AP Biology : Cellular Structures
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Understanding Chloroplasts
Which of the following structures is unique to plant cells?
Endoplasmic reticulum
Chloroplasts
Vacuoles
Lysosomes
Mitchondria
Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts are organelles in plant cells that conduct photosynthesis; therefore they are unique to plant cells. All the other mentioned organelles can be found in both animal and plant cells.
Example Question #3 : Plant Biology
Which of the following can be found in plant cells, but not animal cells?
Ribosomes
Chloroplasts
Cell membrane
Mitochondria
Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts, the site of photosynthesis, are only in plant cells and are not found in animal cells. Ribosomes, a cell membrane, and a mitochondria, however, can be found in both animal and plant cells.
The other structure that may be found in plant cells, but not animal cells, is a cell wall.
Example Question #2 : Understanding Chloroplasts
Where in the chloroplasts does the Calvin Cycle of photosynthesis take place?
Thylakoid lumen
Intermembrane space
Thylakoid membrane
Grana
Stroma
Stroma
The Calvin Cycle occurs in the stroma, the aqueous fluid-filled area of the chloroplast. The stroma can be seen as analogous to the cytoplasm of a cell, in that it is the liquid in which all other substructures reside. The other processes of photosynthesis, the light-dependent reactions, take place in the thylakoid, a membrane-bound substructure within the chloroplast.
Example Question #1 : Understanding Chloroplasts
Which of the following terms can be described as the green pigment located within chloroplasts?
Chlorophyll
Mesophyll
Photoreceptors
Stomata
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color. The chlorophyll located in the chloroplasts captures the light energy that drives the synthesis of food molecules in the chloroplasts—photosynthesis.
Example Question #2 : Understanding Chloroplasts
Which of the following best describes where chloroplasts are primarily located?
Roots
Mesophyll
Stomata
Stroma
Mesophyll
Chloroplasts are found mainly in the cells of the mesophyll, which is the tissue in the interior of the leaf. Stomata are the pores that allow carbon dioxide to enter and oxygen to exit the leaf. The stroma is the dense fluid content of the chloroplast.
Example Question #1 : Understanding Chloroplasts
What is the organelle in plant cells that contains chlorophyll?
Golgi apparatus
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Chloroplasts
Mitochondria
Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts are the organelles that contains chlorophyll. Mitochondria produce ATP and are not directly involved in capturing light and photosynthesis. The Golgi apparatus is involved in packaging substances, and Smooth endoplasmic reticulum are involved in lipid production.
Example Question #3 : Understanding Chloroplasts
Inside the chloroplast, what is the name of a stack of thylakoids?
Granum
Thylakoidum
Mitochondria
Stroma
Granum
A stack of thylakoids is known as granum. Stroma is the region outside the thylakoid membranes, but still inside the chloroplast. Mitochondria is the organelle that produces ATP, and there is no such organelle called thylakoidum.
Example Question #1 : Understanding Chloroplasts
Which process is incorrectly matched with its location?
in the light dependent reaction, protons flow down their electrochemical gradient from the thylakoid lumen into the stroma, through the ATP synthase protein
carbon fixation during the light independent reaction occurs in the thylakoid stroma
in the light independent reaction, G3P is produced in the thylakoid stroma
in the light dependent reaction, protons are pumped from the thylakoid stroma into the lumen
in the light dependent reaction, protons flow down their electrochemical gradient from the thylakoid lumen into the stroma, through the ATP synthase protein
During the light dependent reaction, protons are pumped from the thylakoid stroma into the lumen. Then, these protons flow down their electrochemical gradient (from high concentration to low concentration), through the ATP synthase protein, producing ATP.
Example Question #1 : Understanding Chloroplasts
Where is chlorophyll located?
Thylakoid membrane
Intermembrane space
Thylakoid stroma
Mitochondrial membrane
Thylakoid membrane
Chlorophyll is used to capture sunlight during the light dependent reaction; the excited electrons then flow down the electron transport chain located on the thylakoid membrane.
Example Question #1 : Understanding Chloroplasts
During the light dependent reaction, the proton gradient is established. Where is the concentration of protons the greatest?
intermembrane space
thylakoid stroma
thylakoid lumen
thylakoid membrane
thylakoid lumen
During the light dependent reaction, protons are pumped from the thylakoid stroma into the lumen. Then, these protons flow down their electrochemical gradient (from high concentration to low concentration), through the ATP synthase protein, producing ATP.
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