move within the cell, and
enables unicellular organisms to move
Cytosol - Answer the gel-like material of the cytoplasm in which cell structures are suspended
Desmosome - Answer a linkage between adjacent epithelial cells that forms when cadherins in the
plasma membrane attach to intermediate filaments
Endomembrane system - Answer the group of organelles and membranes in eukaryotic cells that work
together to modify, package, and transport lipids and proteins
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) - Answer a series of interconnected membranous structures within
eukaryotic cells that collectively modify proteins and synthesize lipids
Extracellular matrix - Answer the material, primarily collagen, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans,
secreted from animal cells that holds cells together as a tissue, allows cells to communicate with each
other, and provides mechanical protection and anchoring for cells in the tissue
Flagellum - Answer (plural: flagella) the long, hair-like structure that extends from the plasma
membrane and is used to move the cell
Gap junction - Answer a channel between two adjacent animal cells that allows ions, nutrients, and
other low-molecular weight substances to pass between the cells, enabling the cells to communicate
Golgi apparatus - Answer a eukaryotic organelle made up of a series of stacked membranes that sorts,
tags, and packages lipids and proteins for distribution
Lysosome - Answer an organelle in an animal cell that functions as the cell's digestive component; it
breaks down proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, nucleic acids, and even worn-out organelles
Mitochondria - Answer (singular: mitochondrion) the cellular organelles responsible for carrying out
cellular respiration, resulting in the production of ATP, the cell's main energy-carrying molecule
Exam Questions and Verified Answers
Microscope - Answer the instrument that magnifies an object
Unified cell theory - Answer the biological concept that states that all organisms are composed of one or
more cells, the cell is the basic unit of life, and new cells arise from existing cells
Eukaryotic cell - Answer a cell that has a membrane-bound nucleus and several other membrane-bound
compartments or sacs
Organelle - Answer a membrane-bound compartment or sac within a cell
Prokaryotic cell - Answer a unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus or any other membrane-bound
organelle
Cell wall - Answer a rigid cell covering made of cellulose in plants, peptidoglycan in bacteria, non-
peptidoglycan compounds in Archaea, and chitin in fungi that protects the cell, provides structural
support, and gives shape to the cell
Central vacuole - Answer a large plant cell organelle that acts as a storage compartment, water
reservoir, and site of macromolecule degradation
Chloroplast - Answer a plant cell organelle that carries out photosynthesis
Cilium - Answer (plural: cilia) a short, hair-like structure that extends from the plasma membrane in
large numbers and is used to move an entire cell or move substances along the outer surface of the cell
Cytoplasm - Answer the entire region between the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope,
consisting of organelles suspended in the gel-like cytosol, the cytoskeleton, and various chemicals
, Cytoskeleton - Answer the network of protein fibers that collectively maintains the shape of the cell,
secures some organelles in specific positions, allows cytoplasm and vesicles to move within the cell, and
enables unicellular organisms to move
Cytosol - Answer the gel-like material of the cytoplasm in which cell structures are suspended
Desmosome - Answer a linkage between adjacent epithelial cells that forms when cadherins in the
plasma membrane attach to intermediate filaments
Endomembrane system - Answer the group of organelles and membranes in eukaryotic cells that work
together to modify, package, and transport lipids and proteins
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) - Answer a series of interconnected membranous structures within
eukaryotic cells that collectively modify proteins and synthesize lipids
Extracellular matrix - Answer the material, primarily collagen, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans,
secreted from animal cells that holds cells together as a tissue, allows cells to communicate with each
other, and provides mechanical protection and anchoring for cells in the tissue
Flagellum - Answer (plural: flagella) the long, hair-like structure that extends from the plasma
membrane and is used to move the cell
Gap junction - Answer a channel between two adjacent animal cells that allows ions, nutrients, and
other low-molecular weight substances to pass between the cells, enabling the cells to communicate
Golgi apparatus - Answer a eukaryotic organelle made up of a series of stacked membranes that sorts,
tags, and packages lipids and proteins for distribution
Lysosome - Answer an organelle in an animal cell that functions as the cell's digestive component; it
breaks down proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, nucleic acids, and even worn-out organelles
Mitochondria - Answer (singular: mitochondrion) the cellular organelles responsible for carrying out
cellular respiration, resulting in the production of ATP, the cell's main energy-carrying molecule
