Download Biology -Cellular Processes OEQs

Science Open-Ended Questions
Subject
Unit Name
Biology
Cellular Processes
Homeostasis is the ability or tendency of an organism or cell to maintain internal equilibrium by
adjusting its physiological processes.
 How does a cell maintain homeostasis?
 What could potentially happen if a cell doe not maintain homeostasis?
Complex organisms are composed of many types of cells.
 Describe the hierarchy of organisms from a cellular level and give an example of each level.
(Cells make up . . . , which then make up . . . .)
 Give examples of 3 types of cells in your body and their function in helping your body maintain
proper functioning.
The cell membrane gives a cell its support and shape.
 List and describe three processes used by cells to control the movement of substances across
the cell membrane.
 What could/would happen to a cell if the cell membrane was damaged?
Stem cell research is a current ethical issue in science.
 Describe how stem cells are being used today. Give specific examples.
 Do you agree with stem cell research? Explain your reasoning with specific examples.
Mitosis and meiosis are important cellular reproduction processes.
 Describe the steps in mitosis and meiosis and discuss the main differences in these processes.
 Give an example of a cell type in your body that undergoes mitosis and meiosis.
The cell cycle is a repeating set of events in the life of a cell.
 Describe the three main checkpoints at which the cell cycle is controlled.
 Predict what would happen if mitosis happened before s phase of the cell cycle.
Enzymes speed up chemical reactions and bind to specific substrates.
 Summarize the induced fit model of enzyme activity.
 What would happen if an enzyme was blocked from catalyzing a reaction?
The human body is approximately 65-70% water. The ocean is 33.5ppt dissolved salts. If a human were
to be submerged in seawater over a long period of time then that person would suffer from
dehydration.
 Explain what type of cellular transport is at work in the scenario above and why the body allows
this to happen.
 What efforts could you take to prepare yourself for prolonged exposure to the sea such as a day
at the beach? Why is water balance necessary? Use specific details to support your answer!