End-of-chapter questions

1 Prokaryotic cells differ from eukaryotic cells because prokaryotic cells:

A have larger ribosomes
B have smaller ribosomes
C contain mitochondria
D have more than one nucleus (1)

2 The correct order of the stages in the cell cycle is:

A cytokinesis → mitosis → G1 → G2 → S
B mitosis → S → G2 → G1 → cytokinesis
C mitosis → G1 → G2 → S → cytokinesis
D cytokinesis → G1 → S → G2 → mitosis (1)

2 CELLS 37
 3 Explain how the properties of phospholipids help to maintain the structure of the plasma membrane. (2)

4 Explain how the surface area to volume ratio influences cell size. (3)

5 a Some ions can move across the membrane by passive or active transport. Distinguish between active
transport and facilitated diffusion of ions. (2)
b Digestive enzymes leave the cell by exocytosis. Describe the process of exocytosis. (2)

6 A study was carried out to determine the relationship between the diameter of a molecule and its
movement through a membrane. The graph below shows the results of the study.

high
Relative ability to move
through a membrane

low
0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6
Molecular diameter / nm
Source: Knox, et al. (1994) Biology, McGraw Hill, page 65

a From the information in the graph alone, describe the relationship between the diameter of a molecule
and its movement through a membrane. (2)
A second study was carried out to investigate the effect of passive protein channels on the movement
of glucose into cells. The graph below shows the rate of uptake of glucose into erythrocytes by simple
diffusion and facilitated diffusion.

500
Rate of glucose uptake / mmol cm−3 cells hr−1

450
facilitated diffusion
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50 simple diffusion
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
External concentration of glucose / mmol dm−3

38
 b Identify the rate of glucose uptake at an external glucose concentration of 4 mmol dm–3 by:
i simple diffusion (1)
ii facilitated diffusion (1)
c i Compare the effect of increasing the external glucose concentration on glucose uptake by facilitated
diffusion and by simple diffusion. (3)
ii Predict, with a reason, the effect on glucose uptake by facilitated diffusion of increasing the external
concentration of glucose to 30 mmol dm–3. (2)
(total 9 marks)
© IB Organization 2009

7 a Identify the cell organelle shown in the micrograph below. (1)

b Identify the structure labelled A above and explain how it is adapted for the organelle to
function efficiently. (4)
(total 5 marks)
© IB Organization 2009

2 CELLS 39
1 C E LL B I O LO G Y

Questions
1 Figure 7 represents a cell rom a multicellular c) E xplain the dierence in area o the inner
organism. and outer mitochondrial membranes. [3 ]
d) Using the data in the table, identiy two o
the main activities o liver cells. [2 ]

3 In human secretory cells, or example in the lung

 Figure 7
a) Identiy, with a reason, whether the cell is
( i) prokaryotic or eukaryotic;
( ii) part o a root tip or a nger tip;
( iii) in a phase o mitosis or in interphase. [1 ]
b) The magnication o the drawing is 2 ,5 00  .
( i) C alculate the actual size o the cell.
( ii) C alculate how long a 5 m scale
bar should be i it was added to the
drawing. [1 ]
c) Predict what would happen to the cell i it was
placed in a concentrated salt solution or one
hour. Include reasons or your answer. [3]
2 Table 2 shows the area o membranes in a rat
liver cell.
Membrane component Area (m 2 )
Plasma membrane 1,780
Rough endoplasmic reticulum 30,400
Mitochondrial outer membrane 7,470
and the pancreas, positively charged ions are
pumped out, and chloride ions ollow passively
through chloride channels. Water also moves rom
the cells into the liquid that has been secreted.
In the genetic disease cystic brosis, the chloride
channels malunction and too ew ions move
out o the cells. The liquid secreted by the cells
becomes thick and viscous, with associated
[1 ] health problems.
[1 ] a) S tate the names o the processes that:
( i) move positively charged ions out o
the secretory cells [1 ]
[2 ] ( ii) move chloride ions out o the
secretory cells. [1 ]
( iii) move water out o the secretory cells. [1 ]
b) Explain why the fuid secreted by people
with cystic brosis is thick and viscous. [4]
4 The amount o D NA present in each cell
nucleus was measured in a large number
o cells taken rom two dierent cultures o
human bone marrow ( gure 8) .
a) For each label ( I, II and III) in the S ample B
graph, deduce which phase o the cell cycle
the cells could be in; i.e. G1 , G2 or S . [3 ]
b) Estimate the approximate amount o D NA
per nucleus that would be expected in the
ollowing human cell types:

Mitochondrial inner membrane 39,600 ( i) bone marrow at prophase

( ii) bone marrow at telophase. [2 ]
Nucleus 280
Sample A Sample B
Lysosomes 100
Number of cells (in thousands)
Number of cells (in thousands)

3 (non-dividing cell culture) 3 (rapidly dividing cell culture)

Other components 18,500 I
2 2
 Table 2 III
1 1
a) C alculate the total area o membranes in the
liver cell. [2 ] II
b) C alculate the area o plasma membrane as 5 10 15 5 10 15
a percentage o the total area o membranes DNA/pg per nucleus DNA/pg per nucleus
in the cell. S how your working. [3 ]  Figure 8
60