RHODES UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENTS OF BOTANY, AND ZOOLOGY & ENTOMOLOGY

EXAMINATION: JUNE 2023

CEL101 Cell Biology – Theory and Practical

Internal Examiners:Prof. B Smit MARKS: 120

Prof. R Wasserman DURATION: 3 HOURS
Dr. S Motitsoe
Dr N Mgqatsa
Dr T Pillay
Dr E Newman
___________________________________________________________________

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. This paper has fourteen (14) pages including this one.

2. This paper consists of five (5) sections (A-E).

3. Answer ALL questions.

4. Please answer Section A on the Multiple Choice Answer Form. The Task
number for the MCQ is 51.

5. Answer Sections B and C in one answer book.

6. Answer Sections D and E in a separate answer book to B and C.

7. Time management is very important. The value of the mark for each question
should be used as a rough guide to the amount of time allocated to answer the
question (120 marks in 180 minutes).

8. It is in the candidate’s interest to write legibly.

9. At the end of the examination, place all answer books and answer forms inside
one answer book for submission.

10. The Oxford Concise English dictionary MAY be used during this examination.

PLEASE DO NOT TURN OVER THIS PAGE UNTIL TOLD TO DO

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 1 of 14

SECTION A Multiple Choice Questions (20 marks, 1 mark per question)
(ANSWER ON MCQ ANSWER SHEET PROVIDED)

1. Saturated phospholipid tails in the bi-lipid cell membrane layer are characterised
by:
A. Bent/kinked hydrocarbon tails
B. Hydrocarbon tails with double bonds
C. Hydrocarbon tails without double bonds
D. Answers A and B
E. Answers A and C.

2. Unsaturated fatty acid tails make the cell membranes:

A. Less permeable at low temperatures
B. More permeable at low temperatures
C. More stable at low temperatures
D. Options A and C
E. Option B and C.

3. Cholesterol is commonly found in ________ cell membranes and________the

fluidity of the cell membrane.
A. Animal, Increases
B. Plant, Decreases
C. Animal, Decreases
D. Plant, Increases
E. None of the above.

4. Which of the following statements are false?

A. The nucleus is a double-membrane-bound organelle
B. The nucleus is the largest organelle
C. The nucleus is responsible for ATP production
D. The nucleus is the control centre of the cell
E. Options C and B.

5. _________is an essential molecule for cellular function and can pass through the
cell membrane by means of facilitated diffusion.
A. Glucose
B. Oxygen
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Starch
E. ATP.

6. The Signal hypothesis states that first few amino acids packed down for a new
protein in a free-floating ribosome will be:
A. A signal sequence
B. RNA
C. A ribosome
D. An SRP receptor
E. DNA.

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 2 of 14

7. Which of the following is INCORRECT? Actin filaments:
A. Are around 7nm in diameter
B. Maintain cell shape by resisting tension
C. Are made of different types of proteins
D. Assist with cell division
E. Help move cytoplasm and organelles.

8. Complete the missing words in this sentence relating to animal muscle tissue
types. As a result of the fusion of multiple cells into (A)__________ bundles in
skeletal muscle, there are multiple (B)___________ per bundle.
A. A-myofibril; B-nuclei
B. A-myofibril; B-plasmodesmata
C. A-intercalated disc; B-nuclei
D. A-sarcomere; B-plasmodesmata
E. None of the above.

9. Choose the option that gives the correct labels for A, B and C in the Figure below.

A. A – Sarcomere; B – Thin filament; C – Thick filament

B. A – Sarcomere; B - Myosin; C – Actin
C. A – Z line; B – Myosin; C – Actin
D. A – TEM; B – Thin filament; C – Thick filament
E. A – Sarcomere; B – Thin filament; C – Actin.

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 3 of 14

10. __________is the protein found in extracellular matrix of animals that provides
strength and resistance to tearing when stretched.
A. Fibronectin
B. Basilosaurus
C. Collagen
D. Cellulose
E. Elastin.

11. Theodor W. Engelmann illuminated a filament of algae with light that passed
through a prism, thus exposing different segments of algae to different
wavelengths of light. He added aerobic bacteria and then noted in which areas the
bacteria congregated. He noted that the largest groups were found in the areas
illuminated by the red and blue light. What did Engelmann conclude about the
congregation of bacteria in the red and blue areas?
A. Bacteria released excess carbon dioxide in these areas
B. Bacteria congregated in these areas due to an increase in the temperature of the
red and blue light
C. Bacteria congregated in these areas because these areas had the most oxygen
being released
D. Bacteria are attracted to red and blue light and thus these wavelengths are
more reactive than other wavelengths
E. Bacteria congregated in these areas due to an increase in the temperature
caused by an increase in photosynthesis.

12. An outcome of the above mentioned experiment in Question 11 was to help

determine;
A. the relationship between heterotrophic and autotrophic organisms
B. the relationship between wavelengths of light and the rate of aerobic
respiration
C. the relationship between wavelengths of light and the amount of heat released.
D. the relationship between wavelengths of light and the oxygen released during
photosynthesis
E. the relationship between the concentration of carbon dioxide and the rate of
photosynthesis.
13. If you ran the same experiment from question 11 without passing light through a
prism, what would you predict?
A. There would be no difference in results
B. The bacteria would be relatively evenly distributed along the algal filaments
C. The number of bacteria present would decrease due to an increase in the
carbon dioxide concentration
D. The number of bacteria present would increase due to an increase in the
carbon dioxide concentration
E. The number of bacteria would decrease due to a decrease in the temperature of
the water.

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 4 of 14

14. All of the following are functions of the citric acid cycle except
A. production of ATP
B. production of NADH
C. production of FADH2
D. release of carbon dioxide
E. adding electrons and protons to oxygen, forming water.
15. Energy released by the electron transport chain is used to pump H+ ions into
which location?
A. Cytosol
B. mitochondrial outer membrane
C. mitochondrial inner membrane
D. mitochondrial intermembrane space
E. mitochondrial matrix.
16. The mitotic spindle is a microtubular structure that is involved in __________
A. splitting of the cell (cytokinesis) following mitosis
B. triggering the compaction and condensation of chromosomes
C. disassembly of the nucleolus
D. separation of the sister chromatids
E. none of the above.

17. Apoptosis describes the process of

A. arresting the cell cycle to repair DNA, or direct cellular destruction by P53
regulatory proteins
B. disassembling the kinetochore microtubules following sister chromatid
separation
C. stabilizing DNA polymerase during the synthesis of the lagging strand
D. destroying of mRNA after leaving the nucleus
E. disassembling nucleosomes ahead of the replication fork during DNA
replication.

18. How is plant cell cytokinesis different from animal cell cytokinesis?
A. The cleavage furrow in animal cells is composed of protein contractile
filaments; the contractile filaments found in plant cells are structures composed
of carbohydrates
B. Plant cells deposit vesicles containing cell-wall building blocks on the
metaphase plate; animal cells form a cleavage furrow
C. The structural carbohydrates of the plant cells separate the two cells, whereas in
animal cells, a cell membrane separates the two daughter cells
D. Animal cells have centrosomes that are involved in this process, but plant cells
have microtubular organising centres that are not detectable during most of the
cell cycle
E. None of the above.

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 5 of 14

19. Nerve cells lose their ability to undergo mitosis. Instead, they are permanently stuck
in _________
A. S of interphase
B. the nuclear envelope
C. G0
D. G2
E. cytokinesis.

20. A parent cell divides to form two genetically identical daughter cells in the
process of mitosis. For mitosis to take place _________
A. the parent cell must first be fertilised
B. the parent cell must replicate all of its DNA prior to mitosis
C. the parent cell must reproduce its DNA during telophase
D. the parent cell must divide its DNA in half so that each daughter cell gets only
the genes needed to carry out its functions. In this way, differentiation occurs.
E. the parent cell must replicate its DNA and enter G0.

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 6 of 14

SECTION B: Cellular Evolution and Organelles (25 marks)

Question B1

List three factors that affect the permeability of the bi-lipid cell membrane. Briefly
describe how these factors influence the permeability. (5 marks)

Question B2

Discuss why having organelles gives eukaryotic cells advantages over prokaryotic
cells. (5 marks)

Question B3

Draw a labelled diagram of a cross section through an animal cell to show at least
eight of its structural features. Your drawing should include a title. (10 marks)

Question B4

Assuming that the diameter of the cell drawn in question above is 10 µm, draw a
suitable scale bar underneath the drawing, and show your workings. (5 marks)

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 7 of 14

SECTION C: Cell Structure and Function (25 marks)

Question C1

Explain how the MTOC is important for intracellular microtubule production.

(4 marks)

Question C2

Name and describe the main four ways in which substances can be transported across
cell membranes. (4 marks)

Question C3

Why is cell-cell attachment and communication important? (4 marks)

Question C4

Consider A and B in the Figure below, which is a close-up view of a sarcomere. Answer
the following questions.

a. In which of these figure is the muscle relaxed (A OR B)? Give a reason for your
answer. (3 marks)

b. Which filament is represented by the purple strand in both figures? (1 mark)

Question C5

List four functions of the extracellular matrix in animals. (4 marks)

Question C6

Name four different types of connective tissues and give an example of each. (4 marks)

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 8 of 14

Question C7

Which protein is found in extracellular matrix of animals that provides strength and
resistance to tearing when stretched? (1 mark)

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 9 of 14

SECTION D: Photosynthesis and Respiration (25 marks)

Question D1

Figure 1.

Study Figure 1 above and answer the following questions.

a. Name the metabolic pathway illustrated in Figure 1 and in which organelle
this cycle occurs. (1 mark)
b. Complete the labels a-l in your answer book. (6 marks)
c. For every three turns of this cycle, one molecule of compound labelled h is
produced. How many turns of this cycle would be required for the
production of one glucose molecule? (1 marks)
d. Labels C, E and J represent important compounds/molecules required for
this cycle. Describe briefly how they are produced. (2 marks)

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 10 of 14

Question D2

Describe photorespiration and adaptations plants have evolved to minimize this

problem. (5 marks)

Question D3

a) Explain in detail the 10 steps of glycolysis. (8 marks)

b) What happens to pyruvate if oxygen is absent? (2 marks)

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 11 of 14

SECTION E: Replicating and Reproducing Cells (25 marks)

Question E1

Answer the questions associated with the generation of genetic variation during
meiosis (10 marks)

a) Name the phase of meiosis in which crossing over occurs? (2 marks)

b) Briefly describe the process of crossing over. (4 marks)

c) Name and briefly describe an additional process that further generates genetic
variation during meiosis 1. (4 marks)

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 12 of 14

Question E2

Answer the questions associated with the illustration above.

a) List the number and give the name and function of the enzyme
EXCLUSIVELY associated with the synthesis of the lagging strand.
(4 marks)

b) Name the stretch of DNA synthesized in number five. (1 mark)

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 13 of 14

Question E3

Answer the questions associated with the preparation of the RNA transcript for
translation.

a) Provide labels for illustrations 1 to 4. (4 marks)

b) What is the most important difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes

with reference to the above process? (1 mark)

Question E4

In peas, an allele for tall plants (T) is dominant over the allele for short plants (t). An
allele of another independent gene produces smooth peas (S) and is dominant over the
allele for wrinkled peas (s).

Give the phenotypic and genotypic ratios for the results of the following cross:

Tt Ss x Tt Ss

(5 marks)

END OF THE EXAMINATION PAPER

Cell Biology CEL101 June 2023 Page 14 of 14