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Progressive Science Initiative

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Eukaryotes & Gene Expression

Practice Questions

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1 Identify two characteristics that are shared by all cells.

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2 Suppose you are investigating a cell that contains a nucleus. Would you categorize this cell as a prokaryote or eukaryote? Explain your answer.

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3 Is it more efficient for cells to have a high or low surface area to volume ratio? Explain.

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4 Explain, in terms of cell function, why it is more advantageous for cells to be small.

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5 Organelles are to cells as organs are to the human body. Explain why this analogy is true.

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6 What are two differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

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7 Would you be more likely to observe a prokaryotic cell or eukaryotic cell under the lowest magnification available on your microscope? Explain your answer.

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8 Explain, in terms of surface area to volume ratio, why cells are small.

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9 Identify the four major categories of eukaryotic cells.

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10 Explain how the meaning of the terms prokaryote and eukaryote help explain the structure of the cell.

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11 Why is it important that the nucleus of a cell contains nuclear pores?

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12 How is it possible that even though all the cells of a multicellular organism contain the same DNA, there are many different types of cells that differ in structure and function?

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13 How are chromosomes related to chromatin?

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14 How does the ‘packing’ of DNA impact the process of gene expression in cells?

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15 How does the presence of transcription factors influence the process of gene expression?

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16 How is the presence of transcription factors related to external stimuli in an environment?

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17 Explain the observable differences that would exist between a molecule of pre-mRNA and a finished molecule of mRNA?

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18 In what way does the splicing of a molecule of mRNA alter the contents of the molecule? Be sure to use appropriate terminology.

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19 How does alternative splicing affect the ability of a molecule of mRNA to produce multiple proteins?

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20 Explain how nuclear pores are like the ‘gatekeepers’ of the nuclear membrane.

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21 How does the length of a poly-A tail on mRNA impact the amount of protein can be produced from the mRNA?

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22 Given the sequence of eukaryotic DNA below, transcribe the gene and complete all three steps of RNA processing. (Exons are bold)

Non-template strand:5’ATTATGGGCATATATCCGGCGCCTTAATTATTC3’ Template strand:3’TAATACCCGTATATAGGCCGCGGAATTAATAAG5’

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23 How is the process of transcription related to the process of translation in the cell?

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24 Why is the nucleus often referred to as the ‘control center’ of the cell.

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25 Is the process of gene expression the same in prokaryotes as it is in eukaryotes? Explain your answer.

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26 What is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA?

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27 What role do histones play in the packing of DNA?

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28 How is the presence of transcription factors related to the characteristics that define living organisms?

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29 Identify the purpose of the modification of pre-mRNA by adding the nucleotide cap and poly-A tail.

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30 Why are coding segments of mRNA referred to as ‘exons?’

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31 Explain how alternative splicing allows a cell to produce different proteins from the same segment of mRNA.

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32 Given the sequence of eukaryotic DNA below, transcribe the gene and complete all three steps of RNA processing. (Exons are bold) Non-template strand:3’GGCCGGCTATAATCGATACTTACGAATGTAAAA5’ Template strand:5’CCGGCCGATATTAGCTATGAATGCTTACATTTT3’

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33 What role do hydrolytic enzymes play in the production of protein in a cell?

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34 What are the components of the ‘endomembrane system?’

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35 How does the role of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum relate to the amount of smooth E.R. found within different types of cells?

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36 Explain the progression of a protein through the endomembrane system of a cell.

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37 Compare the Golgi apparatus to a component of a city or town, based on the function of the organelle.

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38 How is the creation of lysosomes related to the Golgi apparatus?

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39 How is a peroxisome related to a lysosome?

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40 Why are cell membranes often referred to as semipermeable?

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41 Identify and explain the process by which large proteins created in the cell are transported to the extracellular environment?

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42 What is a ‘secretory protein?’

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43 Identify the relationship between ribosomes and the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

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44 How does a glycoprotein help determine the role of a protein within a cell?

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45 What is the function of the Golgi apparatus in the process of protein production within a cell?

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46 Identify three different cellular functions accomplished by the smooth E.R.

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47 What is the purpose of lysosomes for the cell?

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48 What function do peroxisomes perform for the cell?

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49 What role might a protein play that is created within the cell and becomes embedded in the cell membrane?

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50 Why is endocytosis important for efficient cellular function?

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51 Explain the structure of a chloroplast, identifying the areas where the light reactions and Calvin cycle occur.

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52 What is the function of the mitochondria for the cell?

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53 Do prokaryotic cells contain mitochondria? Explain your answer.

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54 Both mitochondria and chloroplasts contain highly folded internal membranes. Explain the importance of these membranes for the organelle, including the importance of the folded nature.

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55 Briefly summarize the endosymbiotic theory as proposed by Lynn Margulis.

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56 According to the endosymbiotic theory, before they were eukaryotic organelles, the chloroplast and mitochondria more closely resembled what type of organism?

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57 Why is mitochondrial DNA utilized to trace maternal heritage?

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58 Identify the role of the chloroplast for a plant cell.

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59 Do plant cells contain mitochondria even though they are photosynthetic? Explain your answer.

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60 Explain the meaning of the term endosymbiosis.

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61 What is the evidence used to support the endosymbiotic theory?

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62 What is the ‘mitochondrial eve?’

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63 Why do organisms receive all of their mitochondrial DNA from their mother?

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64 How is the central vacuole of a plant cell related to wilting?

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65 How do a food vacuole and lysosome help to digest particles within a cell?

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66 What is the role of a contractile vacuole in a cell?

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67 How are sugars related to the cell wall of plant cells?

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68 Why is it important that adjacent plant and animal cells contain cell junctions?

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69 Suppose you are investigating a cell that contains plasmodesmata. Would you label this cell as a plant or animal cell? Explain your answer.

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70 Which sort of cell junction would you most likely observe between adjacent cells that cannot experience leakage? What type of cells may you be observing?

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71 If animal cells need to transport ions and sugars, what sort of cell junction would you predict they would utilize? Support your response.

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72 What is a vacuole?

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73 How is a central vacuole related to turgor pressure in a cell?

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74 What is a cytoskeleton and what does it do for the cell?

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75 Compare and contrast the external structure of plant cells and fungi.

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76 What role does the extracellular matrix provide for a group of cells?

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77 Do plant and animal cells contain the same type of cell junctions? Why or why not?

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78 Finish the following analogy. Plasmodesmata: plant cells:: __________________: animal cells.

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79 Identify three differences between the structure of plant and animal cells.

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