140 - The Cell 



TEST QUESTIONS 



1. Define each term in such a way that it will 

 apply to the nutrition of man and the 

 amoeba: (a) ingestion; (b) digestion; (c) 

 egestion; (d) absorption; (e) distribution; (f) 10. 

 metabolism; (g) excretion; (h) respiration. 



2. Define the term "food"; explain why glucose 



is considered as a food among animals, but 11. 

 not among plants. 



3. How would you account for the fact that a 12. 

 digestive system is generally found in ani- 

 mals, but not in plants? 13. 



4. Explain the similarities and differences be- 

 tween the amoeba and paramecium, in re- 

 gard to: (a) ingestion; and (b) egestion. 



5. Clearly distinguish between egestive and ex- 14. 

 cretory wastes: (a) in animals generally; (b) 



in an amoeba: and (c) in man. 15. 



6. Chemically speaking, what is the nature of 

 digestion? Specify the end products resulting 16. 

 from the digestion of: (a) starch; (b) protein; 



(c) fat: (d) sucrose; and (e) maltose. 



7. The absorption of glucose (and the other 17. 

 end products of digestion) proceeds, partly at 

 least, by diffusion. Carefully explain. 



8. In the amoeba, respiration is a cliff usional 18. 

 phenomenon. Explain in detail. 



9. To what extent (if any) does the passage of 



substances into the contractile vacuole of an 

 amoeba proceed on an osmotic basis? Ex- 

 plain carefully. 



Distinguish between constructive and destruc- 

 tive metabolism, using the terms exothermic, 

 endothermic, decomposition, and synthesis. 

 Discuss the role of DNA in relation to the 

 synthesis of protein in the cell. 

 Explain the role of RNA in relation to pro- 

 tein synthesis. 



Differentiate between transport and template 

 RNA, on the basis of molecular weight, lo- 

 calization in the cytoplasm, and functional 

 role. 



Explain why protein specificity is of para- 

 mount importance in every cell. 

 Specify one source of energy utilized by cells 

 for protein synthesis. 



Define the term amino acid activating en- 

 zyme. How many such enzymes would you 

 expect to find in any cell? 



Specify the most direct method used by ani- 

 mals in synthesizing: (a) polysaccharides; (b) 

 fats; and (c) proteins. 



Are there any indirect methods by which an 

 animal can synthesize: (a) polysaccharides; 

 and (b) fats? Explain carefully. 



FURTHER READINGS 



1. "How Cells Make Molecules." by V. G. Allfrey 

 and A. E. Mirsky, in "The Living Cell." spe- 

 cial issue of Scientific American, September 

 1961. 



2. Molecular Basis of Evolution, by C. B. An- 

 finsen; New York, 1959. 



3. Dynamic Aspects of Biochemistry, 3d ed., by 

 E. Baldwin; New York, 1957. 



4. Genes, Enzymes, and Inherited Diseases, by 

 H. E. Sutton; New York, 1961. 



